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Accidental vessel discharges/emissions incl. oil spill and clean-up

This activity category includes:

For information on impacts please see Natural Engand's 'Advice on Operations' referring to the commercial shipping operation category. Please see our oil pollution page on our Clean Solent Shores and Seas hub for more information on the position in the Solent.

KHM has a General Direction for oil spills. This states that in order that oil pollution may be effectively dealt with, mariners, occupants of recreational craft and other persons sighting patches of oil in the water in the Port of Southampton, Southampton Water, the Solent and Portsmouth Harbour are directed to report the sighting giving position, extent, description (e.g. light film, slick, heavy black crude etc) and the direction of movement if possible. Very small patches of oil of an insignificant nature should not be reported.

Under Marine Management and Organisation (MMO) instructions it is a statutory requirement in UK Waters to obtain specific approval from the MMO for any use of oil treatment products (dispersants) in water depths of less than 20 metres or within one nautical mile of any such area.

Fitting a bilge filter is currently an environmental choice by boat owners, but manufacturers have been given clearer guidance that watercraft are to be constructed so as to prevent the accidental discharge of pollutants. The recently updated Endorsed Recommendation for Use (ERFU#94) which applies to the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD/EU) and Recreational Craft Regulations (RCR/UK) states that watercraft are to be constructed to ensure prevention of accidental discharge of pollutants such as oil and fuel overboard. When on board, most boat owners check their bilges regularly and would see if there is an oil or diesel leak but when a boat is left unattended on a mooring it needs to be fitted with an automatic bilge pump to avoid spills from fuel lines.

Oil Spill Response Training at Lymington Harbour

Oli spill reponse training at Lymington