{"id":9714,"date":"2022-03-15T12:20:29","date_gmt":"2022-03-15T09:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/mena\/%d8%a5%d9%86%d9%87%d8%a7-%d9%85%d8%b3%d8%a3%d9%84%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%b8%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%aa%d8%b8%d8%a7%d8%b1-%d8%b9%d9%84%d9%89-%d8%a3%d9%85%d9%84\/"},"modified":"2022-05-12T15:20:49","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T12:20:49","slug":"its-the-waiting-waiting-and-hoping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/mena\/en\/its-the-waiting-waiting-and-hoping\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s the waiting\u2026.waiting and hoping\u2026."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Alarm bells have been ringing increasingly louder. The United Nations, governments, humanitarian and environmental organisations, scientists, journalists, – all have issued dire warnings. The dangers to human life and the environment are clear – a major leak or an explosion from the FSO Safer<\/em> would be devastating to the people, wildlife, fisheries and ecosystems of the Red Sea.<\/h3>\n\n

The Safer<\/em>, a giant tanker relic from the oil-heady days of ultra large crude carriers, is 360 metres long, 70 metres wide and is anchored in the Red Sea about 8 km from Ras Isa in Yemen. It contains an estimated 1.1 million barrels (over 140,000 tonnes) of crude oil. <\/p>\n\n

The single-hulled tanker, previously called Esso Japan, built in 1976 was sold to the Yemeni government in 1988.  It was last surveyed in 2014 by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) but has not been inspected since because of the war.  It is  now \u2018out of class\u2019 meaning it is not insured.  After seven years of neglect it\u2019s hull is rusting, generators have stopped and fire-fighting equipment is not working.<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace recently issued a briefing highlighting the potential humanitarian and environmental impacts of a major oil spill or explosion on the Safer.  We welcome the recent announcement  that an agreement \u201cin principle\u201d has been reached to get the oil transferred from the Safer to another tanker, but meanwhile the ship remains in a serious condition and the lack of preparation for a potential major spill is a major concern.<\/p>\n\n

We have called for the deployment of an oil containment boom to be deployed around the Safer as a first line of defence and for other oil spill response equipment to be in the region on stand-by. <\/p>\n\n

But people need protection too.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Oil is a poisonous inflammable liquid that contains chemicals which can cause cancer.  Skin can absorb oil, fumes and smoke can damage the lungs, chemicals attack the liver and kidneys, the nervous and blood systems.  These health impacts could be expected depending on the amount and time of exposure.  Breathing the vapour or mist can cause headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, and nausea and may lead to unconsciousness.<\/p>\n\n

When a spill happens the natural response of communities is to get out and do whatever they can to try and clear up the mess.  However, oil washing up on a shore is a dangerous situation for the environment and anyone who tries to help.  Trying to clear it up is extremely difficult, depressing and stressful work that requires people to use protective equipment and a secure place to take huge amounts of oily waste.<\/p>\n\n

Anyone – volunteers and professionals alike – participating in oil removal will be exposed to the oil and any toxic fumes.  Gloves, protective clothing and suitable masks are needed to minimise inhalation and skin contact with both un-weathered and weathered oil, including oil deposited on the shore as \u201ctar balls\u201d or \u201ctar patties\u201d. Appropriate hand hygiene and washing facilities should be readily available to clean incidental skin exposures, including suitable hand cleaning detergents. <\/p>\n\n

Unfortunately it is very likely that the kind of equipment needed will not be widely available, which leaves the local population seriously exposed.  Hence, in addition to oil spill response equipment it is vital that stocks of personal protective equipment should be made available at strategic locations on the coast.  <\/p>\n\n

If protective equipment (overalls, gloves, boots, face mask) is not available, the strong advice is not to go on or near a contaminated beach.  In case of fire, the elderly, children and people with heart or lung problems should keep well away from smoke or haze.<\/p>\n\n

Small coastal fishing communities are likely to be the most severely impacted, fishing is likely to be impossible and fisherfolk will be exposed to oil vapours.  The oil will contaminate boats risking further exposure.  Long-term contamination of fishery resources will be inevitable although the scale and extent is unpredictable.  <\/p>\n\n

Huge amounts of hazardous oily waste is produced when removing oil from beaches – often around ten times the amount of oil spilled.  What this means for the Safer if all the oil were to spill it is likely to result in 10X140,000 tonnes – almost one and a half a million tonnes of toxic oily waste.<\/p>\n\n

Domestic waste facilities are not suitable for such waste and would be rapidly overcome by the amounts.  And while the problem is significant, it is vital that the situation is not made worse by trying to burn the waste without thorough evaluation of the  situation as this can generate toxic smoke which  spreads the pollution wider  and may leave difficult to remove residues.<\/p>\n\n

The following suggestions are based on best practices on oil response strategies.  It is essential to coordinate with local authorities and oil response professionals. <\/p>\n\n

What to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n