2 - Oil Spill Containment in Open Areas: Four Atlantic and Mediterranean Experiments

Abstract

The opening feature of a marine area is conducive to a large-scale dispersion of oil spill when its containment fails. Located on the East Atlantic coast of the UK, Spain and Portugal, and the South Mediterranean coast of Spain, the experiments here conducted in open areas are generally closer to harbors where bunkering operations occur or a refuge zone is foreseen. The open characteristic of these areas complicates oil spill containment due to the presence of a sea current generated by a river current along shipping routes. Existing contingency plans can be improved by using model results in parallel to regular drills and training.