Thesis (Ph.D.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2002. / Restricted until October 2003. Includes bibliographical references.

The aim of this thesis was to study the effect of the treated oil refinery effluents of Bahrain Petroleum Company ( BAPCO ) on the marine environment. The study has been carried out in seven chapters, the first de~ling with general introduction about the physical environment of the Arabian Gulf and its oil industry in addition to marine pollution and fishery in Bahrain. The second chapter was aimed at studying the quality of water at different areas in Bahrain to compare it with the quality of water at an area adjacent to the refinery outfalls. The third chapter deals with the impact of the refinery on the marine environment. The research approach adopted was ecological and observational I involving water and sediment analysis. The fourth chapter was aimed at studying the effects of the refinery effluents on the fish through toxicity tests and estimation of trace metals and hydrocarbons in the fish tissues. The studies were conducted with several effluents from the main and side streams of the refinery, outlets of the induced air flotation unit and Sitra separator. The fifth chapter was aimed at studying the effect of Sitra oil storage tanks treated effluent on the intertidal fauna of the adjacent area. The sixth chapter deals with a general discussion on the whole studies. While the seventh chapter deals with sions and recommendations. From the study conducted , it could be said that in general the water quality of the western and northern regions of Bahrain is better than the water quality of the eastern region. The east has in general higher pH, higher ammonia, higher nitrite, lower nitrate, and higher phosphate levels than the other regions. The higher concentrations of all these substances reflects the urbanisation and industrialisation of this part of Bahrain and the consequent discharges of waste material. The fish, safee, were tested with different concentrations of the refinery main stream effluent using both short and long term exposures. The same experiment was set up using effluents from the side stream, the I.A.F. discharge of the refinery and Sitra separator outlet. The results indicated a greater toxicity of pollutants in the I.A.F. and Sitar separator effluents than in the main and the side stream effluents. The lethal concentration of I.A.F. and Sitra separator effluents which brought death to fifty percent of the test population of fish (safee) within 96 hours was approximately twenty percent. Fish from the experimental media showed a higner concentration of heavy metals. The study of the effect of Sitra oil storage tanks treated effluent on the intertidal fauna of the adjacent area revealed that no fauna was found at stations located just outside the effluent outlet. The sediment of these stations was black, slimy, heavily oiled with a bad smell and contains dead shells and turrets. Away from the effluent, a diverse fauna was found. It is concluded that the BAPCO refinery has a measurable impact on the marine environment of the east coast of Bahrain, and recommenqations are made tor the development of future policies with regard to Bahraini coastal waters.

Thesis (M. Env. St.)--University of Adelaide, 1984. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 273-308).

Thesis (Ph.D.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998. / Bibliography: leaves 120-137.

Since the Exxon Valdez accident in 1987, renewed interest has come forth to better understand and predict the fate and transport of crude oil lost to marine environments. The short-term fate of an Arabian Crude oil was simulated in laboratory experiments using artificial seawater. The time-dependent changes in the rheological and chemical properties of the oil under the influence of natural weathering processes were characterized, including dispersion behavior of the oil under simulated ocean turbulence. Methodology included monitoring the changes in the chemical composition of the oil by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), toxicity evaluations for the oil dispersions by Microtox analysis, and quantification of dispersed soluble aromatics by fluorescence spectrometry. Results for this oil show a sharp initial increase in viscosity, due to evaporative losses of lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, with the formation of stable water-in-oil emulsions occurring within one week. Toxicity evaluations indicate a decreased EC-50 value (higher toxicity) occurring after the oil has weathered eight hours, with maximum toxicity being observed after weathering seven days. Particle charge distributions, determined by electrophoretic techniques using a Coulter DELSA 440, reveal that an unstable oil dispersion exists within the size range of 1.5 to 2.5 um, with recombination processes being observed between sequential laser runs of a single sample.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

The origins of marine salvage law may be traced to a code of Rhodian Sea laws promulgated in 500BC. Presently, while salvage law retains the foundations of this early codification, it has undergone a complete metamorphosis in order to adapt to changing circumstances and new challenges of the 20th and 21st century. Over the past few decades there have been many major oil spills. When they occurred each spill, for different reasons was declared as the most environmentally damaging. In their wake, they leave a trail of death and destruction of the eco-system. As public concern for and awareness of the marine environment increases, governments and salvors face increased pressure to avert wide-scale pollution. In these instances, the stakes are high and the necessity and effectiveness of professional salvage only too clear. This study investigates the role played by the professional salvor and considers how the developments in the law have impacted upon the salvor's role in salvage operations. This work has its genesis with this background in mind. It is essentially a study of the changes and developments in the law of Marine Salvage. The law relating to salvage is dynamic and international in nature. Dynamic in that it needs to adapt to new economic and environmental factors. This study examines and explains how these economic and environmental factors impacted upon and necessitated changes to the law of salvage. It is international, in that salvage operations invariably involve parties from different countries. In some instances of large-scale pollution disasters the physical environment affected may encompass different countries/waters. At times the discussion into the practical aspects of the salvage operations, salvage tugs and the industry as a whole has a tendency to become rather technical. For this I make no apology, for the world of marine salvage has totally fascinated and captured my attention. In the international context the law relating to Salvage may be found in the International Convention on Salvage 1989. Many countries have ratified the convention and have subsequently enacted their own statutes based on the provisions of the Salvage convention. Other countries like South Africa have chosen not to ratify the convention and have formulated their own Statutes relating to the salvage. The salvage laws of the United Kingdom are perhaps mostly widely used. Its popularity may be attributed to London being the salvage arbitration capital of the world as well as the influential use of LOF in salvage operations which stipulates English law as the lex contractus. The United Kingdom has ratified the International Salvage Convention and enacted the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Pollution) Act 1994 which gave effect to the provisions of the convention. The current statute regulating Salvage is the Merchant Shipping Act of 1995. The principal focus of this work will be English law, as applied in the United Kingdom as well as South African law. Passing reference is also made to the provisions of American law where relevant. / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

The purpose of this thesis is to explain and evaluate the law concerning compensation for tanker-source oil pollution damage under three different liability regimes: (a) the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, 1969 and the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage, 1971 including the Protocols of 1976, 1984 and 1992 to these Conventions. (b) the Tanker Owners Voluntary Agreement concerning Liability for Oil Pollution (TOVALOP) and the Contract Regarding a Supplement to Tanker Liability for Oil Pollution (CRISTAL) as at the 20th February, 1994. (c) the United States Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and U.S. State Legislation. In this context the thesis explains inter alia the evolution of law from fault to no-fault liability and from limited to increasingly limitless liability. The thesis examines the notion of damage eligible for compensation, for example, ecological and pure economic damage. Conclusions are reached as to the role increasingly stringent liability provisions may have on the quality of the tanker-process. The impact that the U. S. Oil Pollution Act 1990, and associated U.S. state legislation may have on the international pollution regimes covered by the various international Conventions and associated voluntary agreements is also discussed. / Thesis (LL.M.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1994.

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