An oil spill is the release of liquid petroleum hydrocarbons into the environment, particularly marine areas, due to human activity, such as drilling, transportation, or storage accidents. Oil spills can occur from tankers, pipelines, offshore platforms, or during oil exploration and can lead to significant environmental damage, affecting marine life, coastal ecosystems, and local economies. The effects of an oil spill can be immediate, causing harm to wildlife and habitats, and can have long-term consequences due to the persistence of oil in ecosystems. Cleanup efforts often involve physical, chemical, and biological methods, but prevention and response strategies are critical to mitigate the risks and impacts of oil spills.
A collision between a tanker carrying military fuel for the U.S. and a Portuguese cargo ship with sodium cyanide caused significant environmental concerns off the Yorkshire coast. Both vessels suffered…