UK GOVERNMENT ACTION ON OIL POLLUTION PREVENTION SINCE 1968

In 1968, local authorities accepted responsibility for their own emergency procedures. In 1969, the Department of Trade was given responsibility for dealing with oil spills which threaten major pollution of the coastline. Since then, contingency plans have been drawn up in each of the 9 districts, and the plans tested in exercises. The Boom Agreement for cooperation between North Sea states in the event of a major spill was also drawn up in 1969. Dispersants used today are far less toxic than those used in the Torrey Canyon disaster. Heavy penalties for oil pollution were promulgated by the 1971 Prevention of Oil Pollution Act. British offshore operators established capability to deal with oil spills arising from their operations in 1974. Between February 1976 and March 1977 all Department of Trade concentrate dispersant stocks were replaced by a new type. The Department of Energy began inspection of oil spill contingency plans for offshore operations in 1976. By 1977, contingency plans had been received and preliminary assessment of all operators active in the British sector of the North Sea was completed.

• Corporate Authors:

  Selvigs Forlag A/S

  Radhusgaten 8, Postbox 162
  Oslo 1,   Norway 
• Publication Date: 1977-5

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 25
• Serial:
  • Northern Offshore
  • Volume: 6
  • Issue Number: 5
  • Publisher: Selvigs Forlag A/S

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Dispersers; Oil spill cleanup; Oil spills; Prevention; Regulation; Water quality management
• Old TRIS Terms: Oil spill contingency plans; Oil spill dispersants; Oil spill prevention; Water pollution prevention; Water pollution regulation
• Subject Areas: Environment; Marine Transportation; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00167798
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Pollution Abstracts
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 13 1978 12:00AM