Integrated coastal resource management using geographic information system - oil spill response

• Main Author: Sia, Sheau Yunn.
• Other Authors: Tan, Soon Keat
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Civil engineering::Water resources
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/12000
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

As an island nation, Singapore is heavily dependent on its maritime activities and is enhanced by its strategic location at the crossroads of the trade routes linking the Asia-Pacific region to West Asia and Europe. Despite its limited coastal zone, Singapore has been extensively developed for port and shipping activities that contribute to the country's economy. As the traffic volume continues to rise in the busy sea-lanes, the port waters of Singapore and the region has become more vulnerable to oil spills that was caused either by vessel collisions and/or sludge dumping. Oil spill can have a serious economic impact on coastal activities and users. In most cases, such damage is temporary and is primarily caused by the physical properties of oil creating nuisance and hazardous conditions. There will be lost revenue due to interruption of activities. The impact on marine life is compounded by toxicity and tainting effects resulting from the chemical composition of oil, as well as by the diversity and variability of biological systems and their sensitivity to oil pollution.