MARINE MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTIONPROTECTION

ByByCapt.S.KishoreCapt.S.Kishore

HISTORYHISTORYOil pollution of the seas was Oil pollution of the seas was recognized as a problem in the first recognized as a problem in the first half of the 20th century.half of the 20th century.

Various countries introduced Various countries introduced national national

regulations to control discharges of regulations to control discharges of oil within their territorial watersoil within their territorial waters. .

EVOLUTIONEVOLUTIONIn 1954, the United Kingdom In 1954, the United Kingdom

organized a conference on oil organized a conference on oil pollution pollution

which resulted in the adoption of the which resulted in the adoption of the

International Convention for the International Convention for the

Prevention of Pollution of the Sea Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by by

Oil (OILPOL), 1954.Oil (OILPOL), 1954.

OILPOLOILPOLEntered into force on 26 July Entered into force on 26 July

19581958

Amendments in 1962, 1969 and Amendments in 1962, 1969 and

19711971

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVEAttempted to Tackle the Attempted to Tackle the problem of pollution of the problem of pollution of the seas by oil - crude oil, fuel oil, seas by oil - crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil and lubricating heavy diesel oil and lubricating oil in oil in two main waystwo main ways..

The 2 ways…The 2 ways…

PROHIBITED ZONES – 50M FROM NEAREST PROHIBITED ZONES – 50M FROM NEAREST

LAND + DISCHARGE OF OIL <100PPM LAND + DISCHARGE OF OIL <100PPM

CONTRACTING PARTIES - SHORE CONTRACTING PARTIES - SHORE

RECEPTION FACILITIESRECEPTION FACILITIES

FOCUS..FOCUS..

The 1954 ConventionThe 1954 Convention, primarily addressed , primarily addressed

pollution resulting from routine tanker pollution resulting from routine tanker

operations and from the discharge of oily operations and from the discharge of oily

wastes from machinery spaces -  wastes from machinery spaces -  regarded regarded

as the major causes of oil pollution from as the major causes of oil pollution from

ships.ships.

ALTERNATIVEALTERNATIVEAlthough the Although the 1954 OILPOL1954 OILPOL Convention went Convention went

some way in dealing with oil pollution, some way in dealing with oil pollution, growth growth

in oil trade and developments in industrial in oil trade and developments in industrial

practices were beginning to make it clear practices were beginning to make it clear

that further action, was requiredthat further action, was required. .

THE DISASTERTHE DISASTERIn 1967, the tanker Torrey Canyon ran In 1967, the tanker Torrey Canyon ran

aground while entering the English aground while entering the English

Channel and spilled her entire cargo of Channel and spilled her entire cargo of

120,000 tons of crude oil120,000 tons of crude oil into the into the

sea.  This resulted in the biggest oil sea.  This resulted in the biggest oil

pollution incident ever recorded up to pollution incident ever recorded up to

that time. that time.

SETTING THE SCENESETTING THE SCENE The shipThe ship Left Kuwait, 19 February 1967 Left Kuwait, 19 February 1967

with full cargo of oil, bound for the with full cargo of oil, bound for the Atlantic ocean.Atlantic ocean.

Reached Canary Isles 14 March 1967 Reached Canary Isles 14 March 1967 Informed of destination - Milford Haven, Informed of destination - Milford Haven, by 18/Mar/1967by 18/Mar/1967

Because of the size of the ship, they had Because of the size of the ship, they had to catch the high tide at 11.00 p.m., or to catch the high tide at 11.00 p.m., or wait 6 days more.  They had to be at the wait 6 days more.  They had to be at the entrance by 6.00 p.m. on 18 March.entrance by 6.00 p.m. on 18 March.

AT SCILLY ISLESAT SCILLY ISLES'Torrey Canyon' approaching 'Torrey Canyon' approaching the Scilly Isles on the morning the Scilly Isles on the morning of the disaster. The sketch of the disaster. The sketch is a map of the south-western is a map of the south-western end of Great Britain and end of Great Britain and

shows shows the position of the 'Torrey the position of the 'Torrey Canyon' when this part of the Canyon' when this part of the story starts. The gap between story starts. The gap between the Scilly Isles and Land's End the Scilly Isles and Land's End is about 20 miles; the gap is about 20 miles; the gap between the Scilly Isles and between the Scilly Isles and Milford Haven is about 200 Milford Haven is about 200 miles. miles.

Captain went to bed the night before at 03.30 a.m., with instructions to be woken at 6.00 a.m.

Captain woken at 06.00 a.m., Scilly Isles still not in radar view (the radar had a range of 40 miles). Captain decides to sleep some more.

Captain woken again at 06.30 a.m. Scilly Isles now on the radar scope, but on Port side, not to Stbd.After short discussion, captain orders "continue course"

07.00 a.m., Captain on bridge

0800 a.m., Changeover of the watch: captain, junior officer (1st trip) + experienced helmsman now on the bridge.

Junior officer assigned navigation duties.Helmsman on watch on bridge wings.

08.15 a.m. Torrey Canyon is now passing the Scilly Isles, 30 minutes to Seven Stones reef . Captain orders a course alteration while on autopilot

THE PROGRESSIONTHE PROGRESSIONThere are reefs all round There are reefs all round Land's End and round the Scilly Land's End and round the Scilly Isles (look at all the Isles (look at all the lighthouses). Two particularly lighthouses). Two particularly dangerous ones are 'Wolf Rock', dangerous ones are 'Wolf Rock', and 'Seven Stones'. 'Wolf and 'Seven Stones'. 'Wolf Rock' has a lighthouse; Rock' has a lighthouse; 'Seven Stones' has a lightship.'Seven Stones' has a lightship.

The Captain planned to sail The Captain planned to sail between the Scilly Isles and the between the Scilly Isles and the 'Seven Stones'. This channel is 'Seven Stones'. This channel is 7 miles wide. The tide then was 7 miles wide. The tide then was running Port to Stbd, and the running Port to Stbd, and the reef was submerged.reef was submerged.

Fishing vessels in channel; captain alters to Stbd of channel (closer to the 'Seven Stones' reef) to avoid the nets. 

08.40 a.m. They discover a plotting error; quickly, they re-plot their position; now, they discover they are only 2.8 miles from the edge of the reef 

Helmsman at the wheel - hurried course change to North.Autopilot switched to manual steering steer new course back onto autopilot to listen for the clicks

Re-plot position - still heading for reef

Emergency course change to 340 degrees (about North-west).Steering Changed over to manual mode.Position rechecked.

Captain goes into the chartroom at the back of the bridge to look again at the chart. Helmsman shouts that vessel not steering.

Captain decides that the fuses have blown (this had happened before); opens fuse box and checks them.

Fuses OK; therefore the oil pumps that move the rudder must be at fault (this too had happened before)

Captain rings the engine room to get the pumps checked; by mistake, he dials the wrong number and gets the galley. The cook picks up the phone and says, "Oh, captain, your breakfast is ready."

Captain glances at the autopilot control lever; realises what the problem is; moves the lever to manual, changes course

THE END GAMETHE END GAMEToo late- At 17 knots, Torrey Canyon hits Pollard's Rock in the Seven Stones reef, and rips open 6 tanks.Over the next few weeks, all the oil escaped and spread along the shores of the south coast of England and the Normandy coast of France.There were no plans to combat this; it was the

first of the big oil disasters, and what was attempted was either too late, too small in scope, or made matters worse. But much was learnt from this disaster.

LOSTLOSTTORREY CANYONTORREY CANYON

BROKENINTOTWO

HALVES

THE REACTIONTHE REACTIONThe incident raised questions about The incident raised questions about

measures then in place to prevent oil measures then in place to prevent oil

pollution from ships. It also exposed pollution from ships. It also exposed

deficiencies in the existing system for deficiencies in the existing system for

providing compensation following providing compensation following

accidents at sea.accidents at sea.

RESPONSERESPONSEIMO called an Extraordinary session of its IMO called an Extraordinary session of its

Council, which drew up a plan of action on Council, which drew up a plan of action on

technical and legal aspects of the technical and legal aspects of the Torrey Torrey

CanyonCanyon incident. Then, the IMO Assembly incident. Then, the IMO Assembly

decided in 1969 to convene an international decided in 1969 to convene an international

conference in 1973 to prepare a suitable conference in 1973 to prepare a suitable

international agreement for placing international agreement for placing

restraints on the contamination of the sea, restraints on the contamination of the sea,

land and air by ships.land and air by ships.

INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONCONVENTION

Finally, an international Conference in Finally, an international Conference in

19731973 adopted the adopted the International International

Convention for the Prevention of Convention for the Prevention of

Pollution from Ships.Pollution from Ships.

FOCUS ONFOCUS ONOPERATIONAL POLLUTIONOPERATIONAL POLLUTION

CHEMICAL POLLUTIONCHEMICAL POLLUTION

HARMFUL SUBSTANCE IN PACKAGESHARMFUL SUBSTANCE IN PACKAGES

SEWAGESEWAGE

GARBAGEGARBAGE

DELAY..DELAY..The 1973 Convention required ratification by The 1973 Convention required ratification by

15 States, with a combined merchant fleet 15 States, with a combined merchant fleet

of not less than 50 percent of world shipping of not less than 50 percent of world shipping

by gross tonnage, to enter into force. by gross tonnage, to enter into force.

By 1976, it had only received three By 1976, it had only received three

ratifications Jordan, Kenya and Tunisia – ratifications Jordan, Kenya and Tunisia –

representing representing less than one percent of the less than one percent of the

world's merchant shipping fleetworld's merchant shipping fleet. .

DELAY..DELAY..This was despite the fact that States could This was despite the fact that States could become Party to the Convention by only become Party to the Convention by only ratifying Annexes I (oil) and II (chemicals). ratifying Annexes I (oil) and II (chemicals). Annexes III to V, covering harmful goods in Annexes III to V, covering harmful goods in packaged form, sewage and garbage, were packaged form, sewage and garbage, were optional.     optional.     

It began to look as though the 1973 It began to look as though the 1973 Convention might never enter into force, Convention might never enter into force, despite its importance.despite its importance.

1978 conference1978 conferenceIn response to a spate of tanker In response to a spate of tanker

accidents in 1976-1977, IMO held a accidents in 1976-1977, IMO held a

Conference on Tanker Safety and Conference on Tanker Safety and

Pollution Prevention in February 1978. Pollution Prevention in February 1978.

The conference adopted measures The conference adopted measures

affecting tanker design and operation.affecting tanker design and operation.

1978 conference1978 conferenceMeasures were incorporated in to Measures were incorporated in to

the the

1973 International Convention for 1973 International Convention for

the Prevention of Pollution from the Prevention of Pollution from

Ships (1978 MARPOL Protocol) – Ships (1978 MARPOL Protocol) –

adopted on 17 February 1978.adopted on 17 February 1978.

The 1978 MARPOL Protocol allowed The 1978 MARPOL Protocol allowed

States to become Party to the Convention by States to become Party to the Convention by

first implementing Annex I (oil),first implementing Annex I (oil), as it was as it was

decided that Annex II (chemicals) would not decided that Annex II (chemicals) would not

become binding until three years after the become binding until three years after the

Protocol entered into force. Protocol entered into force.

This gave States time to overcome technical This gave States time to overcome technical

problems in Annex II, which for some had problems in Annex II, which for some had

been a major obstacle in ratifying the been a major obstacle in ratifying the

ConventionConvention

MARPOL1973/78MARPOL1973/78As the 1973 Convention had not yet entered As the 1973 Convention had not yet entered into force, the 1978 MARPOL into force, the 1978 MARPOL Protocol Protocol absorbed the parent Conventionabsorbed the parent Convention. The . The combined instrument - thecombined instrument - the International International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by Pollution from Ships, 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78)(MARPOL 73/78) - - finally entered into finally entered into force on 2 October 1983force on 2 October 1983 (for Annexes I and II).(for Annexes I and II).

SIGNIFICANCESIGNIFICANCEThe adoption of the MARPOL Convention in 1973 was an important step in focusing the shipping industry's attention on the environment.

It was no longer enough just to ensure goods and people were transported safelyConsideration for the environment was now

on the agenda.

MARPOLMARPOLThe Convention includes regulations The Convention includes regulations

aimed at preventing and minimizing aimed at preventing and minimizing pollution from ships - pollution from ships - both accidental both accidental pollution and that from routine pollution and that from routine operationsoperations . .

Currently includes Currently includes SIXSIX technical technical AnnexesAnnexes

ANNEXESANNEXESAnnex IAnnex I - - Regulations for the Regulations for the

Prevention of Pollution byPrevention of Pollution by OilOil

Annex IIAnnex II - -Regulations for the Control Regulations for the Control

of  Pollution byof  Pollution by NoxiousNoxious

Liquid Substances in BulkLiquid Substances in Bulk

AnnexAnnex IIIIII--Prevention of Pollution by Prevention of Pollution by

Harmful Substances CarriedHarmful Substances Carried

by Sea in Packaged formby Sea in Packaged form

ANNEXESANNEXESAnnexAnnex IVIV--Prevention of Pollution by Prevention of Pollution by SewageSewage from Shipsfrom Ships Annex VAnnex V - - Prevention of Pollution by Prevention of Pollution by GarbageGarbage from Shipsfrom Ships

AnnexAnnex VIVI--Prevention of  Prevention of  Air PollutionAir Pollution from Shipsfrom Ships

POSSIBLE FUTURE POSSIBLE FUTURE ANNEXESANNEXES

UNWANTED AQUATIC UNWANTED AQUATIC ORGANISM IN BALLAST WATERORGANISM IN BALLAST WATER

TOXIC ANTIFOULING PAINTSTOXIC ANTIFOULING PAINTS

IMPACTIMPACT

THANK ‘U’THANK ‘U’