Effective oil spill clean-up, without dangerous chemicals

The Brisbane River is the longest river in South East Queensland. It is a both a busy boating carriageway and a treasured natural resource; home to the rare Queensland lungfish, Brisbane River cod and bull sharks.

An oil spill during a routine refuelling procedure within the Brisbane Port area threatened the river’s sensitive marine environment. Triple7 BioConcentrate was used to effectively clean up the spill, without dispersing oil and dangerous chemicals under the surface where they would cause the most damage.

Bunker barge re-fuelling accident

A bunker barge was delivering oil to a ship when the hose connection failed, spewing out oil across the ship’s hull and into the water. The ship’s operator and bunker barge owner had to move quickly to clean the vessels, and remove spilled oil from the surface of the water where it was a threat to birds and marine life.

The contractors employed to conduct the subsequent clean-up operation consulted with Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) for advice on suitable oil spill clean-up agents. MSQ recommended the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) approved Triple7 BioConcentrate.

Cleaning up the spill

Triple7 BioConcentrate was used to clean the oil covering the side of the ship and affected parts of the bunker barge. The ship was raised up by about 450mm by removing ballast to make the oil stained hull more accessible, then the product was applied and rinsed off using a small dingy. Only a small amount of the product (around 20 litres), diluted at 10% was required to completed the entire clean-up operation. Finally, booms were deployed to collect the oil on the surface of the water.

Protecting the Brisbane River

To be approved by AMSA, an oil spill cleaning agent must comply with strict environmental rules and regulations. AMSA is concerned about the environmental effects of not just the oil, but of the safety profile of the chemicals used to clean up the spill.

Some cleaning chemicals must be avoided because they are acutely toxic to marine plants and wildlife or cause long term harm to organisms though bio-accumulation and hormone disruptions. Some chemicals are banned because of the way they interact with the oil, causing it to sink and disperse into the water column. This can cause catastrophic harm on the sea floor where many marine plants and animals feed and reproduce.

Triple7 BioConcentrate is approved by AMSA as both a surface cleaning agent and an oil herding agent because it is non-toxic and does not cause oil to sink into the water. In this situation, the product easily and effectively cleaned the vessels involved in the accident without harm to the fragile natural environment of the Brisbane River.

Triple7 BioConcentrate This powerful, bio-based product is a non-toxic and environmentally safe oil spill clean up agent and marine degreaser. AMSA approved Triple7 BioConcentrate has been approved for use in Australia as both a Surface Cleaning Agent (SCA) and as an Oil Herding Agent (OHA). Effective and versatile The product’s unique bio-based formulation is suitable for all marine cleaning, degreasing and wash down operations. Protect animals and marine life Triple7 BioConcentrate is non-toxic and environmentally safe. It will not harm marine, bird or animal life. It is readily biodegradable and does not bio-accumulate. Protect workers Triple7 BioConcentrate is non-hazardous and contains no dangerous chemicals, making it safe for workers. Visit the Triple7 BioConcentrate product page >