Oil and Chemical Spill Recovery Tough, re-usable pads capable of absorbing up to

thirty times their own weight of oil and liquid chemical but of excluding water have been introduced by Polarchem Ltd of London. Named Petro-Trap, the pads are used singly or in groups, inside or outside on land or water to absorb oil and chemical spillage to avoid pollution or to decontaminate water. The pads are then wrung out for re-use and the spillage recovered if required. The pads, which are buoyant and environmentally inert, comprise an absorbent polymeric foam core sealed in a rugged spun- bonded polypropylene membrane which is permeable to oil and various chemicals but not to water. The membrane can incorporate a vapour barrier for part of its surface when undesirable secondary evaporation might otherwise Occur.

Standard size Petro-traps are up to 30 x 18 × 8in. They can be joined with cords provided to form an absorbent boom, will withstand tidal action and remain flexible at low temperature. A mechanical wringer is also available to remove the oil or chemical.

Developed by an American textile company, the effectiveness of Petro-Traps has been recognized by the US Coast Guard and the US Environmental Protection Agency. The marine and environmental applications a r e

extensive and include the recovery of seepage from bilges of pleasure craft up to and including Very Large Crude Carriers, the removal of spillages from engine rooms, decks etc. and the removal of oil spillages at tanker terminals. They can also be used to prevent contaminated runoff from industrial and waste disposal sites reaching water courses, and for cleansing contaminated water- ways, harbours and open stretches of water.

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Department also assisted the Dutch authorities by sending two spraying vessels to the operation mounted to deal with oil spilled from the tanker Pacific Colocotronis off the Dutch coast.

Norwegian Hshermen and Oil After the rumblings of discontent on this side of the

North Sea regarding the alleged damage to fishing caused by the oil industry during oil exploration, and the setting up of a committee to look into claims for damage, it is interesting to see similar developments in Norway.

A bill is going through Parliament, which, if it is approved, will provide compensation from the govern- ment for damage caused to fishing boats or gear by trawls ripped on equipment left on the seabed, or damaged by floating objects, and for collisions between fishing vessels and offshore supply boats. It is intended that the money be recovered from those responsible for the damage, where this can be established.

This may take the heat out of a very delicate situation, because the Norwegian fishermen had got as far as threatening to blockade the port of Stavanger, the main port for the oil-related activity, in support of their claims. As it is the bill will provide no compensation for lost fishing time, which will still leave the fishermen rather grieved.

The government has allocated about 8 million kroner (approximately £800 000) for claims for 1975 and 1976, and the Norwegian Fisheries Directorate has nearly 200 claims outstanding for almost 5 million kroner.

Prevention of Oil Pollution Fines totallying £81 380 were imposed in 56 cases of

prosecution for unlawful discharge of oil around the UK during 1975. Twenty six convictions related to offences by UK registered ships, 26 by foreign registered ships and the other four related to discharges from land installations. These figures are contained in the Annual Report on the Exercise and Performance of the Functions of the Department of Trade under the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971 laid before Parliament in June.

During the year Department of Trade surveyors carried out 1731 inspections of vessels under the Act. Fifty five prosecutions were undertaken by harbour authorities for offences committed in ports, of which 53 resulted in convictions. The other three prosecutions, all successful, were undertaken by the Department of Trade for offences at sea. From the fines five awards totalling £1504.79 were made towards the cost of removing oil pollution.

On four occasions during 1975 the Department of Trade organized oil clearance operations at sea around the coast of the UK. These were off the south-west coast of Wales, two in Torbay and the other in the Dover Strait. The most serious was the spillage of 2 500 tonnes of crude oil from the tanker Olympic Alliance following the collision with HMS Achilles in the Dover Strait. The

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UK Fishermen and Oil The management committee of the UK Offshore

Operators Association Compensation Fund has recom- mended that British fishing boats should carry an 'instant- picture' camera, so that they can take photographs of debris or damage to substantiate their claims for compensation. Corroborative evidence from other fishing boats in the vicinity would also be a help in deciding whether to pay out compensation. Most of the claims in a recent batch considered by the committee were accepted, but not all were paid in full.

Norwegian Oil Drilling Postponed A recent Norwegian Government White Paper says that

oil drilling above the 62nd parallel, the present northerly limit to oil exploration, will not now start until mid-1978. It is hoped that the extra time will allow moi'e preparation for possible accidents and pollution incidents. The threat to marine life is considered to be greater in the northern area. For safety reasons it is expected that drilling will be restricted to the months of May-November.