Dumping empty fuel barrels in the ocean

[Geekatlrg]

Originally Posted by 2Hulls

I, for one, consider dumping empty 55 gallon drums at sea in thousands of feet of water preferable to trying to dispose of them on land. They will disappear in short order. Better yet, preferable to turn them into a steel pan instrument. But steps should be taken to allow any residual diesel to evaporate and to make sure the drums sink, i.e., cut the drums in half with a grinder before disposing. They'll make a nice fish condo until they rust away.Dave

True, I imagine they would be corrode to nothing pretty fast. still makes me cringe.

[travellerw]

Now that I think about.. If they were completely drained, then the amount of fuel left is probably less than the average oil spilt in the bilge during an oil change.

I would only worry about them sinking. They could get an air pocket and become a subsurface hazzard.

Still, they are worth money, at least up here!

[DumnMad]

Quite right - its terribly irresponsible.
Almost as irresponsible as owning a car, or, a boat with a motor in it.

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by Mirage Gecko

How can tossing over a drum of that size be considered fine in any since of the word.

I probably should have said legal not fine. So long as they were more than 12nm out from land it is legal to toss "food wastes and all other garbage including paper products, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery and similar refuse;" overboard.

[2Hulls]

Originally Posted by travellerw

Still, they are worth money, at least up here!

Yes, and any knee jerk emotional response for dumping carbon steel drums at sea should perhaps be redirected at the arrogance of casual wasting of money - so very "mega yacht." They are cruiser's antithesis - they do not share our ideals.

All should review the MARPOL agreements and continue to sink our empty beer bottles in the deep sea as you may conclude it's preferable to burying them on land, if not recyled, which, of course, is preferable.

Dave

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by travellerw

Now that I think about.. If they were completely drained, then the amount of fuel left is probably less than the average oil spilt in the bilge during an oil change.

I would only worry about them sinking. They could get an air pocket and become a subsurface hazzard.

Still, they are worth money, at least up here!

So long as there is enough to cause a shean on the water it is a violation of the Federal Water Polution Act and requires the captain to report the spill as well as face a maximum civil fine of $125,000. Failure to report such an incident is a criminal act and carries a 5 year maximum sentence.

[2Hulls]

Originally Posted by Stumble

So long as there is enough to cause a shean on the water it is a violation of the Federal Water Polution Act and requires the captain to report the spill as well as face a maximum civil fine of $125,000. Failure to report such an incident is a criminal act and carries a 5 year maximum sentence.

In US waters, correct? What about other country's waters? And how does this compare to MARPOL on the high seas? Not that it's better for the environment overall, but what are the rules for allowing petroleum distillates to evaporate into the atmosphere rather than first forming a sheen, then evaporating?

Dave
Engineer

[Stu Jackson]

Gee, about time to start about the winter sewage treatment plant spills...

[roverhi]

Smart, no; an ecological problem, virtually none. Assume the drum was pumped empty so only a small amount of residual fuel that would evaporate or get eaten by bacteria in short order and they punched holes in it so it would sink. The drum, if sunk, will very soon be eaten by seawater and disappear. The real issue is why were they dumb enough to post the video online?? Driving a large pickup or SUV has way more effect on the environment than dumping empty drums.

[Pelagic]

in that video, I couldn't see the barrel lashed on deck before dumping, so I guess they didn't want to live with an empty one below decks.

Dumping is not something I would have done if I had a choice, but attacking them on this smacks a bit of jealousy.

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by 2Hulls

In US waters, correct? What about other country's waters? And how does this compare to MARPOL on the high seas? Not that it's better for the environment overall, but what are the rules for allowing petroleum distillates to evaporate into the atmosphere rather than first forming a sheen, then evaporating?

Dave
Engineer

Ya that comment made me snort out my nose.. Especially the "Attorney" at the end!

Loved the addition to your signature! LOL!

Travis
Smuck

[micah719]

Just imagine.....we're tootling along in the pretty moonlight in the middle of nowhere, a nice pipe and the magic of Alice Giles's harp wafting over the speakers, a dream watch...when CLUNK! We've run into an oil drum just under the surface.

Not very likely, but while I clean up the horrible mess and grab a fresh pair of swim-shorts, I won't have any kind words to say about the dumpers. How many years could that drum float about? It was acceptable to stow full, what's wrong with taking it ashore? What else do these guys throw over the side? Whippersnappers...

[Jon Eisberg]

Originally Posted by Pelagic

in that video, I couldn't see the barrel lashed on deck before dumping, so I guess they didn't want to live with an empty one below decks.

At about 2:00 in, you can see a pair of drums on the aft deck... weighing in at almost 400 lbs. each when full, I doubt they were ever stowed anywhere else...

I'd bet the primary motviation for dumping them at the earliest possible opportunity, was to avoid spoiling the look of the boat for the video with such unsightly items on deck... Guaranteed, after looking at the first footage they'd shot, they agreed "we've got to get rid of those damn things, we're on a mission to make something cool to be put up on YouTube, after all..." ;-)

How ironic that the shot of them tossing one over the side, was bracketed between those beautiful shots of the pod of dolphins swimming at the bow, and alongside...

[sanibel sailor]

Originally Posted by Stumble

I probably should have said legal not fine. So long as they were more than 12nm out from land it is legal to toss "food wastes and all other garbage including paper products, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery and similar refuse;" overboard.

supposed to be ground up to small size...

[Stumble]

Originally Posted by 2Hulls

In US waters, correct? What about other country's waters? And how does this compare to MARPOL on the high seas? Not that it's better for the environment overall, but what are the rules for allowing petroleum distillates to evaporate into the atmosphere rather than first forming a sheen, then evaporating?

Dave
Engineer

A U.S. Flagged vessel is subject to U.S. Law anywhere it goes. Thus MARPOL applies. There are actually six seperate annexes that deal with oil, but it basically boils down to U. S. Ships cannot discharge diesel or oil overboard for any reason. Cooking oil is a little tricky and can be discharged under some circumstances. And evaporated diesel still leaves behind a non volatile residue that can't be discharged.

For volatiles there are restrictions, but if I am not mistaken they don't apply until there is a daily discharge in excess of what any yacht deals with. They are primarily concerned with fueling stations and mandated vapor recovery systems from filling tanks, not letting a fuel tank 'dry' out.