OIL SPILL CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND RESPONSE
Following the Esso Bernicia incident, SOTEAG advised on
measures to be taken to clean contaminated shores and initiated
monitoring projects to study recovery and rehabilitation of shorelines
with different degrees of contamination and on which different treatments
were used. The results of these projects helped SOTEAG to provide
advice on oil spill contingency planning. In 1980, SOTEAG were able
to define various sensitive areas and to recommend their protection
by permanent shore-based booms which could be deployed. They are
designed as far as possible to keep any spilt oil within Sullom
Voe and prevent the damaging spread of oil into adjacent areas such
as Yell Sound.
Responsibility for advice on oil spill containment and recovery
rests with the Sullom Voe Oil Spill Advisory Committee (SVOSAC),
with whom SOTEAG has close links through common membership and exchange
of information. Oil spill contingency measures are embodied in the
Sullom Voe Harbour Oil Spill Plan (SVHOSP) and Shetland Islands
Council Anti-Oil Scheme for the whole of Shetland. SOTEAG has contributed
to the SVHOSP by advising on the oil spill clean-up procedures most
appropriate to prescribed areas of Sullom Voe, based on detailed
knowledge of both the sensitivity of the shoreline and other environmental
features, such as the seasonal presence of vulnerable species of
birds or marine mammals likely to be affected.
Wildlife Response to Major Oil Spills
Both oil spill plans are regularly reviewed and exercises undertaken.
As a result, gaps in plans or shortfalls in response can be identified
and remedial action taken. Lessons are also learned from the experiences
of others who deal with serious oil spills, such as the Exxon
Valdez in Alaska in 1989. In 1988 at SVOSAC's request, SOTEAG
advised on an appropriate strategy for dealing with wildlife casualties
in the event of a major oil spill in Shetland. After analysing existing
policy information, it was decided to establish a Wildlife Respone
Co-ordinating Committee (WRCC) under the auspices of SOTEAG, involving
those organisations in Shetland which would normally become involved
in the wildlife aspects of oil spills. Box 3
shows the membership and terms of reference. As a consequence, grant
aid was given by SVA Ltd. to the Scottish Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) to help build a bird cleaning and
rehabilitation centre at Gott in Shetland for continuous use. The
Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary also developed through grant aid as
a charity caring for marine mammals, mainly seal pups and otters.
The assistance of both the SSPCA and Hillswick were called upon
during the Braer incident, and both Centres, which became
fully operational in 1994, have the capability to respond to any
major oil spill in future.
The WRCC oil spill plan is now an integral part of the SVHOSP,
and the SIC Shetland-wide plan which was activated during the wrecking
of the tanker M.V. Braer in January 1993. A separate report
on the wildlife response to the Braer incident is available
from SOTEAG. This report, together with the WRCC oil spill plan,
have since been circulated by the Department of Transport's Marine
Pollution Control Unit (MPCU, who are responsible for major oiling
incidents at a national level) to local authorities throughout the
UK to be used as a model for the development of wildlife response
plans and procedures in other coastal areas. Now, as a consequence
of more than two decades of experience, oil spill equipment, training
activities, anti-pollution measures and wildlife response procedures
for Shetland are considered to be the best in the UK.
These are some of the practical ways in which SOTEAG has been able
to advise on matters which might have an impact on the ecology and
the environment of Sullom Voe and other parts of Shetland. This
advice is available both to the Council and the Oil Industry. This
advice is regarded as independent and as such it is highly valued.
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