Oil Spill Readiness Plan Covering 1,000 Vessels

The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology), USA, has approved the umbrella oil spill readiness plan that covers more than 1,000 commercial vessels that transit the Columbia River by the Maritime Fire and Safety Association's (MFSA). MFSA's plan enrolls nearly all large cargo and passenger ships, commercial fish-processing vessels and oil tankers as well as some fuel barges that make transits in the shared waters of the Columbia River. 

 

The association's plan covers commercial vessels from 3 miles west of the Columbia River mouth to the Glenn Jackson Bridge as well as the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers and down the Willamette to Willamette Falls. It helps ensure that large commercial vessels can mount a rapid, aggressive and well-coordinated response if they spill oil.

 

A large containership, for example, can carry up to 3 million gallons of fuel to power its engines and propulsion systems. State law requires that all large commercial ships and vessels must have contingency plans to operate in Washington waters.

 

Pilkey-Jarvis said MSFA's approved umbrella contingency plan also meets vessel emergency notification requirements under the state's new oil spill readiness law passed by the 2011 Washington Legislature. When there is a significant spill threat, such as a grounding, collision or fire, vessel operators and state and federal officials can put MFSA's plan into action and have equipment and people moving to the scene before a spill occurs.

 

The plan identifies where different response equipment such as oil containment boom, skimming and towing vessels and vacuum trucks are located along the river and how the equipment will be mobilised by private response entities during a spill to minimize impacts to important environmental, cultural and economic resources.

 

MSFA's umbrella oil spill contingency plan is one of two large blanket plans in use for Washington's waters. Ecology is still working with the Washington State Maritime Cooperative to give final approval for that plan covering about 1,500 vessels making transits in Puget Sound and Grays Harbor.

 

Every year, about 20 billion gallons of oil is transported across Washington waters. Besides the umbrella organisations, there are 28 oil refineries, large oil-handling facilities, liquid fuel pipeline and oil tanker companies that also are required to have oil spill contingency plans.

 

Image Courtesy: Steven Smith