Potential Oil Pollution Areas in Turkish Straits System

Ocg. Cpt. A.Tuğsan İŞİAÇIK ÇOLAK¹- Istanbul Technicial University Maritime Faculty, Turkey, isiacik@itu.edu.tr

CONTENTS

1. Marine Pollution

2. Sources of Marine Pollution

3. Study Area:Turkish Strait Systems

4. Marmara Sea Enviromental Problems ‘ Overview’

5. Oil Pollution Caused by Vessel Operations

6. Why Ship Makes ILLEGAL Discharge???

7. Potential Oil Pollution Areas in Turkish Straits Systems

8. Conclusion

1.Marine Pollution

The term marine pollution was defined by United Nations working group called "Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine environmental Protection (GESAMP)". GESAMP defined it as "Pollution means introduction by man, directly or indirectly of substances or energy into the marine environment (including estuaries) resulting in such deleterious effects as harm to living resources, hazards to human health, hindrance to marine activities including fishing, impairment of quality for use of seawater and reduction of amenities".

2.SOURCES OF MARINE POLLUTION

Nutrients

Primary Source

Runoff approximately 50% sewage, 50% from forestry, farming, and other land use. Also airborne nitrogen oxides from power plants, cars etc.

EffectsFeed algal blooms in coastal waters. Decomposing algae depletes water of oxygen, killing other marine life. Can spur algal blooms (red tides), releasing toxins that can kill fish and poison people. (Ref:1)

…

Sediments

Primary Source

Erosion from mining, forestry, farming, and other land-use; coastal dredging and mining

Effects Cloud water; impede photosynthesis below surface waters. Clog gills of fish. Smother and bury coastal ecosystems. Carry toxins and excess nutrients. (Ref:1)

Pathogens Sewage, livestock.

Effects Contaminate coastal swiming areas and seafood,

spreading cholera, typhoid and other diseases. (Ref:1)

Alien Species

Several thousand per day transported in ballast water; also spread through canals linking bodies of water and fishery enhancement projects.

Effects

Outcompete native species and reduce biological diversity. Introduce new marine diceases. Associated with increased incidence of red tides and other algal blooms. Problem in major ports.

Persistent Toxins (PCBs, Heavy metals, DDT etc.)Industrial discharge; wastewater discharge from cities; pesticides from farms, forests, home use etc.; seepage from landfills.

Effects poison or cause disease in coastal marine life, especially

near major cities or industry. Contaminate seafood. Fat-soluble toxins that bio-accumulate in predators can cause disease and reproductive failure.

Oil

46% from cars, heavy machinery, industry, other land-based sources; 32% from oil tanker operations and other shipping; 13% from accidents at sea; also offshore oil drilling and natural seepage.

EffectsLow level contamination can kill larvae and cause disease in marine life. Oil slicks kill marine life, especially in coastal habitats. Tar balls from coagulated oil litter beaches and coastal habitat.

Plastics

Fishing nets; cargo and cruise ships; beach litter; wastes from plastics industry and landfills.

Effects

Discard fishing gear continues to catch fish. Other plastic debris entangles marine life or is mistaken for food. Plastics litter beaches and coasts and may persist for 200 to 400 years.

Radioactive substances Discarded nuclear submarine and military

waste; atmospheric fallout; also industrial wastes.

Effects Hot spots of radio activity. Can enter food

chain and cause disease in marine life. Concentrate in top predators and shellfish, which are eaten by people.

Thermal Cooling water from power plants and

industrial sites Kill off corals and other temperature sensitive

sedentary species. Displace other marine life.

Noise Supertankers, other large vessels and

machinery Can be heard thousands of kilometers away

under water. May stress and disrupt marine life. (Ref:1)

TURKISH STRAITS SYTEM3.STUDY AREA

The Turkish Straits System (TSS),consisting of the Marmara Sea, Strait of Istanbul and Strait of Canakkale

Marmara Sea

Istanbul Strait

Çanakkale Strait

The Turkish Straits, which consist of the Strait of Istanbul (Bosporus), the Strait of Çanakkale (the Dardanelles) and the Sea of Marmara, have for centuries been one of the world’s most strategic waterways due to their extreme narrowness, winding contours and densely populated shores. As the Black Sea's sole maritime link to the Mediterranean and the open ocean beyond, they are a vital passageway not just for trade but for the projection of military and political power. (Ref.2)

4.Regional Environmental Problems for the Marmara Sea

It has been estimated that on a global scale, up to 70% of pollution in the seas originate from land-based sources <m. The marine environment of the Marmara Sea has become increasingly vulnerable; whose oceanographic features do not help much its self-purification capacity. This inland sea is a semi-enclosed water body of 11111 km with an average depth of 260m. Domestic pollution load is generated mainly by the Istanbul Metropolis and its surroundings where 1/5 of Turkey's population live [3]. Furthermore large industrial facilities amounting to 60 % of the total, located on the bays and coastal areas constitute the most significant portion of local land-based input into the Marmara Sea.(Ref:3)

Sea Transportation is one of the most important regional enviromental problem due to Black Sea is connected to the World Oceans via the Mediterranean Sea through Turkish Straits System.

Observed 150 Envisat Satellite Pictures. May 2007-Jan2008 Source EMSA

100 possible Oil Slick Detected

The tanker traffic is very dense through the Straits to Black Sea. It is expected that increasing situation of tanker traffic in Black Sea and quantities of oil handled will be higher for the future. This high density of crude oil transportation by tankers and other ships cause major oil pollution.

5.Oil Pollution Caused by Vessel Operations

Examples for Ship transportation that causes sea pollution

Oil Pollution Discharging Bilge Water and Sludge Ballast Water Exchange Operations Alien Species

transported in ballast water Litters from Ships Anti- Fouling Paints Discharge of Sewage (Ref:4)

Major inputs of Petroleum to the Marine Environment

37% comes from industrial wastes, reach the sea, via

storm water drain, creeks, sewage and rivers.

33% from oil vessels during transportation.

2% during explorations and

12% from accidents involving tankers.

7% comes from natural sources like fissures from sea

bed.

9% absorbed from atmosphere. (Ref:4)

Oil Pollution can be Operationally or

Accidentally

Loading / Discharging – Cargo Operations

Bunkering Operations

Any Accidents with Oil Pollution

Grounding

Collision

Illegal Discharges from Vessels

6. Why Ship Makes ILLEGAL Discharge???

Ship generates oily waste products due to usage of

consuming heavy fuel oil, marine oil and lubricating oil for

all types power driven vessels. On the other hand routine

tanker operations cause oily waste water.

Three categories of oily waste generally accumulate

onboard especially on large vessels Bilge water

Sludge

Oil cargo residue

Bilge Waste

Machinery spaces on large commercial vessels contain a

wide array of complex engineering systems to propel and

power the vessel. Not only purification also supporting

systems; saltwater service, bilge and ballast, cooling

systems, fire fighting and sewage generate oily waste

products and leakage.

Sludge Waste

In order to prevent damage to engine systems and improve

combustion, the fuel should be purified. After purifying

the residues ( both the sludge and fluid contaminates )

drain to a sludge tank. Purifying method is also used for

main and auxiliary engine lubricating oil.

Sludge in the Sludge Tank

Oil Cargo Residue Waste

Tankers (product, chemical and crude) carry oil in bulk

and generate oil cargo waste residues. Tankers have

various tanks and may carry many different cargos at the

same time. After each change of cargo type, cargo tanks

should be cleaned.

Steam cleaning

Butterworth machine

These systems use water for cleaning cargo tanks and they

produce oily waste water after cleaning tank operation

The Reason of Illegal Discharges are To load more cargo Too much cost to discharge bilge water-sludge

and slop to the shore facilities

This bilge water line must be clean!!!! (directly open to the sea)

7. Potential Oil Pollution Areas in Turkish Straits Systems

End of İstanbul Strait-Entrance to the Black Sea

Geographical Distribution of Main Ports in Turkey

42

İzmit- Gemlik and Port Entrance– Tuzla /Yalova Ship Yard Area

İstanbul Anchorage AreaKumkapı-Zeytinburnu-Ambarlı-

Kartal

Zeytinburnu Anchorage Area Anchored Vessels have potential for illegal discharge of bilge water and

sewage water

46

Not Only International Transportation but also INLAND RORO TRANSPORT has also play role

for marine pollution

Ro-Ro transportation between the Northern-Southern ports of the Sea of Marmara which is an inland sea of our country.

Güneyden Çanakkale Boğaz Çıkış- Marmara Adası

8. Conclusion

(Ref1) Sources and Effects of Marine Pollution, Compiled by WorldWatch Institute.

(Ref.2) RISK ANALYSIS OF TRANSIT VESSEL TRAFFIC IN THE STRAIT OF ISTANBUL 1Özgecan S. Ulusçu , Birnur Özbaş,Tayfur Altıok ,İlhan Or

(Ref:3) Land Based And Shıp Orıgınated Pollutıon In The Turkısh Straıts System

Selmin B. * Zeki S. , Demir V. and Dogan E.

Lal, G., (2010), Disaster Management and Security ppt.

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