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Oil spill

Analysis and Comment (3)

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The wrecking of the MV Tycoon happened just as Christmas Island's famous crabs began spawning. Justin Gilligan

Christmas Island oil spill: time to value natural treasures, not just trade

By Jean-Paul Hobbs, University of Western Australia and Carlos Duarte, University of Western Australia

Christmas Island has been once again in the headlines: not because of incidents involving asylum-seekers, but because of the recent sinking and breaking up of the Panamanian phosphate carrier MC Tycoon…
Rena_oil_aap
The Rena disaster could push New Zealand to stronger maritime laws. AAP

The Bay of Plenty oil spill: loading the dice against disaster

By Tim Stephens, University of Sydney

Last week the Rena, a Liberian-registered container ship, ran aground on Astrolaube Reef in the Bay of Plenty, around 12 nautical miles from the New Zealand coast. The stricken vessel has been stuck there…
Oil_spill_nz_aap2
Oil gets into the ocean in all sorts of ways, but oil spills are the most visible. AAP

How can we clean up the Bay of Plenty oil spill?

By Nic Bax, CSIRO

Responding to oil spills, like that in New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty, is a very complex, high pressure situation. Decisions must be made based on whatever data are available at the time. One of the difficulties…

Research and News (2)

Research Briefs (1)

New sponge to clean up oil spills

Rice University

A new type of carbon nanotube sponge can absorb over 100 times its weight in oil making it perfect for cleaning up oil spills…