Oil Spills : Impact, cleanup, and MARPOL convention for UPSC Exam

Indian Express

27-05-2025

Take a look at the essential events, concepts, terms, quotes, or phenomena every day and brush up your knowledge. Here's your knowledge nugget for today on the issue of oil spills.
(Relevance: The topic of oil spills is important for the UPSC exam from multiple dimensions. Previously, UPSC has also asked questions on it; for instance, in the Mains of 2023 question was asked on oil pollution and its impacts on the marine ecosystem. Thus, it becomes essential to understand the issue of oil spills from a broader perspective.)
A day after the Liberian-flagged cargo ship, MSC ELSA 3, capsized off the Kerala coast, 30 containers washed ashore on Monday. However, no oil spill reached the shore as of Monday evening. A defence spokesperson in Kochi said three Coast Guard vessels, Vikram, Saksham and Samarth, have been deployed in a pollution response configuration in the area where the ship capsized. In this context, let's understand the issues associated with oil spills and methods of cleaning them.
Natural disasters, human error, or equipment failure can trigger accidents involving oil tankers, drilling rigs, pipelines, or refineries. When oil spills into water, it rapidly spreads. Due to its lighter density, it forms a layer over water, obstructing sunlight and disrupting photosynthesis in marine plants and phytoplankton – organisms crucial for oxygen production. Marine animals also consume phytoplankton, which form the base of multiple food chains.
The consequences of oil spills are influenced by factors such as the type of oil, the volume of the spill, weather conditions, and proximity to sensitive ecosystems. The long-term impacts of oil spills are extensive, affecting marine ecosystems, habitats, and local economies.
1. Effect on marine fauna: The marine animals face immediate dangers from toxic exposure. With oil coating the feathers of birds, they may lose their insulation abilities, leading to hypothermia and drowning. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that fish and invertebrates may also endure challenges with reproduction and growth.
2. Threat to biodiversity: Oil spills can wipe out animal populations, with toxic substances accumulating in the food chain and posing significant risks to higher-level predators, including humans. This bioaccumulation can result in long-term health problems and a reduction in biodiversity, disrupting entire ecosystems.
3. Effect on coastal ecosystems: The Coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, coral reefs, and marshlands, are especially at risk, as oil can suffocate these habitats and kill vital plants and animals. Recovery can take decades, with some species facing the threat of extinction.
4. Effect on economy: The economic fallout of oil spill is significant for communities dependent on fishing and tourism. Also, the cleanup effort is often costly and lengthy, diverting resources from other critical areas.
Cleaning up oil spills is challenging. Oil spreads quickly and rough seas and strong currents complicate cleanup efforts. Oils vary in properties, with some sinking or emulsifying with water and making separation tough. Some of the method used for oil spill clean up are skimming, in situ burning and releasing chemical dispersants.
1. Skimming: It involves removing oil from the sea surface before it can reach sensitive areas along the coastline.
2. In situ burning: It means burning a particular patch of oil after it has concentrated in an area.
3. Releasing chemical dispersants: It helps break down oil into smaller droplets, making it easier for microbes to consume and further break it down into less harmful compounds.
Although these methods are useful, they also have some drawbacks, such as methods like chemical dispersants can harm marine life. Additionally, manual cleanup is labour-intensive and often ineffective in remote areas.
1. The MARPOL Convention governs oil spills. It evolved from several older agreements and led to a protocol issued in 1978 following several oil spill disasters in the 1970s.
2. It has six annexes, covering prevention of pollution from ships by Oil, Noxious liquid substances, Dangerous goods in packaged form, Sewage, Garbage and Air pollution from ships.
3. India is also a signatory of MARPOL convention. It is enforced with the help of domestic legislation, such as the Merchant Shipping Act in India, which has provisions on civil liability and pollution prevention certificates. Indian ships and ships in Indian waters are mandated to follow these regulations. Ports also maintain oil spill contingency plans to handle local cases, while the Indian Coast Guard is the nodal agency.
(1) Which of the factors influences the consequences of oil spills?
1. Type of oil
2. Volume of the spill
3. Weather conditions
4. Proximity to sensitive ecosystems
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 , 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(2) Consider the following statements with regard to the MARPOL convention:
1. It covers prevention of pollution from ships by Oil, Noxious liquid substances, Dangerous goods in packaged form, Sewage, Garbage and Air pollution from ships.
2. India is not a signatory of MARPOL convention.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(Sources: Ship carrying 1.4 million litres of oil sinks near Philippines: How oil spills impact the environment, Capsized ship off Kerala coast triggers oil spills concerns: All you need to know)
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Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: [e-mail] ... Read More