TASMAN SPIRIT OIL SPILL

Tasman Spirit Oil Spill

Tasman Spirit Oil Spill

Introduction

There are many oil spill incidents occurred in the history of the world but the largest in the last decade is a disaster in Pakistan. The tanker "Tasman Spirit" suffered a disaster in the Pakistani Port city of Karachi on July 27, 2003. The ship broke into two parts and about 55,000 tons of oil spilled into the sea, which killed hundreds of birds, fish and sea turtles. The tanker, which was carrying more than 67 thousand tons of oil, ran aground on July 28. The tanker got a hole in the middle of the board and, according to the representatives of Port Authority, it is said that it may break down into two parts in next few hours. During the rescue operation from a tanker, about 19 thousand tons of oil pumped out, but the authorities were forced to cease all work in connection with the danger of an explosion on the vessel. The crew of "Tasman Spirit" evacuated. The Port Authority reported that a tanker equipped with special barriers that should prevent oil spills near the site of the accident. Nevertheless, one major oil spill reached the coast. According to witnesses, an oil spill has already caused the deaths of hundreds of fish and sea turtles. Through the paper the analysis of the case is done, the causes the effects of the oil spill. The decision whether the oil spills and any resulting environmental damage should be managed and overseen by the corporation or company responsible for the act or by the government where the oil spill occurred such as in this case Pakistan.

Analysis

Step One: Facts

The Greek tanker Tasman Spirit, carrying 67,000 tons of Iranian light crude oil from Iran to Pakistan, ran aground before entering the harbor channel at the port of Karachi, Pakistan. Strong winds and rough sea facilitated the spread of oil to about 10 km from the coast residential. After this incident, there were two more episodes of oil spill-the last time on August 29, 2003, resulting in total spill of more than 35,000 tons of crude oil (WWF, 2003).

Step Two: Ethical Issues

Natural resource damage assessment study of 270 sq km and 2000 sq km area of petroleum hydrocarbon oil in the area of influence from seabed sediment losses facts revealed as dangerous and thus about financial loss and compensation costs reimbursement of costs fall in response resource damage suggested. It badly onshore area, population is estimated that 300,000 people might spill out immediately after the toxic petroleum were open directly to vaporize (ATSDR 2004). Coastal areas DHA, Clifton Beach, Karachi Harbor and offshore Clifton were affected most by the spilled oil. An estimated 23,000 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from oil spill out Clifton and Defense Housing Authority's most popular recreational beaches coast beaches covering 16 km.

Water quality level due to the concentration of oil in sea water remained improper for more than six ...