By Brian Sinausky, Washington State Department of Ecology
You may not immediately think of waste oil storage drums and barrels when you think about oil spill risks on a fishing vessel. Waste oil storage drums on deck do however pose a real spill risk, particularly if the drums are repurposed for waste oil storage without first inspecting them for rust or leaks. You can minimize the risk of spills from storage drums and barrels by taking the following actions:
- Thoroughly inspect any container designated to hold waste oil before putting it in service.
- Ensure that all containers on deck are secured properly for sea.
- Place waste oil storage containers on deck within suitable containment.
- Ensure absorbent materials are readily available for use if need.