This post is written for the “Save the Ocean” group-writing project by PK Tan @ Travel Malaysia Guide.

Leaks and spills of fuel oil, gasoline and other petroleum products caused by accidents involving tankers, barges, pipelines, refineries and storage facilities can have numerous adverse effects on our environment:

• Pollution of groundwater which are a natural source of drinking water

  
  Image: A bird coated in thick fuel oil on a beach after the 2002 Prestige oil spill off the coast of Spain by Denis Doyle/AP.

• Harmful effects to wildlife, mainly fish, shellfish, crustaceans, and marine birds.
• Vapors from spills enter indoor environments where people live and work.
• Oil can also destroy marine plankton and contaminate marshes and other highly productive estuarine areas.
• Visual pollution of an oiled beach diminishes recreational values in coastal communities.

Image: Beach closures after oil spills by Ingrid Taylar.

Oil spills accidents are normally caused by human errors and natural disasters; however deliberate acts cause by terrorism, war, and illegal bilge dumping prove that oil spills aren’t always accidentals.

Lots of man power and money have to be spent on clearing oil spills, but the effects of an oil spill can linger for years - the toll of oil lingering amid rocks or settling on the sea bed could prove much harder to gauge. Studies have found that oil spill deposits continued to leach toxic chemicals into the environment for years.

So long oil is in demand; the possibilities of oil spills will always exist. In order to minimize this possibility, the oil industry needs to come up with safer ways of transportation and storage of oil.

Safer vessel designs play a big role. Examples include double hulls, improved steering systems, improved radar detection systems, satellite and radio communication and computer monitoring of the vessel’s operations. Better aids for navigation systems also help reduce risks.

To reduce the incidence of illegal bilge dumping, it is possible to “fingerprint” the petroleum products carried or used on individual ships, however education and deterrence are still the best ways to deal with illegal bilge dumping.

As individuals, we can all help curb oil pollution by communicating our concerns to all levels of government.

Recommended reads:

• Comparing the worst oil spills
• How oil pollution affects birds and other wildlife
• All about pollution @ Ocean Link

January 2008 is “Save the Ocean” month here at The Giving Hands. Click here for more information on how you too, can save our oceans, and remember to subscribe to The Giving Hands for your daily updates!