A Tanker Collision Threatens One of the UK’s Most Important Coastlines
2 min read
Summary
An oil tanker was hit by a cargo ship while at anchor in the North Sea, off the coast of East Yorkshire, on Sunday, causing a massive explosion and a significant spillage of jet fuel.
The area is a marine conservation zone that supports a wide range of species, such as ocean quahogs, and is a nursery for fish.
It also overlaps with a region designated to protect harbour porpoises, while nearby is the Humber Estuary, an area of mud flats, sand dunes and marshes which is home to thousands of birds during winter.
Further south is an important breeding site for grey seals.
The spill has also occurred in a productive fishing area which supports the largest crustacean fishery in Europe, with an estimated value of £15m for live lobster annually.
While the impact of the spill is yet to be fully understood, the dynamics of the environment at sea mean the fuel is likely to break up and mixing with seawater will expose the seabed to contamination.
Strong currents, wave action and relatively coarse sediment will help the fuel to degrade quickly, but in calmer areas it could adhere to fine particles and sink to the seabed, potentially lasting longer.
