This volume offers a review of measures taken at different levels to prevent oil inputs to the North Sea from sources such as shipping and oil installations. A range of data from satellites, remote sensing, aerial surveillance, in-situ monitoring, oil spill sampling and beached bird surveys presents a comprehensive portrait of trends in oil pollution over many years. Topics include Bonn Agreement-based actions to eliminate illegal and accidental pollution from ships, OSPAR monitoring of oil installations, EMSA CleanSeaNet activities, andan internationally approved common standard for oil spills presented bythe Bonn-OSINet.A chapter on the role of the IMO in preventing oil pollution from ships provides an international context, whileothersdiscussefforts being made at the national level. A decadal review of the stateof the North Sea prepared by OSPAR supports the view that there has been a significant reduction of oil inputs to the sea. This thorough review addresses national and international agencies and government bodies, as well as policymakers and practitioners in the fields of shipping, ports and terminals, oil extraction and marine management. Further, it provides researchers with essential reference material on tools and techniques for monitoring oil pollution and offers a valuable resource for undergraduate and post-graduate students in the field of marine oil pollution.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Bonn Agreement Actions to Eliminate Illegal and Accidental Oil Pollution from Ships in the North Sea.- European Maritime Safety Agency CleanSeaNet Activities in the North Sea.- The Role of the International Maritime Organization in the Prevention of Illegal Oil Pollution from Ships.- North Sea Special Status Area.- Oil Pollution in the waters of the Danish North Sea.- Oil Pollution in the waters of Belgium.- Oil Pollution in the waters of the Netherlands.- Oil Pollution in the waters of The United Kingdom North Sea.- The German Operational Monitoring System in The North Sea: Sensors, Methods, and Example Data.- Monitoring oil pollution in the North Sea using beached bird surveys.- Monitoring oil pollution from oil installations in the North Sea.- Oil Spill Sampling and the Bonn-Oil Spill Identification Network - a common method for oil spill identification.- OSPAR Review of the State of the North Sea - oil spills and their impact on the marine environment of the North Sea.- Conclusions.