BfR-Wissenschaft

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13  Marine  Management  Organisation  (MMO)  -  Dispersant  use  in  UK  waters
Product  Approval  Process  and  Pollution  Response
Bernard  Christie
Marine  Management  Organisation  (MMO),  Newcastle  upon  Tyne,  UK
Introduction
The  MMO  presentation  that  was  delivered  at  the  workshop  in  Berlin  on  13 th  November  2015
is  largely  taken  from  training  material  that  is  directed  at  staff  working  in  our  coastal  offices.  It
is  intended  to  explain  how  MMO  act  in  a  Marine  emergency  situation  and  how  we  interact
with  different  organisations  to  hopefully  achieve  the  best  possible  outcome.
In  the  UK,  the  MMO  has  responsibility  for  both  the  control  of  the  UK  Approved  Products  (Oil
Spill  Treatment  Product)  and  also  for  decision  making  on  whether  or  not  dispersant  use  can
be  allowed  at  the  given  location  of  a  spillage  in  English/Welsh  waters.
Product  Approval
As  prerequisite  of  product  approval  by  MMO,  all  oil  spill  treatment  products  must  be  tested
for  their  efficacy  (effectiveness)  and  for  toxicological  hazard.  The  tests  can  be  carried  out
within  MMO-commissioned  laboratories,  or  by  independent  laboratories,  which  must  follow
standard  test  protocols  and  have  a  recognised  accreditation.
Efficacy  is  determined  by  a  standard  laboratory-based  procedure  described  in  annex  1  to
appendix  A  WLS  Report  LR448.  The  efficacy  test  aims  to  assess  the  proportion  of  the  total
volume  of  treated  oil  that  is  dispersed  into  the  water  column.  The  minimum  efficacy  requirements ­
  depend  on  the  type  of  dispersant  being  tested.  Dispersants  must  achieve  an  efficacy
of  30  %  for  type  1  (hydrocarbon  solvent-based  dispersant  applied  undiluted)  and  type  2
(concentrates  diluted  1:10  with  seawater  before  application)  and  60  %  for  type  3  (high  efficacy ­
  concentrates  applied  undiluted).
For  the  evaluation  of  toxicological  hazards,  2  toxicity  tests  using  marine  species  are  used.
The  first  test  is  called  the  Sea  Test  and  is  carried  out  using  the  brown  shrimp  (Crangon  crangon).
  This  test  compares  the  relative  toxicity  of  an  oil  dispersant  mix  to  that  of  oil  alone.  In
order  to  pass,  the  product  must  not  increase  the  toxicity  of  the  oil.  The  second  test  is  called
the  Rocky  Shore  Test  and  is  carried  out  using  the  common  limpet  (Patella  vulgate).  This  test
compares  the  toxicity  of  dispersant  alone  to  that  of  the  standard  test  oil.  In  order  to  pass,  the
product  must  not  be  more  toxic  than  the  oil  alone.  Offshore  dispersants  are  not  required  to
pass  the  Rocky  Shore  Toxicity  Test,  but  may  only  be  used  in  waters  more  than  12  nautical
miles  from  the  baseline.
In  brief,  applicants  approach  MMO  with  a  request  to  include  their  product  on  the  UK  list  of
approved  oil  spill  treatment  products.  They  do  this  electronically  by  following  the  process
detailed  on  the  MMO  website.
https://www.aov.uk/aovernment/uploads/svstem/uploads/attachment  data/file/470085/ostpapplication-new.pdf

Depending  upon  the  type  of  product,  the  appropriate  testing  fee  must  be  paid  in  order  for
MMO  to  arrange  the  necessary  Efficacy  and  Toxicity  testing.  If  MMO  are  asked  to  arrange
the  tests  we  currently  use  Ricardo  Energy  and  Environment  for  Efficacy  tests  and  Cefas
(Centre  for  environment  fisheries  and  aquaculture  science)  for  Toxicity  tests.  Cefas  act  as
scientific  advisors  to  MMO.