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Heavy Fuel Oil

The bow of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy in the Beaufort Sea, northeast of Barrow, Alaska.
NASA/Kathryn Hansen

Oil and Arctic Waters Don’t Mix

The risk of spills — especially of toxic heavy fuel oil (HFO) — increases as more ships travel through the narrow Bering Strait. HFO is a tar-like sludge left over from crude oil processing that is very dangerous to marine mammals, seabirds and fish.

Alaskan Storms - An oil tanker takes refuge from the storm.
Aleatoric

Many large vessels carry significant volumes of heavy fuel oil (HFO), which they use to power their engines.

An accident involving one of these ships could cause a devastating HFO spill.

Download the infographic → Responding to Arctic Shipping Oil Spills: Risks and Challenges


HFO-Free Arctic

Toxic and Deadly

HFO is an extremely toxic, thick, gooey oil that breaks down slowly in the marine environment, especially the icy waters of the Arctic.

A cargo ship moves through northern waters.
Gorodenkoff Visuals

A major HFO spill could kill thousands of marine mammals, fish and seabirds, and jeopardize food security for communities that rely on hunting and fishing.

Why we need to ban Heavy Fuel Oil from Arctic Shipping. Credit: Clean Arctic Alliance, HFO-Free Arctic.

Impossible Clean-Up

Cleaning up an HFO spill in the Bering Strait would be almost impossible due to these factors:

  • Remote location
  • Lack of adequate response infrastructure
  • Potential for severe weather and other challenges

 

Background Photo: A clean-up crew works to rid the beach of crude oil from the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound.
Cleaning up the 1989 "Exxon Valdez" crude oil spill in Prince William Sound.
Colin Curwood

Recommendations

The "Selendang Ayu" aground in the Aleutians, spilling oil and killing six.
Doug Helton, NOAA
The International Maritime Organization should adopt a proposed ban that would prohibit ships from using or carrying HFO in the Arctic.
A similar ban is already in effect in Antarctic waters.
The "Selendang Ayu" aground in the Aleutians, spilling oil and killing six.
Doug Helton, NOAA

Less Ice, More Ships = New Challenges

View Map
1

Overview

The Bering Strait
The sun's reflection on Arctic sea ice.
Silver / Adobe Stock
2

Ship Strikes and Underwater Noise
A WHALE DIVES UNDER WHILE AS A CARGO SHIP PASSES IN THE DISTANCE.
T_O_M_O / ADOBE STOCK
3

Heavy Fuel Oil
The bow of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy in the Beaufort Sea, northeast of Barrow, Alaska.
NASA/Kathryn Hansen
4

Shipping Emissions
RED OIL TANKER ANCHORED OFFSHORE AND RUNNING ITS ENGINES.
Panalot/Adobe Stock
5

At-Sea-Transfer of Fuel
A SHIP TO SHIP TRANSFER OF FUEL KNOWN AS "LIGHTERING."
ZUMA Press, Inc.
6

Sewage and Greywater Pollution
A LARGE TANKER SHIP PUMPING IS BILGE.
Sunsinger / Adobe Stock
7

No-Go Zones for Shipping
A "ROAD END" SIGN AT THE EDGE OF THE BERING SEA PACK ICE, NOME, ALASKA.
WorldFoto

Shipping in the Bering Strait Region

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Container ship on sea ice.
Westend 61 / Getty Images

Improving shipping safety will help protect the Bering Strait for future generations.”

Janis Searles Jones, CEO Ocean Conservancy
© Get Credit!
— Janis Searles Jones, CEO Ocean Conservancy

Container ship on sea ice.
Westend 61 / Getty Images
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