250,000 Gallon Oil Slick Spreads Toward Ireland

250,000 gallons of oil spilled in the ocean off Ireland’s south coast on Tuesday, in an area where Russian navy ships were refueling.  Irish authorities confirmed that the spill was spreading across the sea and may eventually pollute the Irish and Welsh coastlines. Meanwhile, Russia is pooh-poohing the idea that the spill constitutes a threat to coastal ecology and is attempting to downplay the size of the spill, all while refusing to admit culpability.

From The Times Online:

The spill, which happened as the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier was refuelling at sea, caused a slick that is now more than three miles long and almost as wide.

It is the biggest oil spill in waters around the British Isles since the Sea Empress ran aground off Milford Haven in 1996, causing widespread damage to the Pembrokeshire coast.

Surveillance flights by Britain’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) calculated that about 1,000 tonnes of oil were spilt.

Russian authorities put the figure at 300 tonnes and have yet publicly to admit their role.

The aircraft carrier, a Russian refuelling ship and a Russian tug were, however, found amid the oil when the spill was detected by a satelite on Saturday. Four other Russian naval vessels were nearby.

The slick is breaking up and a tug boat loaded with anti-pollution equipment is attempting clean-up, but many still worry that tar balls will wash ashore in Wales and Ireland. The slick will enter British waters by early next week and could start washing up on the beaches in two to three weeks. Weather conditions will likely play a major role in how much of the oil hits the coastlines.

So, despite all evidence to the contrary, Russia is refusing to admit blame and will only say that they’re “analyzing the information”. Big surprise there, huh – I mean, we all know how Russia is always so quick to admit wrongdoing.

It’s like Lewis Smith over at Twilight Earth said – in effect, “f-ck fossil fuels”.

We’ve talked about the “Alaskan Pipeline Ruptures,”  and the “World Wide Contamination of Water Sources,” but we have never spoken about a “Wind Spill” or a “Solar Power Contamination.”

I’m looking forward to a world where our biggest worry will be slinging ice from Wind Turbines in Montana or a “Green Crude” spill in an Algae plant.

Link [The Times Online] + [Twilight Earth]

Airlines Slowing Down, Lightening Their Loads to Save Fuel

Would you care if you got to your destination 2 minutes later than usual? Airlines are starting to bet that you won’t even notice, and slowing down slightly will end up saving them big bucks in fuel. Belgium’s Brussels Airlines is the first to try it, slowing their speed by about 10 kilometers per hour and lightening each plane’s load by using lighter seat covers, bringing less water on board for toilet flushing and possibly getting rid of the ashtrays, all of which can add up pretty quickly.

From BBC News:

The airline said slowing its planes by about 10km/h would cut its annual fuel bill by 1m euros ($1.6m; £800,000) and add a minute or two to flight times.

The measures will also reduce the airline’s emissions of global warming greenhouse gases, a spokesman said.
Oil prices have risen steeply recently, adding hugely to airlines’ costs.

Brussels Airlines is looking at nearly 100 ways of cutting fuel use, including more efficient fuel use and reducing weight on its planes.

Undoubtedly these changes are due to strain on the airline’s finances rather than concerns about the environment, but in this case, who cares? What matters is, they’ll result in a huge reduction in fuel use, and if more airlines follow, we could see some dramatic effects. This is exactly the way more companies need to start thinking. Leave it to Europe to pioneer such a simple yet smart concept.

Link [BBC News] via [The Road to the Horizon]