On Sunday, around 200 barrels of reservoir fluid, containing oil, seeped into the water near Poole Harbour in Dorset, UK. Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) confirmed the leak occurred at a pipeline operated by gas company Perenco beneath Owers Bay. Following the spill near millionaire’s row in Sandbanks, a serious incident was declared. People have been warned not to swim in the waters after authorities issued warnings. The leak happened in an underwater pipeline, and the 200 barrels of fluid might be oil. Today, the Environment Agency received complaints of a “large amount of oil” in the water.
A PHC statement said, “PHC have activated their oil spill plan and are working with a number of organisations. A major incident has been declared and a gold command unit has been established. We would advise members of the public that they should not swim in Poole Harbour or the surrounding area until further notice.”
Poole Harbour is the world’s second-biggest natural harbour and a Site of Special Scientific Interest
According to Perenco, cleanup procedures are ongoing and the situation is under control. The cleanup will be handled by two businesses that specialise in oil spills. It went on to say that the leaking fluid was 85 per cent water and 15 per cent oil. The surface slick is “already dispersing,” according to the business, and there is “no risk” of future leakage. Perenco operates the neighbouring Wytch Farm, Western Europe’s largest on-shore oil field, which produces 14,000 barrels of oil per day.
Poole Harbour is the world’s second-biggest natural harbour and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as well as a Special Protection Area. (SPA). The area is critical for breeding and overwintering aquatic birds. Poole Bay is a Marine Conservation Area nearby that has 10 different types of habitat and is home to over 360 different marine species. Officials stated that the breach would be investigated.”Any spill is an extremely serious matter,” said Franck Dy, Perenco UK’s Wytch Farm general manager. “A full investigation will be launched to determine what happened in Poole Harbour.”