Response to an Oil Spill Incident

Answer

Response to an Oil Spill Incident

Introduction

This is a detailed report to the senior management of LSM Rotterdam in reference to the urgent call that I received from the master of the four LR2 tankers that are under my management. The call brought to my attention the information regarding an oil spill overboard that was caused by the sudden fracture of one of the pipes on the deck while loading crude oil. This report, therefore, explains my immediate action in response to the oil tank spill and the action plan I took to resolve the problem, and the mitigating measures I consider to be remedial for the purposes of avoiding the problem in the future. 

Immediate Action Taken

When I received an urgent call from the master of one of the four LR2 tankers under my management regarding an oil spill overboard caused by a hasty fracture of one of the pipes on deck, I immediately contacted the Dutch Safety Board, Safety Region Rotterdam Rijnmond, and emergency services (Janssen, 2018). These are agencies responsible for the investigation of the possible factors that may have contributed to the occurrence of the oil spill and the best remedy to offer. It is independent in its operations and makes its own choices on the investigation process (De Langen, & Heij, 2014); it also focuses on the situation of causalities’ safety and is dependent on both their companies and government. Furthermore, its investigation does not focus on issues of liability or blame. It initiates the oil clean-up operation that is twofold in nature; has a containment of oil and recovery function (Den Boer, & Verbraak, 2010).   

Action Plan to Resolve Oil the Oil Spill Incident

The action plan entails the critical assessment and evaluation of the size and the true nature of the oil spill and the potential risks and hazards it presents; the resources required to contain the oil spill and the process of cleaning it up are key to an action plan (Zhong, & You, 2011). This is executed under the assessment process which determines the need for tools, personnel, and other meaningful resources to combat the spill. The second step that will take shape is the monitoring of the oil spill and the action being considered to ensure it is the appropriate one (Carlan et al., 2018). I will also check if I can safely stop the flow of the oil and if not then I will put a bucket under the leak and ensure all the valves and taps are closed. I will then make sure that I don’t put myself at risk of cleaning up an oil spill without personal protective equipment (Abascal et al., 2010).

On the other hand, I will consider the legal help of local governments and emergency response agencies to take part in the cleaning up of the spill source in this case the pipeline (Abascal et al., 2010). I will then assess the intensity of the risk with high protection and try to confine the spill. If possible, I would try to stop the source and thereafter evaluate and implement the cleanup (Carlan et al., 2018). Furthermore, I will involve a formal response plan that entails the techniques and resources in place to make an effective and quick action to resolve the spilling (Zhong, & You, 2011). Since this calls for a specialized skill, I would also engage various vessels and owners of the facility to consider private response and cleanup institutions to supplement in-tanks capabilities.

I will prioritize spill prevention by permitting response personnel to prepare and quickly give an efficient and effective response and contingency plan to the oil spill (Carlan et al., 2018). In the same line, I will identify potential manpower, tools, and available resources key to implement a spill response. I will thereafter highlight response procedures, strategies, and techniques for mitigating the spill at a given time (Abascal et al., 2010). This should be done in compliance with the enhancement of supervisory compliance efforts and minimization of impact zones in the area (Zhong, & You, 2011). Lastly, I will consider some precautions of using protective personal equipment like gloves for the purposes of protecting my skin.

Mitigation Measures to Prevent the Problem in the Future

Each country has a state agency that ensures stringent practices to be observed to curb oil spills and support instant action in the event of an oil spill. We also have international bodies like United Nation Environment Program and World Conservation Monitoring Center and other oil industry association bodies that help to mitigate oil spills (Sylves, & Comfort, 2012). The first mitigating measure that can help avoid oil spill in the future is by fighting tooth and nail to ensure oil spill does not take place at all cost. This can be done through training the groups involved and substantiating the training with standard strategies, techniques, and procedures that allow check-ups and cleaning of pipes, and oil channels (Jha, Levy, & Gao, 2008). Some of the tools and equipment to be used to clean them up to include oil booms, dispersants that enclose the oil to a smaller area to inhibit it from spreading further. Employing the oil technology market and spill management that entails mechanical and physical methods and protection mechanisms such as pipeline leak detection plays a great mitigating role (Baruque et al., 2010).

Investing in knowledge and technological invention in line with the spillage of oil is another mitigating factor (Sylves, & Comfort, 2012). Developing scenarios of oil spillages for the preparation of disasters to be used in operational choices to make sure that aerial support and information is ever available is another mitigating factor (Baruque et al., 2010). The organization of crisis management should also enhance preparations for large-scale oil spills at strategic, tactical, and operational levels by putting into place a disaster management plan and arranging for joint exercises. Lastly, reporting any signs of an oil spill that can be totally contained regardless of the amount to the crisis management agencies in time can help prevent the occurrence of such cases in the future. Furthermore, regular check-ups of the tanks and pipes and ensuring bolts are ever tightened helps to prevent future occurrence of the oil spill (Jha, Levy, & Gao, 2008).

Conclusion

Oil spills threaten both the public health of animals and plants, natural resources and disrupt economic and environmental human life (Sylves, & Comfort, 2012). It puts human life at risk too hence every necessary effort must be considered to prevent oil spills and to mitigate any occurrence of oil spills. Oil spill strategies and programs play a crucial role in protecting the human environment through the response and action plan it offers. The majority of ports should be prepared to respond to the oil spill (Baruque et al., 2010); oil spill contingency programs should be enacted into place to help curb risk and hazards challenges. Furthermore, appropriate spill tools should be kept in sites under the instructions of trained employees for emergency reasons (Jha, Levy, & Gao, 2008). The legal obligation of checking and cleaning oil areas thoroughly should also be adhered to. Lastly, additional resources should be considered in areas with oil tankers to help reduce hazards and enhance extra personnel and the necessary equipment to handle risks when they occur. This detailed report to the senior management of LSM Rotterdam has evaluated immediate action to be taken, the assessment and monitoring process in case of oil spillage (Zhong, & You, 2011), it has given an action or response plan that can help resolve oil spillage (Sylves, & Comfort, 2012), and has pinpointed out some of the mitigating measures geared towards resolving and avoiding the problem in the future suppose it happens (Jha, Levy, & Gao, 2008).