Oiled Boat Clean Up Tips

After the Cosco Busan oil spill on November 7, our members have been asking us how to manage oil on their boats in an environmentally sound way.  Oil can be toxic to aquatic life -- even in small amounts-- and cleaning solvents also contain chemicals and other pollutants that can harm the environment.  Our goal is to help you keep the oil and solvents out of the water – here’s our guide to green cleaning in the aftermath of the Cosco Busan spill. 

Use your boat less . The elimination of boat traffic helps to reduce the spread of oil and will minimize your boat’s exposure. Call your marina for specific information about your facility.

Report oil in, or heading toward, your marina.Contact your harbormaster. If you have a private dock, call 985-781-0804 to reach the cleanup company contracted by the Cosco Busan owners who can bring equipment to remove it.

Protect your financial rights. The bunker fuel from the spill can permanently stain fiberglass hulls. Call your insurance company as soon as your boat is in contact with the oil. If you believe your boat has been oiled as a result of the Cosco Busan spill, keep in mind that you have specific legal rights regarding the cleaning of your vessel. To exercise these rights, you must first submit a claim.  Claims may be made via telephone at (866) 442-9650 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If your boat gets oiled:

• 1) Do NOT use soap to remove oil. Remember that soaps emulsify oil and spread toxic pollutants into the environment. Adding soaps, detergent, or any other dispersing agent to an oil sheen is also against the law.
  
  2) Take your boat to a boat yard for cleaning. Hauling out your boat will prevent damage, and the costs may be reimbursed by the responsible party. The boat yard will capture all the wastewater and dispose of it properly. One boat yard that does this is Keefe Kaplan Maritime, Inc., who can be reached at 510-235-5564.
  
  3) Use and properly dispose of oil-only absorbent pads. If you must remove oil from your boat while it is in the water, use an oil-only absorbent pad that you can pick up from most fuel docks. Ask your marina where to properly dispose of used oil absorbents, call 800-CLEANUP (253-2687), or visit www.earth911.org to find local hazardous waste collection centers.
  
  4) Remember “safety first” any time you come into contact with oil. Avoid direct skin contact with oil by wearing Nitrile gloves (not latex gloves). If you get oil on your skin, wash it off immediately with soap and water.

Please work with your marina, yacht club operator or harbormaster for updates and more specific information.