clean, and an abundant meiofauna had recolonized the beaches (Giere 1979). As
most tourist beaches of the German North Sea coast are of fine to medium sand and
are wave-exposed, there is reasonable hope that waves will take the oil away after
some period of time, and that the damage will at least not be catastrophic in this
areas, if an oil accident should happen.
5.5 Combating Oil Pollution
Everyone agrees that every possibility for reducing the introduction of hydrocarbons
into the ocean must be exhausted. In the fmal analysis, petroleum is too valuable
a source of energy to waste by fouling the ocean with it. The increasing price of oil is
stimulating ideas to effect the more efficient burning of hydrocarbons as an energy
source and the recycling of waste oil. Ocean pollution by petroleum will obviously be
halted when the source is exhausted. But with around 53 X 10 9 t, only a fraction has
been used to date. The available reserves are greater by far.
The concrete question arises: what measures are to be taken so that an oil spill does
not occur, be it a tanker collision, a harbor mishap, or a drilling rig accident? Better
technical precautions, better developments in ship building, but above all better
navigation are the most effective measures for preventing accidental oil pollution.
When we hear that badly trained officers are working on poorly equipped and badly
maintained tankers registered in countries with substandard maritime safety regulations, we have to conclude that there is much room for improvement in these areas
(KrUger 1977).
After the "Amoco Cadiz" accident in March 1978 there were discussions in all coastal
nations what could be done to prevent oil accidents. France made a regulation that
tankers on the way to the English Channel should keep a greater distance to the coast
of Brittany. The Federal Republic of Germany regulated that all tankers above
10,000 gross tons bound for German North Sea ports have to take a pilot at light
ship "Deutsche Bucht" far away from the shore. All vessels above 300 gross tons carrying cargo have to take a pilot for the dangerous passage through the shallows of
the Jade, Weser, or Elbe.
Such measures against the risk of oil pollution can be organized without world-wide
conventions, on a national or regional scheme. In principle, the harbor captain of the
port of Wilhelmshaven, if he is backed up by other authorities, could refuse to let
substandard tankers berth at Wilhelmshaven oil pier. But in general, it is certainly
reasonable that international agencies like IMCO work for better standards of construction, equipment, and crew of tankers (see Chap. 10).
But when oil is spilled, what is to be done? This question is taken seriously by all
countries with a merchant marine fleet and by the scientific community. But the
answer to the question has not yet been found. A precise definition of the purposes
to be served by the measures taken to combat oil spills is part of the question.
If it could be determined that the wind was not going to drive it into a coastal area
and the sea area were not frequented by marine birds, an oil spill would not need to
be combated. Looked at soberly, an oil slick on the open sea is of little significance.
Tar, however, will turn up later on a beach.
96
most tourist beaches of the German North Sea coast are of fine to medium sand and
are wave-exposed, there is reasonable hope that waves will take the oil away after
some period of time, and that the damage will at least not be catastrophic in this
areas, if an oil accident should happen.
5.5 Combating Oil Pollution
Everyone agrees that every possibility for reducing the introduction of hydrocarbons
into the ocean must be exhausted. In the fmal analysis, petroleum is too valuable
a source of energy to waste by fouling the ocean with it. The increasing price of oil is
stimulating ideas to effect the more efficient burning of hydrocarbons as an energy
source and the recycling of waste oil. Ocean pollution by petroleum will obviously be
halted when the source is exhausted. But with around 53 X 10 9 t, only a fraction has
been used to date. The available reserves are greater by far.
The concrete question arises: what measures are to be taken so that an oil spill does
not occur, be it a tanker collision, a harbor mishap, or a drilling rig accident? Better
technical precautions, better developments in ship building, but above all better
navigation are the most effective measures for preventing accidental oil pollution.
When we hear that badly trained officers are working on poorly equipped and badly
maintained tankers registered in countries with substandard maritime safety regulations, we have to conclude that there is much room for improvement in these areas
(KrUger 1977).
After the "Amoco Cadiz" accident in March 1978 there were discussions in all coastal
nations what could be done to prevent oil accidents. France made a regulation that
tankers on the way to the English Channel should keep a greater distance to the coast
of Brittany. The Federal Republic of Germany regulated that all tankers above
10,000 gross tons bound for German North Sea ports have to take a pilot at light
ship "Deutsche Bucht" far away from the shore. All vessels above 300 gross tons carrying cargo have to take a pilot for the dangerous passage through the shallows of
the Jade, Weser, or Elbe.
Such measures against the risk of oil pollution can be organized without world-wide
conventions, on a national or regional scheme. In principle, the harbor captain of the
port of Wilhelmshaven, if he is backed up by other authorities, could refuse to let
substandard tankers berth at Wilhelmshaven oil pier. But in general, it is certainly
reasonable that international agencies like IMCO work for better standards of construction, equipment, and crew of tankers (see Chap. 10).
But when oil is spilled, what is to be done? This question is taken seriously by all
countries with a merchant marine fleet and by the scientific community. But the
answer to the question has not yet been found. A precise definition of the purposes
to be served by the measures taken to combat oil spills is part of the question.
If it could be determined that the wind was not going to drive it into a coastal area
and the sea area were not frequented by marine birds, an oil spill would not need to
be combated. Looked at soberly, an oil slick on the open sea is of little significance.
Tar, however, will turn up later on a beach.
96