Mechanical Oil Spill Recovery in Ice; Finnish Approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT Finland, being one of the Baltic Sea States, is strongly dependent of marine transport. About 80 % of Finnish exports and imports are carried by maritime transport. Since one of the main routes of Russian oil export goes along the southern coastline of Finland (155 million metric ton year 2010) (SYKE 2010) and Finland is the only country in the world, where all harbors can freeze in the winter, it has been essential to develop adequate ability to respond oil spills also in ice. The national oil spill response authority, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) has, for over 20 years worked with together with private companies and research institutes both in Finland and abroad to develop mechanical recovery methods to combat oil in icy conditions. Mechanical recovery is preferred due to recommendations of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission (HELCOM), where chemical agents and in situ burning can be used only in special, restricted circumstances. (HELCOM recommendations) The methods and...