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Oil has become the prime fuel to be used in
every sector. Most of the countries of the world
import necessary oils from oil-rich countries due to
the unavailability of oils in their own country. The
transportation of these oils becomes very expensive
and arent considered feasible if they are
transported by road or by air. Hence, shipping is
considered to be the best medium for their
transportation.
These
ships, while carrying oil meet with accidents leading
to spillage of oil on the ocean surface. Oil slicks
are a common sight along the coastal shores and
beaches. It spills during the transfer from ship to
ship or shore due to the incorrect operation of
valves, on ship board or at oil terminals. The spilt
oil spreads into a circular patch, but when it is
large, it floats as sheets of oil stretching many
kilometers affecting the photosynthetic activity in
oceans.
As
oil is not biodegradable it remains for long periods
on the water surface, though a certain amount is lost
by evaporation of lighter fraction. In another natural
process oil gets emulsified breaking into droplets
which sink to the bottom, picking up fine sand to form
tar balls. Formation of such tar balls is dangerous to
marine life and seabirds. Oil slicks are worsening day
by day.
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