Countermeasures Development for Marine Spills: A Review of Environment Canada´s Contribution

Environment Canada has evaluated and developed a wide range of countermeasures technology for marine spills since the grounding of the tanker ARROW off Nova Scotia in 1970. Detection, tracking, modelling, treatment, containment, removal and disposal technologies have been advanced, as has our understanding of the fate and behaviour of spilled materials. Attention has been primarily focused on their application to cold oceans. Results of evaluations, developments and field experiments are provided. Achievements are described and remaining deficiencies are identified.