Shipping and Oil Transportation in the Mediterranean Sea

This chapter starts by putting oil shipping in a Mediterranean context, with a review of the different ways to transport crude and refined oils in large quantities and over long distances. It then considers the hazards presented by pipelines and tankers, both in terms of the oil market today and how it will probably be in a decade. The chapter then presents the current state of knowledge concerning (1) the ship accidents in the Mediterranean, and (2) operational spills in the region and more broadly. The discussion on operational spills is complemented by an analysis of the possible contribution of satellite imagery to the establishment of both proof of pollution and identification of the polluter. Finally, it appears that the necessary tools to combat operational spills and to deal with large accidental spills exceed the individual capacities of the different countries in the region, rendering international cooperation essential.