Chapter 14 Oil pollution in the ROPME sea area—prevention, abatement, combating

Abstract

Abstract The ROPME Sea Area (RSA) is considered to be an area with one of the highest oil pollution risks in the world. This is mainly due to the concentration of offshore installations, tanker loading terminals, and the huge volume and density of marine transportation of oil. The operational and accidental oil pollution is a major challenge in the RSA. The impacts of offshore installations of oil and gas particularly those of produced water on the marine environment in general and in shallow waters or near to ecologically sensitive areas in particular are noticeable. The operational pollution from ships and dumping of ballast water are also among the main causes of chronic oil pollution in the Region. At the same time, there are a great number of marine emergency cases resulting in substantial pollution or imminent threat of substantial pollution to the marine environment by oil from collisions, strandings and other incidents involving oil tankers, blow-outs arising from petroleum drilling and production activities, and the presence of oil from the failure of industrial installations. Such marine emergencies as published in the Oil Spill Intelligence Report indicate that 30% of oil spills greater than ten million gallons world-wide are related to the ROPME Region. Another major concern of environmental authorities is the introduction of invasive species that could threaten ecosystems, habitats, and species. To this effect, the establishment of reception facilities for oily wastes and other wastes, and the application of all appropriate measures for the control and management of ships' ballast water and sediments are now on the high priority agenda to be pursued attentively. To address the environmental challenge of oil pollution, a series of program activities for the prevention, abatement, and combating of land-based and sea-based sources of marine oil pollution have been developed and implemented in accordance with the provisions of the Kuwait Regional Convention and its Protocols. Accordingly, marine oil emergency preparedness and response are dealth with by the Emergency Protocol, offshore oil pollution prevention abatement, and control are addressed by the Continental Shelf Protocol, land-based sources of oil pollution are covered by the LBA Protocol, and transportation and disposal of wastes such as ballast water and oily wastes from ships and the establishment of reception facilities are addressed by the Transboundary Protocol. Other areas of focus have been the application of EIA for major development projects, the use of satellite receiving and processing system for monitoring of marine and coastal areas, the oil emergency preparedness and response, and a comprehensive program for training and capacity-building. All these programs are the central objectives of the Kuwait Action Plan (KAP), and have been carefully pursued by way of a coordinated National and Regional process-oriented framework of action. This chapter also describes the institutional arrangements developed for the implementation of the regional instruments. To this effect, liaison has been established and maintained between ROPME and the Contracting States, as well as with the competent regional and international organizations. Such arrangements have been made to ensure that cooperation and coordination of action are achieved on a regional basis.