Abstract

The pollution of the sea is a global problem that has arisen as a consequence of the industrialization of the world and the intense transportation of crude oil and the products of its refinement. As sailing vessels were replaced by motor propelled ships towards the end of the 19th century, a new source of sea water pollution came into being. Every emergency involving a tanker carrying crude oil and its products is a potential source of pollution, not only of the sea water but also of shorelines. An important though little understood problem is the seepage of bunker fuel or cargoes from sunken ships, many of which went to the bottom as a result of hostilities at sea during the two World Wars. Among these wrecks are vessels that still contain fuel or other dangerous substances in their tanks/holds. After 60 years at the bottom of the sea, most of these wrecks will have begun to corrode, so it is clear that before long petroleum products are likely to seep from them into the surrounding water. The seepage of petroleum products from wrecks like the USS Mississinewa or the s/s Skytteren have made it clear that detailed studies must be carried out to assess the risk of seepage, or if this has already taken place, to evaluate its effects on the marine environment. In this context, a series of questions has arisen about how to proceed with wrecks that are a potential threat to the environment. The objectives, principles and methods of investigating the effect on marine ecosystems of wrecks need to be defined and the probable hazard they present assessed. Such assessments provide crucial information upon which decisions are based regarding the procedures for dealing with wrecks and for minimizing the environmental hazards they pose. In addition, a thorough assessment of the state of a wreck will help to reduce the costs and duration of operations to remove fuel from it and will improve the chances of their success.

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