The oil spill simulation in İstanbul Strait caused by tanker accident

The Turkish Sea Straits System (TSSS) consisting of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles is the only seaway that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean. Due to the fact that most of the oil produced in Northern Black Sea and the Caspian Sea are shipped to Europe and other continents via the TSSS, the safe passage of oil carrying tankers through these straits is a very real and important concern. Of these two, the relatively narrow Bosphorus is especially risky since it cuts through Turkey's largest city of Istanbul with a population of approximately 13M. Several important tanker accidents occurred in the past, causing extensive environmental damage and the closing of the Straits to the ship traffic for long periods of time. In this study, computer simulations of oil spills from possible tanker accidents in the Bosphorus Strait have been performed and the resulting oil distribution has been computed. These simulations have been run for four different sections of the Strait and a multi-phase model with turbulence closure was solved using the method of finite volumes. Besides the spreading of oil, time dependent solutions of current distribution have also been obtained and a parametrical study concerning the comparisons of three different wind scenarios to an opposite wind effect has been conducted. Results show that in areas where there is high circulation such as bays, the oil resides in the region for a long time. It was also observed that some regions become high-risk areas during opposite wind events. Based on these, locations where advance emergency action needs to be taken were pointed out. This latter allows the creation of a foundation for the facilitation of the "Act on Guidelines for Response to Emergencies and Compensation of Losses in case of Pollution of the Marine Environment from Oil and Other Harmful Substances? Law # 5312 agreed by the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Forestry and the Undersecreteriat for Maritime Affairs in 2005. The latter would result in the preparation of an applicable oil spill contingency plan for Bosphorus. Keywords: Istanbul strait, tanker accident, oil spill, simulation, CFD .