15/04/2021
Oil leakage is not done. Whether it’s a dredging vessel or a container ship, oil emission is something that has to be avoided at all times. The impact on the environment is considerable, not to mention the consequences for ship owners.Researchers stated that 457 million litres of oil enter the oceans annually from regular shipping activities. The majority of ocean-going ships use oil-lubricated stern tubes, and stern tube leakage is an important source of lubricant oil going into the ocean.
The effect of oil spills:
Oil emissions have a major effect on the environment. First, it not only has an effect when the oil has leaked, but also when the oil has to be cleaned from the damaged area. The animal life in the water or near the shore are the ones most affected by leakages. For example fish, dolphins and countless species of birds face the consequences of oil spills. Second, the local tourism industry also suffers from oil leakage into the ocean. Due to oil spills, birds are stranded at touristic places and beaches are polluted. This results in fewer tourists in such places.
Consequences for ship owners:
Oil leakage of ships doesn’t only have its effect on the environment, there are also consequences for dredge operators.
Restricted oil emission:
First of all, the environmental regulations for ships are getting stricter. Oil emission has to be limited and in some areas and harbours, oil emission is even prohibited. Examples of areas where oil emission is restricted are Russia, Australia and the United States.
Interrupted dredge operation:
However, if a vessel does spill oil, the effects for ship owners are considerable. A result is that the dredging operation has to be interrupted immediately and this leads to high costs for the dredging company. The oil leak has to be resolved before a dredging vessel can operate again.
Penalties:
Second, a dredge operator that sails in US waters can receive a penalty for leaking oil into the environment. Even when a leak is accidental, it is mandatory for ship owners to notify the US Coast Guard when an oil spill has taken place. When a ship owner doesn’t alert the proper authority in case of a leak, this is committing a crime.
The consequences named before have a vast impact on the dredge operators but also the loss of useful oil can be harmful. The oil is used to lubricate the seals and if a ship spills it in the ocean, money is also spilled.
