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Fig. 24: GCs of bilge samples taken from 8 fishing vessels in connection with an oil spill case 
in a fishing harbour. 
Figure 24 demonstrates the great variability in the composition of bilge oil even in vessels of 
the same size and type: different amounts of light fuel oil and lubricating oils are obviously 
involved but also different kinds of products. The light fuel oil part is differently evaporated. 
In a) high bacterial degradation has already taken place in the ship's bilge. In e) and especially 
in d) additional very low-boiling hydrocarbons can be detected which very likely originate 
from cleaning agents commonly used in the machinery spaces of ships.