In October 2018, the Tunisian Ro-Ro passenger ship “Ulysse” rammed into the hull of the Cyprus-flagged container ship “Virginia”, which was anchored in international waters off the northern tip of Corsica, an area known for its pristine waters and beaches. Bunker fuel from Virginia leaked out of her tanks through a breach several meters long, threatening the marine environment and coastal areas. 530 m3 of oil were released, and in 36 hours the slick had lengthened to cover approximately 35 km.
Predicting the drift of oil slicks on water surfaces and in coastal zones is fundamental for responding to spill events and to mitigate their impacts on the environment, allowing for a more efficient use of emergency response resources.
A recently published scientific paper tells about the collaboration that was formed for this purpose, between the researchers of the CMCC Foundation – Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change and REMPEC, the Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea, based in Malta, right after the collision of Ulysse with Virginia.
Read more at Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change
Image: Timeline of the accident, some operations at sea, oil spill observations (1-5), and model runs (A-F). CREDIT: Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change