Fueling, Oil, and
Other Petroleum Hydrocarbons
Spill Protection and Recovery
Summary
Each facility should have adequate oil spill response equipment that is easily accessible and clearly marked.
The key to spill protection is early response and action. By having adequate spill response equipment on site and accessible, larger, more expensive spills can be prevented. The spill response equipment should be stored in an area were it can be deployed quickly. Consider storing the equipment where the greatest threat of an oil spill exists. In most marinas, this is the fueling station. The primary response equipment should be stored together in an enclosed container or bin. Oil response kits, containing the basic equipment and designed to fit on a dock, are commercially available. You can also build or buy a waterproof storage container and stock it with the equipment you feel is necessary. Whatever storage method you use, it should be accessible by your staff, especially those who handle the fueling operation. Some marinas have opted not to lock the storage container and leave it accessible for all patrons to use at their discretion. This may encourage quicker response to smaller spills away from the fueling dock.
Having adequate spill response equipment depends on the type of recreational boating facility and the type of vessels stored there. At a minimum, oil booms and absorbent pads should be available. The amount (linear footage) of boom will depend on the size of the largest fuel tank on board a vessel in your facility. As a standard rule, for every foot of boat, expect to use three feet of boom. Therefore, to adequately encircle a forty foot boat would require 120 feet of boom. Generally, two types of booms exist: one type, the oil containment floating boom, prevents oil from spreading on the surface by presenting a floating barrier; and the second type, the oil-absorbing floating boom, not only prevents the oil from spreading but also absorbs the oil. Both types can be strung together to encircle the affected area, but become less effective as surface currents increase.
Absorbent pads are now available in a multitude of shapes, sizes, and prices. These products are designed to absorb and trap hydrocarbons for easy disposal. They are primarily used for the quick cleanup of light fuel spills by deploying them into the oil slick and retrieving them once they are saturated. Some marinas have adopted the practice of securing oil-absorbent material at the waterline of floating fuel docks to quickly capture small spills.
Traditionally, other equipment includes dispersants and surface skimmers. Dispersants, although effective for removing light oil from the surface, should not be used. The chemicals do not remove the oils from the environment but simply move them from the surface to subsurface areas. When oil is dispersed to subsurface areas, it usually becomes entrapped in bottom sediments, potentially causing long-term impacts. Surface skimmers should not be required. The primary purpose of your response equipment is to minimize the amount of oil free in the environment. Resources for removing the oil from the environment can be called upon once the spill is contained.
Each facility should develop and maintain an oil spill recovery plan.
The plan should be short, with clear directions that can be understood by each employee. Components of a spill recovery plan should address the following:
1. Who-Clearly identify who is responsible for taking what action. Action items will include deploying the equipment and contacting the emergency agencies and additional resources. The plan should contain a list, updated periodically, of emergency phone numbers that would be used during a spill event. One person on the marina staff should be designated the official spokesperson for the facility.
2. What-What action should be taken during an oil spill event and, based on likely threats, what equipment should be deployed. Include information on what type of spill equipment is available on site and what its characteristics and capabilities are.
3. When-When additional resources should be called for assistance. When the equipment will be inspected and replaced, if necessary. A maintenance and practice schedule for the equipment should be established.
4. Where-Where the material is located in the facility. Identify sources where additional oil response equipment can be quickly attained, if it is necessary. Sources may include commercial response companies or neighboring marinas that have oil spill response equipment. If a commercial oil spill response firm is going to be used, consider establishing a pre-arranged agreement with them.
5. How-Explain how the equipment should be used and disposed of. To be sure that the crew understands the response plan, conduct drills that simulate an oil spill. Evaluate the drill and share observations with all your employees.
Inform your local harbormaster and fire department about your spill recovery plan and equipment.
Because the fire department and the harbormasters may be included in any first response action, it may be appropriate for them to have a copy of the oil spill plan on file. This will improve the marina's efficiency when working with the municipality in response to a major oil spill. In some cases, the marina operator has granted permission for the city or town to use the response equipment, if necessary. Marina operators may also consider inviting the harbormaster or fire department to participate in drills as they are held at the facility.