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Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea

Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea

VegetableVegetable OilOil SpillsSpills atat SeaSea

Cedre

OPERATIONAL GUIDE Cedre

Cover photo: NORDA drifting buoy on a vegetable slick (Cedre).

2 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea

OPERATIONAL GUIDE

This guide was prepared by the team of the Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation on Acci- dental Water (Cedre) as part of its technical Cedreprogramme, with financial support from the French Navy and Total.

The information contained in this guide is based on Cedre’s research and experience. Cedre may not be held liable for consequences arising from the use of the data in this publi- cation.

Acknowledgements: The translation of this guide into English was funded and carried out by Shell Trading and Shipping Company Limi- ted (STASCO), London on behalf of the Technical Advisory Committee for Oil Spill Response (ITAC).

3 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Purpose of this guide

Vegetable are an ever-increasing part of These potential consequences may lead the bulk traffic, as can be seen from the data for authorities to slicks originating at sea, fore- the Channel: cast future drift and possibly carry out response - 1999: 2,650,000 tonnes for 23 voyages operations. They may also lead to pollutant - 2000: 4,423,000 tonnes for 342 voyages from collection operations on the coast and/or envi- 1 January to 1 June ronmental and economic impact studies. - 2001: 8,730,000 These oils are only slightly toxic: they are classed The objective of this guide is to offer useful as Marpol Y ("Noxious substances with if scientific and technical facts to those involved discharge into the sea from tank cleaning ou in order to: deballasting operations, or deemed to present - assess the risk a hazard to eitheir marine ressources or human - make decisions regarding the timeliness of a health or cause harm to amenities or other response legitimate users of the sea and therefore jus- - select any action to be taken tify a limitation on the quality and quantity of - inform the public of the situation and pros- the discharge into the marine environment"). pects. However, when spilled in significant volumes, and particularly in the spring and summer, they can have adverse effects on the environment or economic activities (, mariculture) and interfere with amenities. Cedre

4 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Contents

PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE 4 CONTENTS 5 INTRODUCTION 6 A OPERATIONAL ORGANISATION 7

A Alarm, notification, first measures 8 A.1 - Loss reported by vessel responsible 9 B A.2 - Pollution from unknown source 10 A.3 - Notification, first measures 11

B Identification of vegetable oils 12 B.1 - Bibliographical data – vegetable oils (rape-, palm, palm , castor, , soya bean, sunflower) 13 B.2 - Aerial detection 15 C Visual observation 15 SLAR detection 16 17 18 Soya bean oil 19 D Microwave radiometer – Calculation of surface area 20

C Assessment of the behaviour of vegetable oil spills at sea 22 C.1 - Surface drift 23 C.2 - Marking using drifting buoys 24 C.3 - Sampling 25 E C.4 - Spreading 26

D Risk profiles 27

E Decision-making 28 F

F Response Cedre29 F.1 - Techniques and tools 30 F.2 - Containment and recovery of pollutant at source 31 F.3 - Containment of spills at sea and simultaneous recovery of pollutant 32 G F.4 - Trawling of solid vegetable oil 33 F.5 - Recovery of pollutant onshore and disposal 34

G Follow-up 35

ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 35

5 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Introduction

This guide constitutes a summary of -  Assessment of the situation: ried out by Cedre from 1998 to 2000, with expe- In addition to information on the behaviour of riments at sea (PALMOR I, II and III operations), the product, data on the sea and weather condi- in a testing channel and in the laboratory. tions, sensitivity of the environment and available These experiments were carried out under the means of response must also be researched. direction of CEPPOL, the French navy's commit-  Decision-making: tee for practical studies in pollution response The estimated potential impact will allow for with the active participation of Polmar aircraft assessment of the level of threat and determina- from French Customs, to which we owe the tion of the timeliness of the response. aerial photographs and the signatures of the  Response: drifting slicks, thanks to the onboard sensing This phase of the operation consists of imple- elements. menting response decisions: searching, marking, This guide offers a methodical and dynamic recovery and disposal. approach in five phases:  Follow-up of progress:  Alarm, notification, first measures: Faced with a situation likely to change rapidly, These three factors are closely interrelated and particularly under the influence of meteo-ocea- may have a decisive impact on the progress of nic factors, continuous follow-up of the develop- operations. The announcement of the loss or ment of all the elements is necessary to reassess discovery of vegetable oil at sea generates pro- the situation and restart the decision-making cedures for alarm, notification and safety or process. measures of a reflex nature.

To support the various phases of this gene- ral methodical approach, the information contained in this guideCedre has been assem- bled in chapters which cover the following topics: A – Alarm, notification, first measures B – Identification of vegetable oils C – Assessment of behaviour D – Risk profiles E – Decision-making F – Response G – Follow-up

6 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Operational organisation

Alarm, notification, A first measures

Alarm, notification, and reflex measures Identification of A vegetable oils B

Assessment of Assessment, C Information gathering behaviour B C D

Risk profiles D

Follow-up of developments Decision-making G E Decision-making E

ResponseCedre F Response F

Follow-up G

7 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Alarm, notification,

A first measures

 Loss reported by vessel responsible A1

 Pollution from unknown source A2

 Notification, first measures A3

Solidified vegetable oil slick Cedre(RAPSODI II experiment) © Cedre

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Loss reported by vessel responsible

A1 In accordance with current international provi- Where? sions, any accident involving a vessel carrying  Location of accident or spill vegetable oil, and any critical situation arising  Vessel’s route at the time of the incident or onboard such a vessel, must immediately be during the spill period brought to the attention of the maritime autho-  Conditions in the area (swell, wind) rities. How? Questions to be put to the vessel:  Circumstances of the incident (collision, What? grounding, fire, explosion), location of the  What is the product in question? breach, etc. - soya bean oil  Is the vessel in difficulty (manoeuvring or not, - palm oil with or without power onboard, drifting) ? - palm nut oil Context? - rape-  Type of vessel involved - - Single-hull, double-hull tanker - castor oil - Heated (indicate temperature) - - Volume of tanks and - other - Bunkers: exact type and volume How much?  Measures taken by the crew (leak stopped or not)  Volume spilled  Volume in affected tanks When?  Time of incident Validate information by Cedrerepeating approaches.

9 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Pollution from unknown source

A2 Questions to be put to the vessel or detection aircraft:

First approach:  Position  Time of discovery  General appearance of pollution  Shape, size  Colour  Apparent state  Persistence  Drift  Weather conditions in area B

Second approach:  Sampling  Analyses C3 Cedre

10 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Notification, first measures

A3 Initial information

A1

MRCC: POLREP issue

Notification: Cedre: Drift estimate (Météo- - Insurer France's MOTHY model) - Shipowner + and research on propertiesCedre- Marine Operations Centre

- Aerial search and Possible warning to local assistance councils, maritime authorities - Nautical assistance etc. and coastal bodies

11 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Identification of vegetable oils

B  Bibliographical data (rape-seed, palm, palm nut, castor, olive, soya bean, sunflower) B1

 Aerial detection: B2

Visual observation SLAR detection Palm oil Castor oil Soya bean oil Microwave radiometer – Calculation of surface area

Vegetable oil spills at sea are detected like oil slicks. Cedre

12 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Bibliographical data Vegetable oils

OIL TYPE RAPE-SEED PALM PALM NUT CASTOR

Synonyms Rape oil, Palm oil, Palm nut oil Castor oil, B1 Rape seed oil, Palm oil Cosmetol, Gold bond, Phorbyol, Neoloid, Ricinus oil Marpol category Y Y Y Y Case n° 8002-13-9 8002-75-3 8023-79-8 8001-79-4 (8021-37-2) Appearance (state at 20°C) Yellow liquid Orange-red Light yellow Colourless/pale solid, light to liquid, yellow liquid, dark odour slight odour

Density relative to sea water 0.91 0.895 to 0.95 0.899 to 0.913 0.96 (at 20°C)

Melting point (°C) -18 to -8 +26 to +30 +23 to +30 -18 to -10 (or even 45) Boiling point (°C) 313 (°C) Cedre+314 +298 Solubility in sea water (mg/l) insoluble insoluble insoluble insoluble (cSt at 20°C) 72 to 82 25 to 31 17 to 20 600 to 1,200 (at 50°C) (at 50°C) (at 840°C) Auto-ignition temperature (°C)

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Bibliographical data Vegetable oils

OIL TYPE OLIVE SOYA BEAN SUNFLOWER

B1 Synonyms Olive oil, Soya bean oil, Sunflower oil Sweet oil MARPOL category Y Y Y Case n° 8001-25-0 8001-22-7 8001-21-6 Appearance (state at 20°C) Yellow-green Yellowish liquid Yellowish liquid liquid Density relative to sea water 0.910 - 0.919 0.92 0.92 (at 20°C) Melting point (°C) 0 -15 -15 Boiling point (°C) Flash point (°C) 225 317 Solubility in sea water (mg/l) insoluble insoluble insoluble Viscosity (cSt at 20°C) 75 to 80 60 to 80 70 Auto-ignition temperature (°C) 343 Cedre

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Aerial detection Visual observation

The limitations of visual observation depend on In the case of palm oil, the camera detects the colour of the oil. However, in low-angled aggregates above all. light, the eye distinguishes films which corres- pond to thicknesses of around one micron. B2

Slicks of castor oil, soya bean oil, 50/50 and palm oil in background – aerial view. PALMOR I experiment (October 1998) © Douanes françaises

Slick of palm oil seen from the deck of a vessel (PALMOR I) Cedre© Cedre

Palm nut oil – aerial view (Allegra incident, 900 t, 1997) © Douanes françaises

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Aerial detection SLAR detection (Side-Looking Airborne Radar)

Acquired during the PALMOR I experiment, these images show that spilled products are detected very easily at close to 1,000 feet, over a range of 20 m. Volumes spilled = 4 m³ of palm oil and 2 m³ for each of the other products (50/50 fuel oil, soya bean oil and castor oil) B2 © Douanes françaises

Date: 19/10/98 Slight detection of 4 slicks UTC time: 14:11 hrs From top to bottom: Latitude: 49°17’N - palm oil Longitude: 003°55’W - 50/50 fuel oil Heading: 082 - soya bean oil Altitude: 3,834 feet - castor oil Speed: 181 knots Range: 20 nautical miles Sea: 23

Cedre

© Douanes françaises Douanes © © Douanes françaises Douanes ©

Date: 20/10/98 Date: 20/10/98 UTC time: 08:09 hrs Drift of 4 slicks UTC time: 09:08 hrs Detection of a Latitude: 48°59’N 19/10/98 Latitude: 49°16’N cas tor oil slick Longitude: 003°50’W Longitude: 004°08’W between the two Heading: 323 Heading: 064 vessels taking part Altitude: 2,400 feet Altitude: 3,394 feet in the exercise Speed: 178 knots Speed: 195 knots

16 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Aerial detection Palm oil

Infrared imagery detects palm oil clearly. The visible camera and the microwave radiometer, although less effective, provide additional information for thick areas and help evaluate surface areas (see page 20).

B2 PALMOR I experiment: volume spilled = 4 m³

Date: 19/10/98 UTC time: 13:24 hrs Latitude: 49°07’8N Longitude: 004°00’7W Heading: 308° Altitude: 1,000 feet Wind: 253/11 knots Sea: 23 © Douanes françaises

Microwave radiometer Infrared Visible Cedre © Douanes françaises © Douanes françaises

None of the system colorimeters can highlight Uniform slick, with regular outline the minimal thickness of the slick. However, the (thin film). The visible camera barely outline is practically identifiable in the shaded detects the perimeter but highlights area. This recording demonstrates the high sensi- the oil emulsion (white area). tivity of the onboard radiometer. Surface area: 143,000 m².

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Aerial detection Castor oil

Infrared imagery detects castor oil clearly. The visible camera and the microwave radiometer, although less effective, provide additional information on thick areas and help evaluate surface areas (see page 21).

B2 PALMOR I experiment: volume spilled = 2 m³

Date: 19/10/98 UTC time: 13:13 hrs Latitude: 49°07’8N Longitude: 004°00’7W Heading: 308° Altitude: 1,000 feet Wind: 265/14 Sea: 23 © Douanes françaises

Microwave radiometer CedreInfrared Visible © Douanes françaises © Douanes françaises

Significant detection of the thickest part of the Good infrared detection. castor oil slick: thickness = 30 µm. Surface area: 1,800,000 m²

18 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Aerial detection Soya bean oil

Infrared imagery detects soya bean oil clearly. The visible camera and the microwave radiometer, although less effective, provide additional information on thick areas and help evaluate surface areas (see page 21).

B2 PALMOR I experiment: volume spilled = 2 m³

Date: 19/10/98 UTC time: 13:17 hrs Latitude: 49°07’8N Longitude: 004°00’7W Heading: 308° Altitude: 1,000 feet Wind: 268/14* Sea: 23 © Douanes françaises

Microwave radiometer Infrared Visible Cedre © Douanes françaises © Douanes françaises

Significant detection of the thickest part of the soya Good infrared detection. bean oil slick: thickness = 45 µm. Surface area: 170,000 m².

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Aerial detection Microwave radiometry - Calculation of surface area

The thickest parts of the castor oil and soya bean oil slicks (over 30 µm) are easily detected. The same cannot be said for solidified palm oil. The thickest parts can however be detected in shaded areas, although an estimation of the volume is unable to be obtained. B2 50/50 FUEL OIL (reference) Volume spilled = 2 m³ Length: 400 m Width: 60 m Total surface area: 23,000 m²

Thickness between 1 and 10 µm

Surface of red area corresponding to microwave data: 1,500 m² Thickness: 30 µm © Douanes françaises Volume: 0.05 m³

PALM OIL CedreVolume spilled = 4 m³

Length: 788 m Width: 182 m Total surface area: 143,000 m²

Thickness between 1 and 10 µm

© Douanes françaises Volume: estimate impossible

20 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Aerial detection Microwave radiometry - Calculation of surface area

CASTOR OIL Volume spilled = 2 m³

B2

Length: 1,371 m Width: 131 m Total surface area: 180,000 m²

Thickness between 1 and 10 µm

Surface of black area corresponding to microwave data: 8,000 m² Thickness: 30 µm Volume: 0.24 m³ © Douanes françaises

SOYA BEAN OIL Volume spilled = 2 m³

CedreLength: 1,224 m Width: 138 m Total surface area: 170,000 m²

Thickness between 1 and 10 µm

Surface of black area corresponding to microwave data: 10,500 m² Thickness: 45 µm Volume: 0.48 m³ © Douanes françaises

21 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Assessment of the behaviour of vegetable oil spills at sea

 Surface drift C1

 Marking using drifting buoys1 C2

C  Sampling C3

 Spreading C4

Cedre

22 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Surface drift

Vegetable oils are stable, non-volatile products Vegetable oils spilled at sea will therefore: which will float while spreading and develop 1. drift on the surface under the effect of the slowly over time under the effect of the sun current and winds, and possibly become (ultraviolet) and waves (mechanical action). Palm stranded oil, a solid at ambient temperature, will solidify 2. be broken down under the effect of the sun on contact with seawater and produce aggrega- 3. be assimilated by fauna (birds, fish, etc.) and tes the diameter of which may reach several tens undergo microbial attack of centimetres, accompanied by a solid film of 4. in some cases, polymerise and persist for whitish to orange-yellow colour. several years in the environment. In this guide, we only deal with point 1 as the other phenomena are either very slow or rare. C1

The drift of oils on the surface (solid or deteriorates over time. Beyond 3 days, the liquid) obeys the same laws as those meteo-oceanic forecasts are not sufficient- governing the drift of floating hydrocar- ly reliable to allow for operational use of bons. the simulations. It is essential to readjust the model through aerial observation of Wind effect the slicks (once a day at least, twice by - 3% of the average wind speed preference). It is advisable to map slicks or - in the direction in which the wind is to take note of: blowing - the position (longitude, latitude) Current effect - the number of slicks - 100% of the speed of the current - their appearance - towards where the current is hea- - their size ding - their direction. A simple vector gives a good Refer to the guidelines published by picture of the speed modulus and direc- Cedre entitled, “Aerial Observation of Oil CedrePollution at Sea”. tion of the immediate drift.

Cedre can implement the MOTHY drift Since the resolution of the MOTHY model forecast model through Météo France’s is 1 nautical mile, the slicks will be positio- Marine Forecast Centre in Toulouse. ned (latitude, longitude) individually if the distance that separates them is greater The reliability of slick drift simulations than this value.

23 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Marking using drifting buoys

The PALMOR I and PALMOR II experiments These buoys can be dropped from low-flying air- showed that some buoys, e.g NORDA* and PTR craft (e.g. jettisoning tube from Breguet Atlan- (SERPIESM)** buoys, drift in a similar way to tics or S.A.R. hatches of French Customs patrol liquid or solid floating oils. aircraft).

The drift of the IESM buoys may be followed The remote surveillance of their drift requires remotely with a position detected 20 to 40 times specialised software (ELSA) available at Cedre per day according to whether the Argos signal is or at the Argos satellites management centre linked to a GPS position or not. (C.L.S. in Toulouse). C2

* Available from the French Navy’s stockpile ** Available from the SHOM’s stockpile

NORDA marking buoy (French Navy) equipped with an ARGOS transmitter © Cedre

Recovery of a PTR marking buoy (SERPIESM) in Cedrepalm oil © Cedre

24 © Cedre Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Sampling

Sampling must be systematic in order to identify for the opposing party and the third for any the product in the event of an unexpected disco- counter-valuation that may be required by the very and to support legal action, if necessary. judge. Analysis must be carried out by an appro- ved laboratory. Sampling for legal purposes (so-called judi- cial sampling) is carried out in the presence of Sampling for purely operational purposes an authorised official who draws up a report. It (so-called administrative sampling) can be necessarily involves 3 sealed samples, each in a provided by any operator appointed by the spill glass flask filled with water + oil or absorbent response authority. Two samples at least will be paper soaked in oil, sealed hermetically (alumi- taken, to allow for counter-analysis. The tech- nium paper between the stopper and the inside nical precautions are the same as for judicial of the flask), kept cold (4/5°C) and sheltered sampling. The analysis can be entrusted to any C3 from the light. One of these flasks is intended competent laboratory. for the person requesting the sample, another

Cedre

25 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Spreading

The PALMOR I experiment showed that vegeta- 1 and 10 µm thick at 15°C. ble oils spread to form a very fine film between

Castor Soya bean Palm 50/50 Fuel (2 m3) (2 m3) (4 m3) (2 m3) Total surface area cove- 18 ha 17 ha 14 ha 2,4 ha red (1 - 10 µm) (1 400 x 130 m) (1 200 x 140 m) (800 x 180 m) (400 x 60 m) Area of thickness greater 0.8 ha 1 ha Unquantified 0.14 ha than 30 µm (0.03 mm) C4 solid aggregates PALMOR I: spreading of vegetable oils

One hour after the spill, a small part of this parts are likely to be collected and recovered surface area (around 5%) has a thickness by nautical means. greater than 30 microns (µm). Only these Cedre

26 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Risk profiles

Risks for participants • Effect on amenities: possible, owing to a • No significant risk except that connected nauseating smell linked to the bacterial with slippery surfaces. degradation process (tourism, mariculture, sensitive areas). Risks for the environment • Immediate effect: oiling of the coastline and MARPOL category: Y (defined in Chapter 2 regu- birdsh as wit petroleum products but without lation 6 of Annex II of MARPOL Convention, their toxicity (due, amongst other things, to consolidated Edition 2011) as: "Noxious liquid the aromatics) unless large quantities of oil substances with if discharge into the sea from are ingested, except for benthic fauna which tank cleaning ou deballasting operations, or could become asphyxiated. deemedo t present a hazard to eitheir marine • Persistence: no accumulation. Apart from ressources or human health or cause harm to polymerisation, slow but fairly complete amenities or other legitimate users of the sea which reduces the and therefore justify a limitation on the quality dissolved in water more significantly than for and quantity of the discharge into the marine hydrocarbons (depending on the agitation D and temperature of the environment). environment"). Accumulation of vegetable oil (palm nut oil) in a creek. Allegra incident, Guernsey coast, 1997 Cedre © Cedre

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Decision-making

Factors to be taken into account when making • Are resources threatened by the arrival of the response-related decisions: product on the shore (tourism, mariculture, • Time limit for response: is it possible to spawning grounds)? recover the product? • Have the shore authorities (councils, • The volume spilled: is a response at sea prefectures, defence areas) and the coastal justified (recovery)? protection bodies expressed their wishes? • Surface drift: is the slick drifting towards a sensitive area (for a given period)?

Aerial surveillance and marking are essential to making the decision to initiate a response.

E Cedre

28 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Response

Whatever the type of vegetable oil in question, the main response strategy is recovery, preceded by containment on the water within a boom.

 Techniques and tools F1

 Containment and recovery of pollutant at source F2

 Containment of slicks at sea and simultaneous recovery of pollutant F3

 Trawling of solid vegetable oil F4

 Recovery of pollutant onshore and disposal F5

Vessels (RSV and tug) pulling a surface trawl net

Cedre F © Marine nationale

29 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Techniques and tools

Dispersion using dispersant products gives poor ques proven during real oil spill incidents (towing to mediocre results. This response technique is in a “U” or “J” configuration), techniques descri- therefore not recommended. bed in the following pages. Recovery of vegetable oils is the only effective Oils in a liquid or solid state will be easily recove- technique likely to prevent (or reduce) the impact red using a weir skimmer up to a sea state of 3. on the environment and interference with ame- The following pages refer to manoeuvring. Solid nities. products (i.e. palm nut oil) may also be recove- The use of open sea booms is essential in order red using a net or a trawl net. to contain the vegetable oil, according to techni-

Weir skimmer and palm oil © Cedre F1 Cedre

Containment of soya bean oil (2 m³), 300m of boom towed in a U configu- ration (PALMOR II experiment) © Marine nationale

30 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Containment and recovery of pollutant at source

Objective • Contain partially around the source of the spill (by using wind and current to best To contain the oil close to the source of a spill advantage) (breach in the hull of a stricken vessel, for example) if the lengths of boom available are to limit the spread and dispersion of pollutant in insufficient. the environment. Deployment Necessary resources • Prepare and assemble lengths of boom • Antipollution equipment: necessary for containment operations. - medium or heavy curtain boom • Put the boom on the water from a boat or - skimmers + pumping units pontoon and tow it, in a line, by tug. • Naval support: • Partially or completely encircle the stricken - 1 barge with pusher tug or 1 small vessel. coastal tanker • Simultaneously connect the boom to its - 1 tug mooring points on the water. • Ancillaries: • Position skimmer(s). - and chains Recommendations - anchors and buoys or mooring buoys and trunk buoys • Prevent current inversion by using a double - flexible hoses and connections anchorage (if using anchors). - magnets for attaching booms to the hull • Comply with the rules for positioning booms of the vessel facing the current. • Use wind and current (rather than submitting How to proceed to them) when positioning. • Contain completely by encircling the stricken • Regulate traffic by stopping access to the vessel with a floating containment boom area of operations by other vessels. if there is sufficient quantity of lengths of boom available. Cedre F2

31 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Containment of slicks at sea and simultaneous recovery of polluant

Objective Deployment To collect drifting slicks by means of a boom • Put the boom on the water, at sea, close to connected to a device allowing for recovery of the slick. the pollutant. • Pay out the boom gradually, the vessel moving at slow speed. Necessary resources • Connect the free end of the boom to the • Antipollution equipment: second vessel or set up the jib boom or - medium or heavy curtain boom paravane (if single vessel). - skimmer + pumping unit • Assemble the flexible hoses of the pumping • Naval support: unit, then put the skimmer on the water. - 1 or 2 vessels to tow the boom (pusher • Tow the slick at reduced speed: 0.5 to tug, tug or supply boat) 0.8 knots (surface speed). - 1 vessel or barge to store recovered Recommendations products (if tugs do not have their own storage) • Guide the vessel by aerial means. • Aerial support (tracking): • Optimise the use of storage resources by - 1 helicopter or light aircraft only operating the skimmer when sufficient • Ancillaries: oil has accumulated. - radio link • Discharge settling water in the boom. - ropes • Monitor the level in the storage tanks and continuously assess the oil content of the How to proceed recovered product • Sweep the polluted area by trawling the slick adjust the flow rate of the pump and using: skimmer if necessary. - a U configuration: the boom is towed • Monitor the wake behind the boom by two vessels, recovery provided by a in the event of an escape: slow down the F3 third speed of the convoy. - a J configuration: the boom is towed • Avoid straying into shallow or narrow areas. by two vessels, oneCedre of which provides • Avoid any extreme acceleration or change in recovery and storage direction. - a single-vessel device: the boom and • To increase the breadth of sweep: place a recovery device are deployed coupled funnelling containment device in front of the to a single vessel, using a jib boom or a convoy. paravane

Containment/recovery of vegetable oil residues – POL SEINE 2 experiment

32 © Cedre Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Trawling of solid vegetable oil

Objective the pocket. On reaching the foot ropes To collect slicks in a solid state (aggregates). (leading edges), seize the trawl net and Necessary resources attach the two hoists. Continue to pay out onto the water. • 1 surface trawl net • The second vessel moves closer, in parallel • Trawl net cod end (provide spares) with the leading vessel, and attaches itself to • Aerial support (tracking) the anchored wing using its dragline, which - 1 helicopter or light aircraft is lashed onto the internal wing. • Ancillaries: • The second vessel sends its bow line forward - radio link and the second vessel’s wing is released - mooring gear () from the leading vessel. - polyethylene box • For every 10 m of dragline paid out, move - sorbent rolls the bow line 56 m away - Bidim® (Polyester Geotextile) • Change of bottom: the trawlers approach • Naval support: each other. The second vessel takes back - 2 vessels (810 m/ 200 horsepower the bow line. The leading vessel turns its minimum) dragline until the wing touches the transom - barge provided with tank for storing plate (two circles onboard). The leading recovered part (trawl net cod end) vessel brings the haul onboard. The pocket How to proceed is seized by the grommet and the tension is • Fishing vessels are particularly well suited and released to decouple the two circles. Once used to working in formation. The trawl net the pocket is free, put a new one on and pay is towed by two vessels. The two wings of out the trawl net. the trawl net act as concentrating elements • Fix a rope equipped with a buoy on the which allow the aggregates to congregate bottom for recovery. Return the pocket by at the bottom of the pocket. The back of freeing the grommet and close up the other the trawl net is held outside the water by end of the envelope. F4 two metal tubes, the hoists. The towlines or Recommendations draglines are taken up on two Cedrewooden joists • Surface trawl nets are suitable for floating (L = 1 m), located at the end of the wings. solid products, and aggregates of solidified Each trawl net cod end can contain several vegetable oil. cubic metres of product. • The operating speed can be up to 4 knots for Deployment a sea state of less than 4. • Anchor the wing which serves the second • Provide for a recovery device (crane) and vessel onto the leading vessel. Lash the other storage of the trawl net cod ends. The full wing to the external dragline. cod ends are hoisted by the grommet or • Put the trawl net on the water starting with towed to a port provided with a hold.

33 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Recovery of pollutant onshore and disposal

Objective - Bidim ® To clean the coastline affected by pollution and How to proceed dispose of waste collected during this opera- • At high tide, surround the slick using boom, tion. then pump via the skimmer. • At low tide, the area may be cleaned using Response for solid vegetable oil low-pressure cold water jets in order to reduce the emulsification process. After Necessary resources decantation of the effluents, the oil must • Specialised screening equipment (sand be pumped. screener, mini-sand screener) • Plastic sacks and dustbins Recommendations How to proceed In both cases, it is necessary to provide an inter- In the event of a massive arrival of agglomera- mediate storage site for collected waste (both tes at sites with difficult access (rocky creek or and solids). shingle beach), manual collection is necessary Collection must be selective. in order to reduce degradation and the resulting The use of low-pressure water jets requires the production of nauseating odours. If the areas setting up of a cleaning station identical to those affected are beaches, collection may be carried used for petroleum pollution. out using sand screeners. Waste disposal Response for liquid vegetable oil Large solid waste collected that is not soiled or Necessary resources barely soiled should be disposed of according • Pollution response equipment to conventional procedures for removal of hou- - Boom sehold waste. With regard to the oil and very F5 - Skimmer + pumping unit soiled material, refer to the guide published by - Low-pressure cold water jets Cedre, “Oil Spill Waste Management”. • Ancillaries: Cedre - Sorbent rolls + sorbent boom

34 Vegetable Oil Spills at Sea Operational Guide

Follow-up

In order to be able to reassess the situation at any time, a surveillance procedure for the development of the spilled product is necessary. To do this, the following techniques are used:

 Detection of vegetable oils B2  Assessment of behaviour of vegetable oils spilled at seaC C

Acronyms and abbreviations

°C: Degree Celsius CAS: Chemical Abstract Summary CEPPOL: Commission d'Etudes Pratiques de Lutte Antipollution C.L.S.: Collecte Localisation Satellite (Satellite Location Collec- tion Point) cSt: Centistoke GPS: Global Positioning System Cedre µm: micron MRCC: Marine Rescue Coordination Centre G RSV: Regional Support Vessel SAR: Search and Rescue SHOM: Hydrographique et Océanographique de la Marine (French Naval Hydrographical and Oceanographic Department) SLAR: Side-Looking Airborne Radar UTC: Universal Time Conversion

35 Centre of Documentation, Research and Experimentation Cedreon Accidental Water Pollution. 715, rue Alain Colas, CS 41836, F 29218 BREST CEDEX 2, FRANCE Tel. +33 2 98 33 10 10 - Fax +33 2 98 44 91 38 Email: [email protected] - : http://www.cedre.fr

ISBN 2-87893-069-X © Cedre - 2004 (revised in 2014)