APRIL 10, 2015
VANCOUVER, CANADA
The Coast Guard says crews have contained 80 per cent of the
spill, as cleanup efforts along the shore continue.
It’s estimated that some 3,000 litres (792.5 gallons) of the
fuel-like substance spilled into the water from the bulk carrier. The Coast
Guard learned about the spill late Wednesday afternoon, but City of Vancouver
officials said they weren’t notified until 6 a.m. Thursday, more than 12 hours
later.
British Columbia’s Environment Minister Mary Polak told
reporters Friday the communication involved in the response was “unacceptable.”
She also said the company responsible for the spill will
have to pay for the cleanup.
Along the English Bay shoreline, a tar-like substance has
coated the sand, rocks and seaweed. A shoreline cleanup team was deployed
Friday morning to Sandy Cove and Stanley Park and will “gradually move
southward” from there, Fisheries and Oceans Canada tweeted.
Meanwhile, the City of Vancouver is seeking volunteers to
help with the cleanup and urging residents to stay away from the water.
Reminder: please don't touch the oil! It's toxic. If you do,
wash your hands with clean water and soap. #VanFuelSpill
— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) April 10, 2015
Vancouver Coun. Geoff Meggs said many residents are angry
about the response and the still-unclear damage to the shoreline and wildlife.
“Those beaches are…a national treasure, in my judgement, so
we really have to keep them clean,” Meggs told CTV News Channel Friday.
He said the spill “raises the question of what will happen
if we see a dramatic increase in tanker traffic.”
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What is Bunker Oil? - Description and Classification
Overview
Bunker oil is generally any type of fuel oil used aboard
ships. We can distinguish between two main types: distillate fuels and residual
fuels.
Marine fuels are classified using the “Bunker ABC”:
Marine fuels are classified using the “Bunker ABC”:
Bunker A corresponds to the distillate fuel oil No. 2
Bunker B is a No. 4 or No. 5 fuel oil
Bunker C corresponds to the residual fuel oil No. 6
No. 6 is the most common oil, that's why "bunker
fuel" is often used as a synonym for the No. 6 residual fuel oil which
requires heating before the oil can be pumped. No. 5 fuel oil is also called
“navy special”. No. 5 or No. 6 also furnace fuel oil (FFO).
In the maritime field another classification is used:
In the maritime field another classification is used:
MGO (Marine Gas Oil): a distillate fuel oil (No. 2, Bunker
A)
MDO (Marine Diesel Oil): a blend of MGO and HFO
IFO (Intermediate Fuel Oil): a blend of MGO and HFO, with
less gasoil than MDO
MFO (Medium Fuel Oil): a blend of MGO and HFO, with less
gasoil than IFO
HFO (Heavy Fuel Oil): a residual fuel oil (No. 6, Bunker C)
Marine fuels are traditionally classified according to their
kinematic viscosity.
This is a valid criterion for oil quality as long as the
oil is produced by atmospheric distillation only. Today, almost all marine
fuels are based on fractions from more advanced refinery processes and the
viscosity itself says little about the oil's quality as fuel.
Despite this,
marine fuels are still quoted on the international bunker markets with their
maximum viscosity set by ISO 8217 as marine engines are designed to use
different viscosities of fuel.
The density is also an important parameter for
fuel oils since marine fuels are purified before use to remove water and dirt.
Therefore, the oil must have a density which is sufficiently different from
water.