BUZZARDS BAY OIL SPILL. AN ARCTIC ANALOGUE

An analysis of an oil spill in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts provides valuable information regarding oil spill behavior in coastal areas with winter ice. On January 28, 1977, 81,000 gallons of #2 fuel oil was spill into Buzzards Bay by the barge Bouchard #65. Analysis of that spill and the resulting cleanup efforts indicates that oil spilled in coastal areas with large percentages of ice cover behaves in a manner significantly different from oil spills on open water. Ice slows the dispersal of oil and may act to protect beach and shore areas from contamination or confine oil within restricted zones. Waves and wind driven surface currents are generally low, reducing the rate of dispersal and mechanical breakdown of the spilled oil. Contaminated ice may be transported by wind and tidal currents into new areas. When the ice melts, the released oil can pollute shorelines that might otherwise have been unaffected. Ice also places numerous constraints on both the methods applicable to clean-up and the effectiveness of those methods. In many cases it renders normal clean-up machinery and methods completely useless.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Port and Ocean Engineering under Arctic Conditions (POAC 77), Newfoundland Memorial University, Canada, September 26-30, 1977.
  • Corporate Authors:

    POAC Conference 77

    ,    
  • Authors:
    • Ruby, C H
    • Ward, L G
    • Fischer, I A
    • BROWN, P J
  • Publication Date: 1977

Media Info

  • Features: References;
  • Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00167686
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada
  • Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jan 13 1978 12:00AM