A conceivable Indian Ocean operational oil spill tracking, forecast, warning and mitigation system
Dr Nick D’Adamo1, Dr Raymond Steedman2,Dr David Brewster3 , Dr Marie-Alexandrine Sicre4, Dr Srinivasa Kumar5
1University of Western Australia – Oceans Institute, Nedlands, Australia, 2Consultant, Quedjinup, Australia, 3Australian National University , Canberra, Australia, 4Laboratoire d’Océanographie Dynamique et de Climatologie, LOCEAN, CNRS, Sorbonne University, Campus Pierre et Marie Curie, 75252 PARIS Cedex , France 5Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, Ministry of Earth Sciences, India.
Recent oil spill incidents (eg. MV Wakashio, Mauritius and MT New Diamond, Sri Lanka) exemplify ineffective management and mitigation systems, and weak security and environmental protection mechanisms. Operational spill contingency planning, tracking and mitigation systems appear to be inadequate to handle the situation for many parts of the Indian Ocean In addition, shipping oily water discharges are a constant and insidious threat, which impact the offshore water and air, and flora and fauna, ultimately posing risks to humanity and the marine environment. It is envisaged that a joint co-operative Indian Ocean near-real-time oil spill tracking, forecast, warning and mitigation system will enhance incident response effectiveness and international coordination. Due to public sensitivity to oil spill incidents, operational offshore oil spill risk management and control practices are highly regulated through specific government safety, health and environmental protection regulation.
Both the offshore oil industries and government agencies cooperate to develop and operate reliable and effective near-real-time spill monitoring and forecast for site management and mitigation decision making. The spill is tracked by satellite, in-situ water measurements (including unmanned airborne vehicles and autonomous underwater vehicles) and complementary ship/helicopter observations. Forecast reliability is continuously assessed and improved by data assimilation into statistical and numerical model systems. In principle, Australian, Indian and French marine agencies can support an international feasibility study into an Oil Spill Tracking, Forecast, Warning and Mitigation System for Indian Ocean coastal countries. The feasibility study should deliver better regional and local policy, roll out strategy and operational planning for decision makers. We envisage a feasibility study that draws on other system design initiatives for hazards in the Indian Ocean, such as UNESCO IOC’s Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System, and coordination with the Global Ocean Observing System, respectively.
Biography:
Dr Nick D’Adamo is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Oceans Institute of the University of Western Australia with 40 years experience in met-ocean science research, applications, and consultancy. He led the Western Australian office of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, co-located with the Secretariat of the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System. Former roles involved marine protected area establishment and management, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. International experience from coast to deep-sea includes coupled physical and biological oceanography, analytical and numerical modelling, and observations in tropical and temperate domains. Current involvements include the Monaco Explorations Indian Ocean Expedition https://www.monacoexplorations.org/, the Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System, Second International Indian Ocean Expedition 2015-25 (https://iioe-2.incois.gov.in/) and Indian Ocean Observing System Resources Forum, which align with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-30.
