Oil Spill Cause

Oil Spill Cause – The Real Cause!

In the previous post on oil spill facts, which is also written by Lyle R. Johnson from his experience with the Coast Guard, he outlined the different types of oil spills and their differing effects,  as well as commenting on the frustration of response time and action.  Today we continue with his interesting perspective on oil spill cause.

Oil Spill Fact 3:  Oil Spill Cause?  No.  Effect

My favorite – the final area relevant to oil spills/disasters – is the human desire to address the effects while ignoring the true cause.

Oil Spills are caused because oil must be transported from where it if found to where it is needed.   Therefore, until the world-wide use of oil ceases (or until the oil supply runs out), oil will need to be transported … and it will be spilled.

How does it get spilled should be the next question.   Of the “Top 10” world-wide spills (based on quantity of oil spilled) 7 were due to collisions.   Incredible.   The reader must appreciate how difficult this is.   Place two ships on the Atlantic Ocean and manage to get them to collide with each other.   This is really an accomplishment.  Now 2 of the 7 were groundings (collision with the shore) and require much less skill than hitting a moving target.  (The remaining 3 include Katrina – hurricane – and 2 explosions at sea.)

Let’s return to the collision factor.   These vessels have amazing electronics and navigation gear and a human must monitor them.  So, in the final analysis, an under-trained crewperson is tasked with monitoring the gauges to avoid collisions … he is probably secretly watching the Playboy channel via satellite right up to the time of impact with the other vessel.

(Bear in mind, the news of other collisions is rarely newsworthy.  For example, the Pacific was very recently polluted  by thousands of pieces of rattan furniture.   It is feared that some of the Humpback whale population may choke when attempting to swallow a rattan chair.  No, we never hear about furniture spills.)

It gets better.  An Agreement has been reached concerning the oil transport vessels.   As of 2015, all such vessels are required to be doubled hulled.   This amazing solution will add an extra hull so that a collision will not result in a spill/leak.   The double hull will add $100 million to vessel construction cost (might even add a penny or two to pump prices).   I have faith the designers of the double hulled vessels will include better propulsion units so that the vessels can achieve the velocity required to pierce both hulls.   Forget the cause… full speed ahead.

In summary,

1. Not all oil spills are the same; none are good and some are terrible.
2. The severity of a spill may be increased due to a delay in response time (while a “who is responsible” debate rages).
3. The secondary cause for a spill – “you can’t cure stupid” – is overlooked in exchange for addressing effects:  Stop off-shore drilling, build double hulled vessels, etc.

I truly wish I could provide a real solution.  Oil spills will happen as long as we use fuel oil and derivatives.   The severity of any given spill may be minimized by consumer/voter objection to the posturing of Agencies – avoiding or claiming – responsibility and requiring more fully trained crew personnel on oil transport vessels.

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Lyle R. Johnson, Ph.D., MBA is a multi-talented Speaker, Sales Trainer and Coach.  Having devoted his life to the mastery of sales, he possesses the knowledge to Close Sales – and he wants to share his knowledge with you!  See how you can benefit from his expert knowledge by engaging him as a speaker.  Lyle wrote this article as a result of his experience as a Lieutenant Commander from the Coast Guard (Reserve).