Fueling, Oil, and
Other Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Source Control/Delivery Reduction
Summary
Promote the use of oil-absorbing materials in the bilge areas of all boats with inboard engines. Encourage your tenants to examine these materials at least once a year and replace them as necessary.
Oil-absorption pads and pillows are now readily available from numerous manufacturers. Have these materials available in your ship's store for your customers. Encourage boaters to use absorption pads to reduce the overboard discharge of oily bilge water, which has been a problem for boats with automatic bilge pumps and engines that leak. A solution is to keep oil-absorption pads or pillows in the bilge, allowing them to absorb oil and fuel before the bilge water is discharged overboard. The pads can also be used to clean engine spaces, absorbing oils, grit, and water. Instruct boaters at the time of purchase about proper disposal of the pads. To reduce the problems even further, boaters should keep engine spaces clean. This allows easier detection of oil spills and leaks, permitting a quicker response and remedial action. Consider applying these same practices to any mechanized equipment at your facility.
Use automatic shut-off nozzles and promote the use of fuel/air separators on air vents or tank stems of inboard fuel tanks to reduce the amount of fuel oil spilled into surface waters during fueling of boats.
Automatic shut-off nozzles should be installed, if they are not already, on fueling pump discharge hoses. These devices automatically stop the flow of fuel from the pump into the boat's fuel tank when enough reverse pressure is created. This guards against the continuous pumping of fuel when a boat's fuel tank is full. Installation of these devices should be considered anytime the facility is upgrading fuel pumps.
Fuel/air separators are in-line devices for boats that prevent fuel from exiting vents during fueling operations. The inexpensive devices can easily be installed by the boater or the marina staff. They are fitted in the fuel line between the vent and the fuel tank, generally in a void area. Once installed, they should only require minimal maintenance and do not need to be annually replaced or cleaned. Fuel/air separators, when properly installed, will only allow air to flow through them, thus preventing fuel from being spilled into the water. Information about these devices can be obtained from major manufacturers of oils and fuel filters.
Both these devices can significantly reduce the small incremental amount of fuel being discharged into waters surrounding a marina.
Place containment berms around fixed pieces of machinery that use oil and gas.
Generators and other mechanized equipment that may have a tendency to leak oil or gas should have berms around them. In some cases a leak-proof container could be affixed below the machine to catch dripping fluid. Drain plugs in the container should be used to remove collected material on a regular schedule. This practice can also be augmented by placing oil-absorbent pads under the machinery. This will help capture leaking material and prevent it from entering the environment. Attempt to secure the source of the leaking to reduce the amount of pollutant entering the environment.
Properly maintain engine repair areas.
Keep areas clean that are routinely used for engine repairs. Clean up spills immediately; don't dispose of waste in sinks or drains. Block waste from inadvertently entering drains by using a plug.