Covering more than 70 percent of our planet, oceans are among the earth’s most valuable natural resources. They govern the weather, clean the air, help feed the world, and provide a living for millions. An oil and chemical spill is one of the most devastating environmental disasters affecting people, animals, the land and the coastal water ways. Majority of the ship-sourced oil and chemical pollution that enters the marine environment comes from refuelling, vessel maintenance and bilge discharges. There are many instances where major spill has occurred from marine accidents. Oil pollution can damage ecosystems, including plants and animals, and contaminate water for drinking and other purposes. The feathers and fur of birds and marine animals can become coated in oil, they can no longer insulate themselves against the cold water, and birds have difficulty flying.

There arises a question when there is a spill:

-    What was spilled?
-    Where is the spill likely to travel in the water?
-    How is the local environment affected now?
-    What's the best way to clean up the spill?
-    How can the damage to the environment be mitigated?

The majority of the garbage that enters the ocean each year is plastic and are here to stay. One of the biggest threats to our oceans is man-made pollution. Discarded plastics and other residential waste discharge from pesticides and industrial chemicals eventually find their way into the sea. It is estimated that a staggering 80 per cent of marine pollution originates on land. The harm caused by plastic pollution is wide ranging. Plastic waste is the most visible component of ocean pollution. More than ten million tonnes of plastic enter the seas every year. There are small but significant changes we can all make to help reduce the plastics threatening to engulf our oceans & work towards achieving SDG 14 and preserving our greatest resource.

There are five gyres in the ocean. One in the Indian Ocean, two in the Atlantic Ocean, and two in the Pacific Ocean. Garbage patches of varying sizes are located in each gyre. The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities identifies nine source categories of marine and coastal pollution: sewage, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), radioactive substances, heavy metals, oils (hydrocarbons), nutrients, sediment mobilization, litter, and physical alteration and destruction of habitat.

There are various solutions for spills & marine pollution starting from prevention to clean-up. A global-scale effort is needed to combat the problem from individuals, policymakers and industry. SpillTech will cover a wide range of topics revolving around prevention, mitigation & probable solutions to save the environment from any catastrophic disasters. Ocean dumping is controlled by international law, including: The London Convention (1972) MARPOL 73/78 UNCLOS.