UNIVERSITI KUALA LUMPUR

MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF MARINE ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY

LOB 31603
INTEGRATED MARINE POLLUTION CONTROL

ASSIGNMENT 1 (GROUPING)

TOPICS FROM COURSE LEARNING PLAN (CLP):

2.0 SOURCES OF MARINE POLLUTION

3.0 EFFECT OF OIL SPILLS

MEMBERS OF GROUP:

SITI AISHAH BINTI IBRAHIM @ ISA (56211217095)

NOR IKLIMA MARIAM BINTI IRAMAN (56211217084)
NORFATIN ASHIKIN BINRI MD KHOSIM (56211217055)

GROUP

L01-T01

LECTURER

MUHAMMAD KASFFI RAMLI

 TABLE OF CONTENT

LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................ii

1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1
2.0 SOURCES OF MARINE POLLUTION ........................................................................ 2
2.1 Agriculture Runoff ...................................................................................................... 2
2.2 Oil Spills...................................................................................................................... 2
2.3 Thermal Pollution........................................................................................................ 2
2.4 Sewage ........................................................................................................................ 2
2.5 Ballast Pollution .......................................................................................................... 2
3.0 IMPACTS OF MARINE POLLUTION ......................................................................... 3
3.1 Wildlife Entanglement ................................................................................................ 3
3.2 Wildlife Ingestion ........................................................................................................ 3
3.3 Economic Loss ............................................................................................................ 3
4.0 CAUSES OF OIL SPILLS ............................................................................................. 4
4.1 Natural Causes............................................................................................................. 4
4.1.1 Taylor Oil Spill (Example 1) ............................................................................... 5
4.2 Shipping Activity (Oil Transportation) ....................................................................... 6
4.3 Drainage System ......................................................................................................... 6
4.4 War .............................................................................................................................. 6
4.5 Oil Drilling .................................................................................................................. 6
4.5.1 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Example 2)........................................................... 7
5.0 IMPACT OF OIL SPILLS .............................................................................................. 8
5.2 Impact of oil spill on marine and organisms. .............................................................. 8
5.3 Impact on marine reptiles ............................................................................................ 9
6.0 PREVENTION WAYS ................................................................................................. 10
6.1 Controlled burning .................................................................................................... 10
6.2 Use of barriers and adsorbents materials................................................................... 10
6.2.1 Booms ................................................................................................................ 10
6.2.2 Skimmers ........................................................................................................... 10
6.2.3 Natural and synthetic absorbing materials ......................................................... 11
6.3 Monomolecular surface films.................................................................................... 11
7.0 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 12
8.0 RECOMMENDATION ................................................................................................ 13
9.0 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 15

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1:Marine mammals could not move due to entanglement.............................................. 3

Figure 2: Multiple seeds release oil on the seafloor in Southern California .............................. 4
Figure 3: Location of the Taylor oil spill, off the southeast coast of Louisiana ........................ 5
Figure 4:Controlled burn of oil spilled in the Deepwater Horizon incidents using booms ....... 7

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

Marine pollution has been a huge concern due to bad impact on economic and
ecological systems. Marine life especially, was threatened by different pollutants
caused by different sources. The main form of marine pollution is basically come from
the land, water and air. The effect of marine pollution is not only affecting marine
wildlife, but also indirectly affect human being through their foods such as fishes and
other seafoods. Thus, people should be concerned to preserve the nature by not cause
any pollution that would be harmful to environment.

Marine oil spill is one the sources of marine pollution. Deepwater Horizon oil
spill was one of major oil spill and had triggered worldwide consciousness of marine
spill response. In general, oil spill is defined as the contamination of seawater due to an
oil pour which contains a mixture of hydrocarbon compounds and gives a severe impact
on marine lives.

There are some causes of oil spill which need to be noticed, so that preventions
steps could be figured out by the authorities. Oils spill might be caused by accidents of
ship, human mistakes, breakdown of equipment or even from natural disasters such as
hurricanes. Oil spill contingency plan is one of alternatives taken to control, contain
and recover the oil which might be harmful to the marine environment, and indirectly
affect human lives as well. This oil spill response plan however carried out only after
the spillages of the oil. This paper mainly presents the causes, impacts and recovering
plans of oil spill

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2.0 SOURCES OF MARINE POLLUTION

2.1 Agriculture Runoff

Agriculture runoff gets deposited into the oceans as they run off into streams
when it is raining. Chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides will then get mixed in
the oceans as harmful pollutants to marine environment.

2.2 Oil Spills

Half of the estimated 1 million tons of oil that makes its way into marine
environments each year not come from tanker spills but from land-based sources such
as factories, farms, and cities.

2.3 Thermal Pollution

The water which is used for cooling nuclear reactors when discharged into sea
causes harm to marine life. Most marine organisms have specific temperature and
unable to survive sudden changes.

2.4 Sewage

The discharge of raw sewage into the sea can create a health hazard. Sewage
can also lead to oxygen depletion and can be an obvious visual pollution in coastal areas
which is a major problem for countries with tourist industries.

2.5 Ballast Pollution

Ballast water taken up at sea and released in port is a major source of unwanted
exotic marine life. Plants, animals, viruses, and bacteria are among the variety of
biological materials discharged from ballast water. These materials often include non-
native, nuisance, exotic species that can cause extensive ecological and economic
damage to aquatic ecosystems, along with serious human health issues including death.

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3.0 IMPACTS OF MARINE POLLUTION

3.1 Wildlife Entanglement

Entanglement in and ingestion of marine debris can be fatal and are also likely
to have a range of sub-lethal consequences, such as compromising the ability to capture
and digest food, sense hunger, escape from predators, and reproduce, as well as
decreasing body condition and impairing locomotion.

Figure 1:Marine mammals could not move due to entanglement

3.2 Wildlife Ingestion

Thousands of animals, from small finches to blue whales, die grisly deaths from
eating and getting caught in plastic. For example, hundreds of thousands of seabirds
ingest plastic every year. Plastic ingestion reduces the storage volume of the stomach
and causing starvation.

3.3 Economic Loss

Marine litter itself has implication of economic expenditure even excluding its
secondary or compounding effects caused by accidents and disasters. Among the major
damages caused by marine litter are interruption of fishing operation, damage to
aquaculture facilities, breakdown or repair of fishing gear, breakdown or repair of
vessels and cost of marine litter clean-up itself.

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4.0 CAUSES OF OIL SPILLS

Oil spill is one of major sources of marine pollution and it could be caused by some
factors and divided into two major factors; accidental causes or intentional causes.

4.1 Natural Causes

Crude oil is formed naturally in a long period of time and this process involves
organic matter from dead organisms. Such natural oil spills may occur in oceans, due
to eroding of sedimentary rocks from the bottom of the ocean. Natural occurrences and
disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, sea storms, and other climatic disturbances
can cause natural oil spills. Oil is found in seas but deep down the underlying rock of
the sea. In seas the underlying rocks are found closer to the sea. Thus, when erosion
happens underwater, it is easier for an oil spill to happen.

Crude oil and natural gas also naturally enter the ocean at areas known as
"seeps." These hydrocarbons leak out of the ground through fractures and sediments.
According to report form National Research Council in 2003, there are approximately
160,000 tonnes of petroleum enter North American Water through natural seeps for
every year. Slicks from many larger seeps are visible by satellite, and some are
persistent enough to be features on navigation charts.

Figure 2: Multiple seeds release oil on the seafloor in Southern California

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4.1.1 Taylor Oil Spill (Example 1)

The Taylor Oil Spill started in September 23, 2004 and it has been an
ongoing spill which resulted from the destruction of a Taylor Energy oil
platform during Hurricane Ivan. In September 16, 2004, Hurricane Ivan was
passed within 62 miles at the site. It caused the submarine landslides that
capsized the drill rig and moved it 560 feet from its original location. It was
reported that the hurricane was a Category 3 hurricane and it killed eight peoples
during the attack. This has been resulted in between 25 to 28 leaking wells being
buried beneath the sea floor, taking approximately 475 feet below the surface.

The oil spill was located at the Gulf of Mexico, around eleven miles (18
km) off the coast of the United States of America in the state of Louisiana. It
has been the longest oil spill in U.S. history. It was first brought to public
attention when the contamination at the site was noticed in 2010 by those
monitoring the nearby Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Upper estimates of the spill
have been calculated to be as much as 1,400,000 US gallons of oil lost over the
life of the disaster. It is stated that it affects an area as large as 8 square miles
(21 km2). As in 2018, it was estimated that 300 to 700 barrels of oil per day
being spilled making it one of the worst modern oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico
by volume.

Figure 3: Location of the Taylor oil spill, off the southeast coast of Louisiana

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4.2 Shipping Activity (Oil Transportation)

Major oil spills happen worldwide is due to the shipping activity involving oil
tankers. The tankers might have faulty issues or equipment breakdown, or some might
even collide with other ships accidentally causing massive oil spills straight to the
ocean. Apart from oil tankers, oil spill could be caused by pipelines that pass undersea.
Although this incident seems to be seldom, the pipelines may start leaking due to lack
of maintenance and might also leads to oil spillage.

4.3 Drainage System

This factor categorized as an intentional factor of oil spill. This happens when
mechanics spill oil after changing oil from vehicle or motorcycle engines. Most of these
drainage systems are connected to large water bodies. Although the oil spill caused by
drainage system is not large as compared to oil drilling and shipping activity causes, it
also contributes to hazardous environment to aquatic life.

4.4 War

Most countries in the middle east are rich in oil something that has led to an
unending fight between militants, international soldiers, and government soldiers. This
has led to the disruption of normal activities in those countries. In addition, due to many
oil wells hence, smuggling has been a key financial route for the militants. These have
also caused massive oil spills.

4.5 Oil Drilling

On-shore and off-shore oil drilling are some of the worst ways oil can find its
way to the sea. Currently, many oil rigs are being drilled in seas. Some of which have
technical issues hence causing oil spillage. The worst oil spill caused by offshore oil
drilling happened in the Gulf of Mexico.

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4.5.1 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Example 2)

This incident happened on April 20, 2010 and considered as one of

largest industrial disaster when almost 4.9 million barrels of oil had been
discharged and estimated to be 8% to 31% larger in volume than the previous
largest, the Ixtoc I oil spill. After several failed efforts to contain the flow, the
well was declared sealed on September 19, 2010. However, reports in early
2012 indicated that the well site was still leaking.

The petroleum that had leaked from the well before it was sealed formed
a slick extending over thousands of square miles of the Gulf of Mexico., 1.8
million gallons of dispersants were pumped directly into the leak and applied
aerially to the slick to clean oil from the open water. Booms to corral portions
of the slick were deployed, and the contained oil was then siphoned off or
burned. Despite of all cleaning efforts, Deepwater horizon oil spill had killed
approximately 1 million coastal and offshore seabirds, 5,000 marine mammals
and 1,000 sea turtles.

Figure 4:Controlled burn of oil spilled in the Deepwater Horizon incidents using
booms

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5.0 IMPACT OF OIL SPILLS
Oil spills can seriously affect the marine environment both as a result of physical
smothering and toxic effects.

5.1 Impact on marine life/habitats.

Offshore oil spills can have a significant impact on many parts of natural
ecosystems. Some of the most striking impact of oil spills are apparent among the
largest species of wildlife. Marine and coastal wildlife exposed to oil suffer both
immediate health issues and long-terms changes to their behaviour. Oil also can cause
temporary physical damage to animal in tiny doses.

Tropical coral reefs are also affected by oil spills and there have been longest-term
effects where coral mortality occurred. However, sensitivity varies between coral
species most appear not be acutely to short-term elevations in the concentration of oil.

However, oil spills also have indirect effect on marine wildlife by causing changes
the behaviour. For example, disruptions in life cycles may become evident if particular
life forms are more sensitive to the impacts of oil. Egg, larvae and juveniles of many
species are more susceptible to damaging impact of the pollutions.

5.2 Impact of oil spill on marine and organisms.

The effect of oil on marine organisms ultimately depends on the oil’s fate. If the
oil is not dispersed, it will remain in the surface. In this case, currents carry oil to coastal
regions that harm coastal organisms such as invertebrates, mammals and birds.
However, when the oil is dispersed, organisms such as fish, plankton and larvae are
instantly subject to oil toxicity.

The aquatic organisms in and around the coral reefs are at danger of exposure
and smothering to the toxic substances in oil. The organisms deteriorate quickly due to
a multitude of environmental and anthropogenic pressure. Thus, it suffers significant
changes in diversity, abundance of species and structure of habitats. Besides, the coral
reefs are also potentially harmful to marine life caused by oil dispersants.

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5.3 Impact on marine reptiles
From the oil itself to the spill response and clean-up activities, a major oil spill has
the potential to have serious negative effects on sea turtles. Part of the reason for this is
because sea turtles migrate long distances and inhabit so many different parts of the
ocean environment at different stages of their lives. Turtle are potentially vulnerable to
oil when they come into contact with it at the surface of the sea or on the shore. Newly
hatched turtles will be susceptible to any oil spills on the beach as they arise from their
nests and crawl towards the ocean.

For starters, sea turtles hatch (and female later returns as adult to lay eggs) on sandy
beaches. Then, they head to the vast open ocean where the tiny young turtles drift, hide
from predators, and grow among floating islands of seaweed called sargassum. Finally,
as larger juveniles and adults, they swim to the shallower waters of the continental shelf
and near shore, where they spend the majority of the rest of their lives.

If a large offshore spill releases oil into the open ocean, currents and winds can
carry oil across all of the habitats where sea turtles are found, and into the potential path
of sea turtles of every age, as it makes its way to the shore. Another reason sea turtles
can be particularly vulnerable to ocean oil spills is simply because they breathe air.
Even though sea turtles can hold their breath on dives for extended periods of time, they
usually come to the surface to breathe several times an hour. Because most of oils float,
sea turtles can surface into large oil slicks over and over again.

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6.0 PREVENTION WAYS
Marine oil spills can have a major effect on marine life as well as on the coastal
economic activities and groups that exploit the sea’s resources. Oil spills that pollute many
elements of the environment still occur despite the technological control and continuously
improved precautions. Therefore, communities that are at risk of marine oil spills have
realized the risk and have therefore developed some of plans and policy issues to solve the
risk of marine oil pollution. The objective of oil spills control or prevention is to reduce oil
spills and restrict the spread to the atmosphere.

6.1 Controlled burning

There are many ways to avoid the oil spills including the controlled burning of
the spilled oil. This is one of the most efficient ways to get a spilled oil rig. Usually,
this method is used in the calm ocean shortly after the oil film has formed, so that
oil is not mixed with water. This method is effective nearly 90% of the captured oil
has been proven by the Exxon Valdes. However, residues from burning and
resulting fumes may still have an impact on the air quality and the land near the
spill region. Likewise, for regions across shorelines, windy areas and narrow
vessels, this method is not recommended. The major limitations of this technique
are the resulting air pollution from burning the oil as well as the inability to recover
the resource.

6.2 Use of barriers and adsorbents materials

The method by use of barriers and adsorbent materials to recover the spilled oil
is a commonly used when oil spills occur in the water environment to prevent the
oil spreading. The main types of barriers used are;

6.2.1 Booms
Fire resistant booms are used to restrict the burning area when controlled
burning is applied on the spilled oil.

6.2.2 Skimmers
Skimmers are typically propylene mop-like pads positioned on the
ocean surface to adsorb the film of oil spills.

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 6.2.3 Natural and synthetic absorbing materials
These materials are used to control a wide range of spills by removing
some of the spilled oil and serving as a physical barrier limiting the oil
movement. Synthetic organic products, including polyurethane,
polyethylene and polypropylene, have higher absorption capacity than
natural absorbents, but they degrade slowly and since they do not occur
in nature, they are highly expensive to manufacture.

6.3 Monomolecular surface films

This method used around the spilled oil on water to compress into the thick layer
that can be recover easily and reduce the damage to the environment, fishing and
properties. This technique has started in early 1970’s and was incorporated by the
Navy into the control program of bays and harbours.

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7.0 CONCLUSION
Oceans cover the earth’s surface about 71% and plays an important role in the chemical
and biological balance of the life on earth. These are rich in marine resources such as minerals,
oils and marine life and the seafood supplies meet a substantial food requirement of the world’s
population. If the marine life is affected by the pollution and carried pollutants, it will give a
huge impact to the human population while consuming such resources. Hence, it is necessary
to be wide awake about the marine pollution and take actions in reducing and preventing it.
The sources of these undesirable coastal contaminants are either land-based or marine-based.
Managing and preventing or at least reducing the problems created are difficult to address as
the volume of garbage or any forms of pollutants involved are ever increasing. That is why
many parties have taken actions in helping reducing the marine pollution before it become
worst.

Marine pollution occurs when the harmful effect results from the entry of the chemicals,
particles, industrial, agricultural, and residential waste, noise, or the spread of invasive
organisms. Eighty percent of marine pollution comes from land. Air pollution is also a
contributing factor by carrying off pesticides or dirt into the ocean. Land and air pollution have
proven to be harmful to marine life and its habitats. The pollution often comes from nonpoint
sources such as agricultural runoff, wind-blown debris, and dust. Nutrient pollution, a form of
water pollution, refers to contamination by excessive inputs of nutrients. Besides, oil spills
from vessels that using sea as their main route are also one of the biggest caused to the marine
pollutions. The oil that has spilled needs a proper clean- up procedures so it will not become
stains in the ocean and affect each and every marine environment as a whole.

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8.0 RECOMMENDATION
Country around the world needs to tackle various forms of pollution. As for the oil spills
matter, research units could work on the detection of oil spills at sea, containment and recovery
of floating oil at sea, detection of oil spills on land and many more. These can at least minimize
the causes of pollution and will help conserve a better world and a healthy mother nature.
Marine protected area, where fishing is prohibited can be effective in protecting and rebuilding
populations of marine species.

To be even more effective, protected areas should be established for species whose
behavior depends to some degree on structure, species that live, breed, feed or take shelter on
or around the topography of the coast or the bottom of the sea. They will be more effective for
species whose entire life cycle is spent in associated with structure are largely confined to the
protected area. The design of the marine protected areas should also involve fishermen so that
they believe the resulting systems will protect their long-term interests as well.

Organizing a beach clean-up also will help a lot in term of cleaning the ocean. It is a great
way to clear-up the ocean and reduce marine pollution. Studies have shown that about 80% of
marine pollution comes from the land. So, one of the main ways to reduce marine pollution is
to get rid of rubbish carefully. If the amount of rubbish on land is being reduced, it is likely
that there will be less amount of rubbish in the ocean. Waste on land can be reduced by
recycling paper, glass, cans, and even plastic containers.

Use of chemical dispersants can be an effective method of spill response and control,
especially to minimize environmental damage, but the application technique is critical to the
success of dispersant use. Dispersants have been shown in laboratory tests, to be effective; that
is dispersants can remove oil from the water surface. High efficiency has been documented in
a few carefully planned and monitored field tests. Reported effectiveness was low in other field
tests and at accidental spills, perhaps because the application technique was inadequate, the oil
was not dispersible, the methods of measuring effectiveness were inadequate, or untested
remote-sensing methods were used.

In conclusive visual results have occurred when different observers looking at the same
dispersant treatment have provided widely differing estimates of effectiveness. It should be
considered along with mechanical clean-up by using dispersants as a first response option to
oil spills. Implementation of this recommendation must consider spill size, logistical and
contingency planning, equipment and dispersant performance and availability, appropriate

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regulations and personnel training. These lists of recommendation are some of the ideas that
can be done to minimize the causes of marine pollutions. It is not necessarily to be a bigger
idea, but having to do and encourage people of doing the littlest act of responsibility towards
the oceans can have so much bigger impact in the future. By doing it, it will not only help the
marine environment to be safe but also will help people to have a better and cleaner ocean.

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9.0 REFERENCES
Chen, B., Ye, X., Zhang, B., Jing, L. & Lee, K. (2019). Marine Oil Spills:

Preparedness and Countermeasures. World Seas: An Environmental Evaluation

(Second Edition), Volume 3, 407-426. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128050521000255

What is an Oil Spill at Sea? (2019, August 13). Retrieved from

https://www.marineinsight.com/environment/what-is-an-oil-spill-at-sea/

Oil Spill Pollution Causes. (2017). Retrieved from

https://www.environmentalpollutioncenters.org/oil-spill/causes/

Pallardy, R. (2019, May 29). Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Retrieved from

https://www.britannica.com/event/Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill/Environmental-costs

Yessenia Funes (2019, June 25). The Longest Oil Spill in U.S. History May Be 900

Times Larger Than Originally Estimated. Retrieved from

https://earther.gizmodo.com/longest-oil-spill-in-u-s-history-may-be-900-times-larg-
1835847992

Ismail M.K. Saadoun (2015, September 2). Impact of oil spill in marine life. Retrieved from
https://www.intechopen.com/books/emerging-pollutants-in-the-environment-current-and-
further-implications/impact-of-oil-spills-on-marine-life

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