Assessing and Addressing Assessing and Addressing Risks from Risks from

Potentially-Polluting Potentially-Polluting Shipwrecks:Shipwrecks:

Key Developments since Key Developments since WOW IWOW I

Dagmar Schmidt Etkin, PhDEnvironmental Research Consulting

Wrecks of the World (WOW) II:Evaluating and Addressing Potential Underwater ThreatsMaritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies

(MITAGS) Linthicum, Maryland6 – 7 June 2011

Potentially Polluting Wrecks = International IssuePotentially Polluting Wrecks = International IssueWorld of Wrecks - Hidden Risks of the Deep

Monde des épaves - risques cachés du profoundWelt der Wracke - versteckte Risiken vom Tiefen

Κόσμος των συντριμμιών - κρυμμένοι κίνδυνοι βαθιού擊毀 -暗藏的風險世界的深

Wereld van Wrakken - Verborgen Risico's van DiepMondo dei naufragi - rischi nascosti del profondo

大破 -深いのの隠された危険の世界 난파 - 깊은것의숨겨지은위험의세계

Mundo das destruições - riscos escondidos do profundoМир развалин - спрятанных рисков глубокого

Mundo de las ruinas - riesgos ocultados del profundoהעולם של - מוסתר ינוכיס העמוקה של

दुनि�या� की� है - दी�प की छु� प हुए जो�खि�मThế giới của Wrecks - Rủi ro trong các sâu

Wraki - Ukryte Zagrożenia zโลกของ- ซ่�อนความเสี่��ยงของล�ก

 Mundo ng - Nakatagong panganib ng Romuajoneuvoista - Piilotettu riskejä

 Свет олупине - Скривени ризици од Дееп Världen av vrak - Dolda Risk

 Dünya virane - ve Gizli Riskler 

Worldwide, over 8,500 wrecks of large vesselsWorldwide, over 8,500 wrecks of large vessels** containing total of 1.5 to 15 million tonnescontaining total of 1.5 to 15 million tonnes

of oil and hazardous materials (2005 IOSC Study)of oil and hazardous materials (2005 IOSC Study)

*tank vessels or other ships of least 400 GRT

ERC Wreck Databases

Geographic Distribution of WrecksGeographic Distribution of WrecksRegionRegion

Number of VesselsNumber of Vessels Minimum Oil ContentMinimum Oil Content

Non-TankNon-Tank TankerTanker TonnesTonnes GallonsGallons

Arctic Ocean 347 401 112,800 32,848,000

North Atlantic Ocean 1,506 673 951,000 280,000,000

South Atlantic Ocean 190 45 165,000 49,100,000

Indian Ocean 211 86 165,800 48,700,000

Middle Eastern Gulfs 82 111 193,000 57,000,000

Mediterranean Sea 262 99 132,000 39,000,000

North Pacific Ocean 1,347 134 221,000 65,000,000

South Pacific Ocean 2,412 337 521,000 153,000,000

ERC Wreck Databases

About 1,360 in US Waters Note: Exxon Valdez = 37,400 tonnes

Types of Vessels by AgeTypes of Vessels by AgeAge ClassAge Class Non-Tank Non-Tank

VesselsVesselsTank Tank

VesselsVesselsAll VesselsAll Vessels

<10 years 83 18 101

10+ years 268 73 341

20+ years 210 128 338

30+ years 224 84 308

40+ years 325 31 356

50+ years 320 41 361

WWII-era 5,303 1,065 6,338

70+ years 63 54 117

80+ years 53 8 61

90+ years 72 67 139

TOTAL 6,921 1,569 8,490ERC Wreck Databases

Types of Vessels by AgeTypes of Vessels by AgeAge ClassAge Class Non-Tank Non-Tank

VesselsVesselsTank Tank

VesselsVesselsAll VesselsAll Vessels

<10 years 83 18 101

10+ years 268 73 341

20+ years 210 128 338

30+ years 224 84 308

40+ years 325 31 356

50+ years 320 41 361

WWII-era 5,303 1,065 6,338

70+ years 63 54 117

80+ years 53 8 61

90+ years 72 67 139

TOTAL 6,921 1,569 8,490ERC Wreck Databases

75% of the 75% of the wrecks are wrecks are

World War II World War II era – warships era – warships

or sunk by or sunk by warshipswarships

Varying Conditions of WrecksVarying Conditions of Wrecks• Leaking chronically (e.g., USS Arizona – 2 gallons per day)

• Leaking episodically (e.g., SS Jacob Luckenbach “mystery” spills)

• Potential to release oil in larger amounts after disturbance

• Reported relatively intact

• Condition unknown

USS Mississinewa

Environmental and Socioeconomic Resources at RiskEnvironmental and Socioeconomic Resources at Risk

2005 International Oil Spill Conference2005 International Oil Spill Conference

• Too many wrecks = too overwhelming• Too many legal issues• Too many financial issues• No guidance on how to deal with wrecks• No systematic approach to assessment

Wrecks of the World ConferenceWrecks of the World ConferenceSeptember 2009September 2009

• Discussions of pro-active strategies

• Introductions of risk assessment strategies

Growing Acceptance for Pro-Active Growing Acceptance for Pro-Active Strategy Towards ShipwrecksStrategy Towards Shipwrecks

• Reactive Strategy - Deal with continuous leaking or sudden release oiling events and damages as they occur – greater costs for spill response and damages, risk remains

OR• Pro-active Strategy - Take proactive approach to

remove oil from wrecks with greatest risk – highest potential for leakage or spillage and highest damages – lower costs, risk removed

Proactive removal of oil and hazardous Proactive removal of oil and hazardous materials from materials from riskyrisky wrecks will: wrecks will:•Avert significant damages to natural and socioeconomic resources

•Reduce costs for response and monitoring of spills and leakage

Challenges with Pro-Active Challenges with Pro-Active StrategyStrategy

• Large number of wrecks• Considerable expense for remediation• Limited funding available for remediation• Financial/legal responsibility often at issue• Risk to personnel in removal operations• Potential for leakage during removal operations• Unnecessary for many wrecks (unlikely to leak

or little oil left on board)

Risk Assessment ApproachRisk Assessment Approach

Assess shipwrecks with regard to risk

Risk = Probability x ConsequencesRisk = Probability x Consequences

Risk = Risk = ProbabilityProbability x Consequences x Consequences

High leakage probability

Medium leakage probability

Low leakage probability

Risk = Probability x Risk = Probability x ConsequencesConsequences

Low leakage impact Medium leakage impact High leakage impact

Consequences (Impact from Leakage)Consequences (Impact from Leakage)

RiskRisk = Probability x Consequences = Probability x ConsequencesHigh leakage probability

Low leakage impact

High leakage probability

Medium leakage impact

High leakage probability

High leakage impact

Medium leakage probability

Low leakage impact

Medium leakage probability

Medium leakage impact

Medium leakage probability

High leakage impact

Low leakage probability

Low leakage impact

Low leakage probability

Medium leakage impact

Low leakage probability

High leakage impact

Consequences (Impacts from Leakage)Consequences (Impacts from Leakage)

Risk Assessment ProjectsRisk Assessment Projects

• Scandinavian (Swedish Maritime Administration et al.)• France and Italy DEEPP project (CEDRE)• Canada (Transport Canada)• South Pacific (UNEP PREP et al.)• UK (Maritime and Coastguard Agency)• Norway (Kystverket)• US “Wreck Oil Removal Project” (NOAA/USCG)

Scandinavian Risk AssessmentScandinavian Risk Assessment

•Beginning development of database of wrecks•Analysis of legal situation of wrecks•Case study: SS Skytteren (sank 1942)

DEEP Project (France & Italy)DEEP Project (France & Italy)• Unique international cooperation• Process:

– Library research– Sea bottom exploration– ROV investigation– Wreck identification (to Database)– Risk Analysis– Decision

Transport CanadaTransport Canada• 1,000s of wrecks charted on Canada east coast• Aerial surveillance (mystery spills)• Work with CCG, industry, provinces, fishing

community to establish contingency plans• Case Study: Dredge Shovelmaster – decision to

leave in place, monitor

South PacificSouth Pacific

•Extensive mapping and identification of wrecks (particularly WWII-related)

•Development of comprehensive database

UK Potentially Polluting WreckUK Potentially Polluting WreckRisk AssessmentRisk Assessment

Pollution risk (oil, chemical)

Safety risk (unexploded ordnance)

US “Wreck Oil Removal Project”US “Wreck Oil Removal Project”

• Technological developments and breakthroughs

• Field experience with removal projects

• Legal developments

• Financial considerations

Other Developments