Clean-up
on a sandy beach (46K JPEG image) Aircraft were used to spray chemical dispersants on to slicks at sea during the early days of the incident. Specialized vessels were used to recover oil from the sea surface. Booms were deployed to protect some ecologically sensitive areas.
Clean-up
on a sandy beach (46K JPEG image)
A variety of techniques were employed by a large workforce during the onshore clean-up operation. Hand scrapers, mechanical diggers and bowsers were used on sandy shores.
Scrubbing
rocks on a heavily oiled shore (46K JPEG image)
Suction
is used to remove oil on a rocky shore (65K JPEG image)
Absorbent scrubbing materials and high pressure water hoses were used on some rocky shores. During the run-up to the Easter holiday weekend, chemical dispersants were used to remove persistent oil encrustations from rocks on some tourist beaches.
Chemicals
are applied to oiled rocks. (65K JPEG image)
High
pressure water jet being used to remove oil after the application of chemicals.
(46K
JPEG image)
Many inaccessible shores remained uncleaned - natural processes played the major role in the clearance of these shores. Natural cleansing was rapid for many exposed rocky shores, but was much slower for sheltered shores in general, particularly vegetated muddy shores.
Natural dispersal and intensive clean-up activity restored the aesthetic appeal of many badly affected shores by April, 1996, and by the summer bathing and watersports had recommenced in many areas.
University of Wales Swansea School of Biological Sciences Home Page
Authors: Peter Dyrynda, Rob Symberlist
Contact: P.Dyrynda@swansea.ac.uk
Update: 29/4/02