ITOPF has released a report detailing the potential damage and liabilities associated with biofuel spills, with a particular focus on biodiesel. This report likely examines the environmental impacts, clean-up challenges, and legal responsibilities that could arise from such incidents, reports Safety4sea.
Transition Fuels
Biofuels are considered “transition fuels” due to their lower “well-to-tank” emissions compared to traditional hydrocarbon fuels, as they are often derived from renewable resources.
Biodiesels are typically used in blends with conventional fuel oils, ranging from B5 to B100. Blends with lower biofuel percentages (e.g., B5, B10) tend to behave more like traditional fuel oil.
Pure biodiesel is insoluble in water and, unlike conventional diesel, does not evaporate quickly due to its low vapor pressure, meaning it will persist on the sea surface longer. Blending biodiesel with conventional diesel increases the likelihood of evaporation.
The behavior of spilled biofuel is influenced by the receiving water’s temperature and the biofuel’s pour point.
Hazards Associated
The hazards of biofuels largely mirror those of conventional oils due to their similar behavior in the environment. The main environmental concerns with biodiesel spills are the smothering of wildlife and the potential for reduced oxygen availability during biodegradation.
- Physical Smothering:
- Surface-dwelling organisms like seabirds and marine mammals are at risk of being coated and smothered by the oil slick.
- This can impair movement, feeding, respiration, thermal regulation, and reproduction.
- If the water temperature is below the oil’s pour point, causing the oil to solidify, the impact on surface organisms is lessened.
- Oxygen Availability:
- Biodiesel’s biodegradability leads to increased microbial activity, which consumes oxygen.
- A large spill can cause a rapid increase in microbial populations, leading to significant oxygen depletion.
- This can create hypoxic or anoxic conditions, harming fish, crustaceans, and aquatic plants, and potentially causing local die-offs.
- While open ocean conditions usually prevent anoxic conditions due to mixing, sheltered bays and inland waterways with limited water movement are more vulnerable.
Things To Consider
Here are the key points to consider regarding biodiesel spills:
- Clean-up and Preventive Measures:
- The costs of cleaning up a biodiesel spill are expected to be similar to those for a traditional hydrocarbon oil spill.
- Because biodiesel floats and persists on the sea surface, standard oil pollution clean-up methods, such as booms and skimmers, are likely to be effective.
- Environmental Damage:
- Research on the environmental impacts of biodiesel spills in marine environments is less extensive than that for conventional oil spills.
- Property Damage from Biodiesel:
- Costs related to property damage may be comparable to those from conventional fuels.
- Biodiesel’s colorless appearance might make damage less immediately noticeable.
- However, biodiesel’s faster biodegradation rate compared to traditional oils could lead to less long-lasting damage.
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Source: Safety4sea
