3‑1 Oil Spill Progression Timeline
Most spilled oil will naturally dissipate either through evaporation, dissolution or dispersion. However, some oils will evaporate within a few hours like gasolene, whereas others
like light and medium crude oil can take 2-10 days to dissipate from the surface of the sea.
Although other oils like the C-type heavy oil used as fuel for ships or crude oils with ahigh wax content can remain on the sea surface for many hours, they also naturally dissipate after some time.

＝ Natural Processes ＝
Figure 15 illustrates natural processes. Any oil type can be reduced to its natural form
over time by natural processes.

Evaporation

Sea

Spreading & drifting

Oil

Water-in-oil
emulsiﬁcation

Water-in-oil
emulsiﬁcation
Dissolution

Oil-in-water
dispersion
Oil-in-water emulsion

Water-in-oil emulsion

Sedimentation
Biodegradation Photooxidation

Figure 3: Oil Spill Progression Timeline“Umi” & “Nagisa” Foundation

13

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin① Spreading
From the outset of any spill, it is vital to fully understand the spreading process. The driving force for this initial flow is the weight of the oil. A large volume of oil spilling instantaneously will spread much more rapidly than a slow spill.
In the initial stage, oil spreads in one large flow, however the speed of that flow depends
on the viscosity of the oil. High viscosity oils will spread slowly, whereas an oil spill
which is below pour point temperature (Note 1) will hardly spread at all. However, theinitial flow will begin to break up after a few hours and start to form narrow bands according to the forces of the wind and tide.
Note 1: Pour point:
The pouring point of oil is measured in ℃. Pour point represents the temperature below
which oil ceases to flow, rather it takes on the fundamental properties of a solid.

② Evaporation
The rate of evaporation and the speed at which it occurs depend upon the volatility of theoil. Oils with a low boiling point such as gasolene or kerosene will evaporate quickly andwill have often entirely evaporated after only a few hours. On the other hand, oils with ahigh boiling point such as heavy crude oil or C-type heavy oil evaporate very little if atall.
As the surface area of the slick increases, the light compounds of the oil will rapidly evaporate. The rate and size of initial spreading directly eﬀect the amount of evaporation.
Furthermore, when highly volatile oils like gasolene (boiling point 35~180℃, flash point-40℃) spread in an enclosed sea area, there is a risk of fire/explosion when the evaporated oil mixes with the air.
It is often possible to ignite large oil flows which have just begun to spread. However,once the volatile compounds of the oil have evaporated the remaining slick is thin andtogether with the cooling eﬀect of the sea water, it becomes increasingly diﬃcult to maintain any kind of combustion, even with the use of wicker material.

14

③ Oil-in-water dispersion
Waves and turbulence at the sea surface can cause some or all of a slick to break up intofragments and droplets of varying sizes. Some of the smaller droplets of oil will remainsuspended (like solid particles floating in a liquid) in the sea water while the larger ones
will tend to rise back to the surface and reform with any droplets which remained at thesurface. This reformed slick will then spread out to form a very thin film. The smallersuspended droplets encourage other natural processes such as biodegradation (the breaking down of chemical compounds into inorganic compounds through the actions of bacteria, fungi and other life forms).
It is interesting to note that given enough time microplastics may also biodegrade, but theprocess is extremely slow and they remain undegraded for a very long time causing amarine pollution problem which has recently come under much scrutiny.

④ Water-in-oil emulsification
The term “emulsion” refers to a state in which two liquids, which normally don't mix (likeoil and water), become combined. For example, oil and vinegar, which normally don'tmix, can be temporarily combined after vigorous shaking. This state is referred to as“emulsion”.
As the oil slick spreads over the sea, the film transforms from thick to thin and during thistime the various distilled fractions of petroleum gas and petrol (gasolene) evaporate. Finally, only the non-volatile compounds remain and these are buﬀeted by waves to form an“emulsion”. This emulsion consists of the following two types.

15

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin

Oil-in-water emulsion

Water-in-oil emulsion

Hydrophilic part

Hydrophobic part
Figure 4: Emulsion Diagram

i Oil in Water

Oil particles in water. It is reduced to seawater by digestion and oxidative decomposition by bacteria.

ii Water in Oil

This is an oil containing water (seawater). When an emulsion is formed, the volume
increases by a factor of three or four times and the viscosity increases by several
stages. If the asphaltene content is especially high, it can lead to “Chocolate
Mousse”, a stable tar-like oil mass that is extremely diﬃcult to process, or “Tarballs”, which can take years or even decades to break down. Therefore, removal
measures must be performed before the oil spill becomes an emulsion.

16

Photograph 1: Emulsion (Chocolate Mousse)

Photograph 2: Emulsion (Tarball)17

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin

Oil Spill Progression Timeline
0 Hours

1

10
Day

100

1,000

10,000

Week

Month

Year

Evaporation

Dissolution
Photo-oxidation
Biodegradation
Sedimentation
Water-in-oil
HPXOVLðFDWLRQ

Unstableemulsion

Oil-in-water
dispersion

SpreadingFigure 5: Oil Spill Progression Timeline (modified with data from the ITOPF)

18

Stablemousse3‑2 Oil Spill Spreading Factor
Spilt oil is spread by gravity (the weight of the oil) acting on the oil in the initial stage andthen by the surface tension of the oil. These spreads are short in duration and limited inextent. In fact, however, it is aﬀected by the following external forces, which cause it tospread intermittently, forming long, narrow strips or masses of oil in an irregular shaperather than a circle.

＝ External Forces: Spreading Factors ＝①

Wind

The floating oil spill is influenced by wind and leeway currents and is carried away byweathering at a speed of approximately 3% of the wind speed.

②

Ocean current

The strength (speed) and direction of the ocean current will carry it away.

③

Tidal current

When considering ocean currents, it is also necessary to take into account tidal currents.

④

Waves and Undulations (Swells)

As for spreading, the eﬀects of waves and undulations (swells) are diﬃcult to calculate,but these facilitate the emulsification of oil.

19

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin＝ Direction of Spilled Oil Flow: Vector Calculation ＝
Figure 6 is a method of measuring the direction and speed of spilled oil flow by vector
calculation.

Figure 6: Direction and Speed of Spilled Oil Flow(Document modified from the Marine Disaster Prevention Center (MDPC))

Using vectors, by calculating the data of the direction of flow of the ocean current (100%)and the wind speed of the prevailing wind (3%), the direction and speed of the oil spill canbe determined.

20

3-3 Spreading Preventive Measures
The best way to minimise the damage caused by an oil spillage accident is to prevent the
spread of the spilled oil. However, the Vessel has a limited supply of oil recovery materials, which are unlikely to be able to contain the spread of an oil spill. Therefore, thesooner oil recovery materials are made available, the less damage and loss is likely tooccur. ITOPF has seven resource bases in Japan. (See Figure 7.）

Figure 7: Bases of Petroleum Association of Japan (Partly Modified with Data from the ITOPF)

The MDPC has also set up resource bases in various parts of Japan. (See Figure 8.) The
roles and activities of the MDPC are as follows: (Taken from the MDPC homepage.)21

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin

1. Purpose
In conjunction with the implementation of countermeasures to deal with the outbreak ofmaritime disasters and the containment of any escalation thereof (hereinafter collectively
referred to as “maritime disaster prevention”), the MDPC also provides the necessary
vessels, equipment and materials for such eventualities as well as the organisation of any
necessary training programmes. Through international cooperation on maritime disasterprevention, the MDPC aims to contribute to the protection of human life and property.
2. Activities(1) Implementation of measures to clean up any oil spills and recovery of any costs incurred therein, in accordance with directives from the Japan Coast Guard Commandant.
(2) Implementation of measures to clean up any oil spills, extinguish fires and/or preventthe spread of fire or any other maritime disaster, on behalf of shipowners or any otherparty.
(3) Ensuring that oil recovery vessels, oil recovery equipment, oil booms etc., or any other vessels or equipment deemed necessary to prevent a maritime disaster are madeavailable to shipowners or any other party.
(4) Provision of the training required to implement maritime disaster prevention measures.
(5) Ensuring that the results of any research into the equipment, materials, and skills required for maritime disaster prevention are made available to shipowners or any otherparty.
(6) Gathering, collating and ensuring that any relevant information pertaining to maritime
disaster prevention is made available.
(7) Provision of advice and guidance on maritime disaster prevention on behalf of shipowners or any other party.
(8) Provision of advice and guidance on maritime disaster prevention in overseas countries. Provision of maritime disaster prevention training to overseas trainees, and contribution to international cooperation on maritime disaster prevention.
(9) Manufacturing and retail of the materials and equipment necessary for maritime disaster prevention, publication and retail of printed material regarding maritime disasterprevention, and conduction of any other incidental business arising from the previously mentioned activities above.
(10) Any of the previously mentioned activities above apply in a similar fashion to rivers,
lakes etc.

22Figure 8: MDPC’s Base Map (From MDPC Website)

23

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin
Following an oil spill and on behalf of a Shipowner or any other party acting as the principal polluter, the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center (MDPC) will respond to any maritime accident.
Marine Pollution and Marine Disaster Prevention law requires that owners of tankers
which have a gross tonnage in excess of 150 tonnes, which are navigating through applicable sea areas (*1), and are carrying specified oils such as crude oil or heavy oil, shouldhave secured availability of specialised oil removal materials (oil booms, oil absorbents,
oil dispersants etc.). The same law also requires that owners of specified oil tankers witha gross tonnage in excess of 5,000 tonnes which are navigating through specified sea areas(*2) have also secured the availability of oil recovery equipment. Furthermore, there aresimilar legal obligations for tankers with a gross tonnage in excess of 150 tonnes andwhich are carrying oil other than specified oil or hazardous and noxious substances(HNS), to similarly secure availability of oil removal equipment and personnel with thenecessary expertise. On behalf of the shipowner, the MDPC issues certification (HNS
Certificate and Specified Oil Certificate) to legally verify that vessels have secured availability of the proper oil removal equipment. The certification further guarantees that in theevent of any oil or HNS spillage and upon request from the shipowner or ship's Master,
the MDPC will provide an “Emergency Response Service” which will respond swiftly toclean up the contaminated area.
However, vessels without the proper certification or any other separate standby agreementwith the MDPC, must first conclude a separate contract before any response can be made.
*1: Applicable sea area refers to specified sea areas, any port falling under the Act on Port Regulations,and Kagoshima Bay. (Pertaining to sections (6) and (9) of Article 33 of the ordinance for enforcement, and sections (3) and (4) of Article 39 of the Marine Pollution and Disaster Prevention Law.)*2: Specified sea areas refers to Tokyo Bay, Ise Bay and the Seto Inland Sea. (Pertaining to sections (6)and (9) of Article 33 of the ordinance for enforcement, and sections (3) and (4) of Article 39 of the
Marine Pollution and Disaster Prevention Law.)

Whilst there are other private oil recovery services available, there have been cases of oil
spill incidents where valuable time has been lost in making the decision about which oil
24recovery operator to choose. Time which has led to the spreading of the spill and an escalation of the scale of the disaster. Costs are imperative in any recovery operation, andprompt decision making use of the nearest available recovery agency or operator can ultimately lead to a reduction of those costs.

3-4 Classiﬁcation of Oil Spills
Oil spills from a vessel can be classified as shown in Figure 9. These are roughly categorized into two classifications: “cargo oil spills” from tankers and “fuel oil, lubricants andsludge spills” from all vessels including tankers.

Spillage due todamage in cargoholds

TankerCollision andgrounding, etc.
Cracks due toage deterioration,etc.

Spills following
tank ballasting

Cargo oil spills

Spillage of contaminatedwater due to cargo hold cleaning

Mishandling or
equipment failure
Illegal discharge

Oil spill from vessel
Damage to fuel and lubricating
oil tanks due to collision, grounding, etc.
Spillage of fuel or
lubricating oil
Spillage during
bunkering

All vessels
includingtankers

Mishandling or
equipment failure

Mishandling or equipment failure
Sludge spill
Illegal discharge
Figure 9: Classification of Oil Spills

25

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin
Secondary disasters such as collisions and groundings can result in spills of fuel or cargooil, but the majority of accidents involve spills of fuel or lubricating oil due to operational errors during bunkering.

3-5 Oil Types
Figure 10 illustrates oil types refined from crude oil.
Crude oil is divided by a method of separation and concentration of the mixture according
to its components, using the diﬀerence in boiling point. Crude oil is heated and separated
in a 50m high pressurised distillation column, where the lower boiling point substances(gas, naphtha etc.) are extracted from the top fraction and the higher boiling point substances (heavy oil etc.) are extracted from the bottom. It then undergoes a secondary
treatment, including the removal of sulphur, to become a product.
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LP Gas) is refined first, followed by petrol and naphtha, jet fuel andparaﬃn, light oil, and finally residual oil, heavy oil and asphalt. (Figure 10 and Table 1.)

Figure 10: Oil Types
Source: Official website of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd.

26

Oil type

PurposePoints to note and response methods

A-type fuel oil

For vessels, factories, etc.

Light oil

For vessels and vehicles

Paraffin

Mainly for heating

When a light petroleum oil is spilled at sea, it evaporates
relatively quickly due to wind waves. However, in winterand/or in port, the speed of evaporation is slower andpersistence is higher which requires early recovery.

LubricantsEngines, etc.

Hydraulic oil

Oil hydraulic equipment

C-type fuel oil

High viscosity index oil that hardly evaporates mixes with
Large vessels, factories, seawater to form an emulsion. This becomes hydrous
thermal power plants, etc. and highly viscous, and expands to three times its volume
whereby it can be physically recovered.

PetrolFor cars and sport fishing Highly flammable, evacuate and escape on the leewardboats
Refined in an oil refinery

Crude oilAs this almost never evaporates, the basic principle is tosurround it with string of flags-type oil absorbents which
are then wrung to recover the oil.

Crude oil-fired thermal
power plantsside.
Carried by large tankers. Be cautious as it is flammableand toxic depending on the oil type.

Table 1: Purpose by Oil Type
(Modified from the management manual from "Umi" & "Nagisa" Foundation)

The method of recovery in the event of a spill varies greatly depending on the oil types
and the location of the spill (in port or outside of port). These recovery methods are listed
in the table (Table 2). For a full list please see Attachment 1.
It is diﬃcult to recover petrol and liquefied gas, which has a low boiling point temperatureand high volatility, because it takes a long time to evaporate, also, at the same time thereis the possibility of fire, explosion and toxic gases being generated which means that
evacuation measures must be taken to ensure that human life is not aﬀected.
A-type fuel oil, which is used for marine fuel, has a low viscosity and therefore spreads toform a thin oil film. Therefore, the recovery operation must be completed before the oil
spreads over a large area. On the other hand, the higher viscosity C-type fuel oil spreads
more slowly than A-type fuel oil, but is more highly likely to emulsify, making recovery
a longer process. To prevent this, the oil must be recovered before it has a chance tospread.

27

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin
Point
oil spill
occursOil type

Preventive
objective

Procedure

A-type fuel Recovery/oilspreadingA, B

C-type fuelRecoveryoil

A, B, C

Necessarymaterials
Oil fence boom andabsorbent boom
Oil fence boom,
absorbent boom,
and powerful
suction trucks

Damageexpected

Remarks

Port closure, spoilage Spreads to form aof water intakes, etc. thin oil film
Use of absorbents
Port closure, spoilage
for high viscous oils,of water intakes, etc.
emulsions

Use of absorbents
for high viscous
oils, or snares (seeIn portphotograph)
Powder gelling
Fire, explosions and Preventing the spread
Monitoring andPetrolagent
loss of lifeof secondary damage
evacuation
Always consult an
Investigation
Differ depending on expert as treatment
Instructions Powder gelling
Chemicals andtype of chemical
will vary depending
from expert agent
confirmation
on typeFire, explosions andLiquefied Monitoring and
LNG and LPG
loss of lifegasevacuation
Oil fence boom,
Destruction ofabsorbent boom, oil fisheries, tourism,
A-type fuel Recovery/
A, B, D
recovery vessels and and the naturaloildispersion
oil treatment agents environment
Oil fence boom,
Destruction ofabsorbent boom
fisheries, tourism,
C-type fuel Recovery/
A, B, Dand oil treatment and the naturaloildispersion
agentsenvironment
Oil fence boom,
Destruction ofabsorbent boom
fisheries, tourism,
Emulsion Recovery
A, B
and oil recovery
and the natural
systemenvironment
Preventing theOutsideFire, explosions and spread of secondary
Monitoring andof port Petrol
loss of life
damage, natural
evacuation
evaporation
Destruction of fisheries,
Oil fence boom, oil
tourism, and theInitially there is arecovery vessels
Recovery/natural environment; crude gas hazard,
Crude oilA, B, Dand oil recovery
dispersion
fire, explosions and then emulsions form
systemloss of life
Always consult an
Investigation
Differ depending on expert as treatment
Instructions
Chemicals andtype of chemical
will vary depending
from expert
confirmation
on typeFire, explosions andLiquefied Monitoring and
LNG and LPG
loss of lifegasevacuation

Emulsion

RecoveryA, B

Oil fence boom andabsorbent boom

1SPDFEVSF " *OUIFDBTFPGMBSHFRVBOUJUJFT PJMJTUPCFSFDPWFSFEXJUIPJMGFODFCPPNTBOEUIFOSFDPWFSFECZBOPJMSFDPWFSZWFTTFMPSQPXFSGVMTVDUJPOUSVDLT FUD0S UIFPJMDBOCFBCTPSCFEVTJOHBOPJMBCTPSCFOU'PSTNBMMRVBOUJUJFT VTFPJMBCTPSCFOU# 'PSTNBMMRVBOUJUJFT UIFPJMJTUPCFTVSSPVOEFECZBOBCTPSCFOUCPPN PJMGFODF TUSJOHPGBHTUZQF SPMMT FUD BOE
UIFOXSVOHBOESFDPWFSFECZTVDUJPO$*OUIFDBTFPGMBSHFRVBOUJUJFT PJMJTUPCFDPMMFDUFEXJUIPJMGFODFCPPNTBOEUIFOSFDPWFSFECZQPXFSGVMTVDUJPOUSVDLT%%JSFDUTQSBZJOHBOEEJTQFSTBMXJUIPJMUSFBUNFOUBHFOUT GPSWFTTFMBOEBJSDSBGU Table 2: Oil Recovery Procedure by Oil Type
(Modified from the management manual from "Umi" & "Nagisa" Foundation)28

3-6 Oil Recovery Materials
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has deployed Water Surface
Cleaning and Oil Recovery Vessels etc. to Regional Development Bureaus, and some
private companies and organisations also have these oil recovery vessels. However, thesevessels are usually engaged in dredging operations and it is diﬃcult for them rush to thesite immediately when an oil spill occurs.

Photograph 3: Water Surface Cleaning and Oil Recovery Vessel, Beikurin (Bay-clean)
Source: website of the Chiba Port Office, Regional Development Bureau,
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

Therefore, in the immediate aftermath of an oil spill, it is essential to control the spread of
the spill as soon as possible and to begin recovery operations. However, this can only bedone by human intervention.
Here are some of the materials that can be used for this purpose.

29

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin= Oil Snare =The literal translation of Oil Snare is “Oil Trap”. The Oil Snare is an oil recovery material developed by Parker Systems in Virginia, USA specifically for high viscosity oil. Dueto the unique shape of the oil adsorbent, oil gets trapped inside its thin looped tassels,
which can capture the high viscosity of C-type fuel oil that cannot be recovered by otherconventional oil adsorbents. For the past 25 years, it has been utilized in major tanker
spills around the world and is highly regarded as an essential oil recovery material for therecovery of high-viscosity oil. An oil Snare is also used by the Japan Coast Guard in their“Oil Removal Contingency Programme”. (Tentative translation). A 15m long rope with30 oil snares, shipped in a plastic bag, each oil snare weighs 230 grams and can trap up to
14kg of oil. It is made of polypropylene and can be incinerated after use.

Photograph 4: Oil Snare
Source: Website of Anandenki Co., Ltd.

30

＝ Oil Absorbent Pad ＝
In the field, it is necessary to choose the oil removal equipment appropriate for the oilspill. For less viscous oils such as A-type fuel, the use of oil absorbents such as oil absorbent pads (hereinafter referred to as mats) can be eﬀective. These mats are manufactured
from polypropylene and vegetable fibres, the performance of which is defined by typeapproval, but the use of materials without type approval is not an issue and the use of
non-approved materials is permitted. It absorbs more oil than water.

Photograph 5: Oil Absorbent Mat

Photograph 7: Oil Absorbent Roll

Photograph 6: Oil Absorbent Mat Usage Example
Source: Website of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.

Image 3: Oil Absorbent Roll(Modified from Documents Created by“Umi” & “Nagisa” Foundation)

31

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin＝ Oil Fence Boom ＝An oil fence is a floating structure, also known as a boom, which is stretched over a bodyof water to prevent oil from spreading in the event of a spillage. Except for special types
such as “floating” oil fence booms, they are standardised so that they can be connected tooil fence booms of diﬀerent manufacturers; there are two types in the Japanese standard:Type A and Type B. This material is used to control the spread of spilled oil and their main
purpose is to collect, attract, enclose and prevent oil spread. It is not used as a stand-alone
product, but in conjunction with materials and machinery to recover the oil. This is possible when the sea is calm, but if the wind, ocean current or waves exceed a certain limit,
the oil can leak from the bottom or spill over the top and become uncontrollable.

Photograph 8: Oil Fence Boom Extension in Use(From a Manual Created by “Umi” & “Nagisa” Foundation)

32

Figure 11: Oil Fence Boom Extension in Use

3‑7 Oil Treatment Agents
An oil treatment agent is defined as a substance which when sprayed onto and mixed into
floating oil at the sea surface, will cause the oil to rapidly emulsify and disperse into fineparticles. This ultimately results in preventing the oil from sinking to the seabed, and enables the sea to naturally attenuate more easily. Furthermore, such agents also have a low
toxicity towards marine life.
Previously, such agents were mistakenly referred to as “neutralizing agents” which
wrongly suggested that they somehow chemically transformed the oil into a diﬀerent
substance.
However, as the opening definition states, oil treatment agents are rather chemical agents
which atomize the oil, dispersing it over the nearby sea surface. This increases the surface
area and encourages natural attenuation through the actions of microorganisms and oxygen. The eﬀect of this atomization also means that the oil does not sink, and both the33

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin
level of toxicity to which coastal and marine life is exposed and the amount of oilingdamage to seabirds can be contained. (Taken from the Fire and Disaster Management
Agency of the Ministry of Internal Aﬀairs and Communications webstie.) Oil treatment
agents do not make the oil disappear, nor do they neutralize and chemically transform theoil into a diﬀerent substance.

＝ Types of Oil Treatment Agents ＝
The two types of solvent are shown below. These solvents are further classified according
to their percentage content of surfactant. Thus, 10-15% content is referred to as low concentrate, 15-20% as medium concentrate, and 35-60% as high concentrate.
1) Hydrocarbon typeThis includes both 1st and 2nd generation types. The 1st generation type is an aromaticsolvent of high toxicity. The 2nd generation type (Type 1) is paraﬃn-based. In terms of
surfactant content, the 2nd generation type ranges from a low to medium concentrate. It
is this 2nd generation type which is currently in commercial use in Japan.

2) Concentrated type (concentrate)
The concentrated type (Type 2) and self-mixing type (Type 3) are known as 3rd generation oil treatment agents. They are either alcohol or glycol based. These types contain ahigh ratio of surfactant.

＝ Eﬃcacy and Application Methods of Oil Treatment Agents ＝When the viscosity of the oil slick is high, oil treatment agents have little eﬀect since theyslip oﬀ the surface of the oil before the solvents can disperse within. As a general rule, theagents remain eﬀective on oils with a relative viscosity of less than 2,000cSt. However,this eﬀectiveness drastically reduces when that viscosity is exceeded, and within viscosity levels of 5,000 - 10,000cSt all eﬃcacy is lost. In short, oil treatment agents are notsuitable for use with high viscosity emulsion oils or those oils with a pouring point in34

excess of the ambient temperature. Furthermore, it may at first seem that the oil can bedispersed at the outset of the spill, however the volatile compounds quickly begin to evaporate and due to the eﬀects of natural weathering, viscosity increases making any dispersion impossible within a short period of time.
Therefore, whilst the eﬃcacy of any oil treatment agent also depends on the prevailingweather and sea conditions, wherever possible it is best to apply these agents one or twodays before viscosity becomes high. The main methods of application are by a workboat
or aerial spraying by plane.

＝ Toxicity ＝Compared to the 1st generation oil treatment agents, the toxicity of recent agents has decreased. However, there still remains much debate as to their method of use. Furthermore,
there is variation in local and national attitudes towards the use of oil treatment agents. In
particular, the use of oil treatment agents runs the risk of introducing new marine pollutants into the sea, leading to an increase of localised hydrocarbon concentrations. The effect of this on marine life is a cause for concern. It is therefore vital that there is a consensus of opinion between local authorities, fishery oﬃcials etc., regarding the use of any oil
treatment agents.

35

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin

3-8 Oil Spill Response
Figure 12 is a flowchart of an oil spill response. (Please see Attached 2 for details)
Flowchart of Oil Spill Response (Example)
Oil spillage accident occurs

Department issues alert

Fire, explosion, personal injury/fatality or sinking

First response
measures&RQĺUPSRVVLELOLW\RI
secondary disasterStart recording$FFLGHQWUHSRUWQRWLĺFDWLRQCollision accident

Other
vessels

The
Vessel&RQĺUPDWLRQ
of rescueneeds&RQĺUPDWLRQ
of rescue needs(personal injury/fatalityor hull damage)

Shipowner andship managementcompany

Japan Coast Guard(JCG) Navigation
Safety Division

To be decided at the meeting as to whether the
Vessel or the company is to report the spill to theJapan Coast Guard (Coast Guard department).

Decision on
port ofevacuation

Abandonship

Dealing with
the news media

VariousarrangementsCollection andpreservationof records

Paperwork andother instructions
on the VesselContact P&I,
Hull Insurance
and relevant parties

Figure 12: Flowchart of Oil Spill Response (Example)

36

1

մIn the event of an overflow during bunkering, first of all, immediately stop
pumping oil from the supply vessel. Then, the Oil Removal Emergency
Department issues an alert. (Tentative translation.)2

մIn accordance with the sharing roles of the Emergency Department, thecrew will start operation according to the Master's orders. Naturally, thefirst priority is to check that there has been no injury to persons.

3մStart first response measures to stop overboard discharge. Looking at the oilspill incidents reported to this Club, in some cases the scupper plugs were
not set and the oil spilled overboard from there. In other cases, there was a
failure to close or a loss of the spill combing plug in the vent pipe, which led
to an oil spill on deck and overboard via a scupper.

＝ Spill Prevention, Mitigation and Leak Closure Measures ＝To follow are some of the initial emergency measures which aim to prevent and reduce
spills.
٥ Decompression of the leaking tank and pipe
٥ Closing of the relevant valves (and in some cases those forgas biting), if necessary
٥ In case of tank damage, transfer the remaining oil in theleaking tank to another tank
٥ Maintaining ship directional control by Ballast control

4 մAt the same time as the first response measures are taken, report theaccident to the Shipowner (or ship management company) and confirm
with the Shipowner (or ship management company) as to whether theincident is to be reported to the authorities (the Regional Coast Guard
37

P&I Loss Prevention Bulletin
Headquarters in Japan) by the Vessel or by the Shipowner (or ship management company). Please note that it is important to remember that thereporting of an accident is a battle with time so as to minimise the spread.

5 մMoreover, the possibility of secondary disaster (fire, explosion, personal
injury/fatality or sinking) is to be confirmed. In the case of a collision, after
checking the status of the Vessel, the status of other ships should bechecked.

6

մAs mentioned in section 2-1 of Chapter 2, Countermeasures for Maritime
Accidents (For Each Maritime Accident Including Those Between Ship andShore), it is important to make an appointment with the local Shipowner's
agency, although the Shipowner (or ship-management company) is
responsible for arranging the recovery personnel.

Figure 13 shows the response framework of major oil pollution incidents in Japan (organisation chart). (Modified with technical data from ITOPF: Please see Attached 3 for a fulllist.)

38

Response Framework to
Major Oil Pollution Incidents in Japan (Organisation Chart)
Government(Countermeasure headquarters)

ReportInstructions

Local coastJXDUGRIğFH

Japan Coast Guard(JCG)

6KLSRZQHUDQG
VKLSPDQDJHPHQWFRPSDQ\ReportClean-up operation

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Figure 13: Response Framework to Major Oil Pollution Incidents in Japan (Chart)39