Airborne Detection of Winter Oil Spills—A Presentation of the Swedish Coast Guard's Build-Up of Response Resources and Operational Manuals

Abstract

ABSTRACT A substantial part of the total transport in Swedish waters takes place during wintertime. Ice, darkness, and rough weather increase the risk of accidental spills and reduce the possibilities of detecting deliberate spills. These factors stress the importance of forming an oil spill response organization, also effective in operations in wintertime. The Swedish Coast Guard, which is responsible for spill recovery operations in Swedish waters, has initiated a number of projects due to the build-up of effective spill response resources for winter spills. Spill recovery operations in Swedish ice-free waters are performed effectively by airborne detection support, built up by the Swedish Space Corporation. Airborne detection techniques of oil in ice-covered waters are now studied in order to define ice and oil spill conditions that offer opportunities for successful detection operations. Developing manuals containing spill response strategies and operational tools requires combining knowledge concerning oil properties in cold water, oil and ice behavior, and ice conditions with resources such as weather forecasting, drift models, and strike forces. A manual, primarily aimed at rescue commanders and the Coast Guard OSCs for operations in winter spills, is set up, based on these combined disciplines and the best use of available tools. The progress of the work will be presented as well as a version of the spill detection manual for operations in ice conditions. A suggested oil properties classification code for winter spills is also included as a part of this project.