How Does Oil & Hurricanes Mix

Approaching Hurricane Season

Brings New Oil Spill Concerns

June 1st is the official start of the Atlantic Basin Hurricane Season which runs through November 30th.  As you may know, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Office of Response and Restoration has been on the scene of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill from the start.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) has just released the NOAA 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook which calls for a 85% chance of an above normal hurricane season in the Atlantic region.

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

As the start of the hurricane season approaches, there are many concerns about the impact of a hurricane interacting with the oil spill.   NOAA scientists have prepared a document which addresses the following questions:

• What will happen to a hurricane that runs through this oil slick?
• What will the hurricane do to the oil slick in the Gulf?
• Will the oil slick help or hurt a storm from developing in the Gulf?
• Will the hurricane pull up the oil that is below the surface of the Gulf?
• Have we had experience in the past with hurricanes and oil spills?
• Will there be oil in the rain related to a hurricane?

Their analysis can be found in the following document:
Hurricanes and the Oil Spill: A Factsheet and Frequent Questions

In general, the oil slick isn't expected to have a significant impact on the hurricane.  The track of the hurricane and other factors would determine  the movement of oil from the slick and whether the biodegradation process might be accelerated by the hurricane.

Continual monitoring is needed since the details of the evolution of the storm, the track, the wind speed, the size, the forward motion and the intensity are all unknowns at this point and may alter this general statement.

We will continue to monitor both the oil spill and any developing tropical cyclone reporting details to help you be prepared for your cruise vacation during hurricane season.

Continue reading my series on hurricane preparedness as this week of preparation draws to a close.

Ungoing Efforts to Contain Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil Spill

VENICE, La. -- Boom put in place to protect sensitive areas from the oil discharge from the Deepwater Horizon/BP incident, protects the shores of North Breton Island, La., which is a nesting ground for endangered birds, May 20, 2010. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with state and local agencies to protect the Louisiana bird population. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.  View More Photos | Flickr

Cleanup / Containment Continues

President Obama announced that he has signed an executive order establishing the bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling with former two-term Florida Governor and former Senator Bob Graham and former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly serving as co-chairs.  The bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling is tasked with providing recommendations on how we can prevent—and mitigate the impact of—any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

At the direction of the President, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will visit Louisiana on Monday to inspect the ongoing response to the BP oil spill, accompanied by a bipartisan Senate delegation.   The delegation will conduct a flyover of the affected areas, discuss the latest response efforts in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast with federal and BP representatives, and meet with local community and industry leaders.

There are approximately 24,900 personnel currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife utilizing more than 1,100 vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts.  To date more than 1.52 million feet of containment boom and 560,000 feet of sorbent boom have been deployed to contain the spill—and approximately 310,000 feet of containment boom and 1.27 million feet of sorbent boom are available.

Complete details can be found:  The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill

NOAA oceanographers continue to release updated trajectory maps showing the predicted trajectory of the oil slick.  Current Trajectory Maps.     There is growing concern that the oil will spread to the Loop Current (LC) so this situation is being closely monitored.


SUNDAY: EPA Administrator to Return to Gulf Region to oversee ongoing response to the BP oil spill


Many companies, local, and federal agencies are working closely together in response to this event.   For the latest information, consult the Joint Information Centre website.


U.S. EPA:  Federal Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Coast Guard:    Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Horizon Incident
NOOA:  Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico
Offshore Alabama     Update on the Oil Spill (Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce)
BP    Read the latest press release
NASA:  Earth Observatory Images 

Port of New Orleans. LA  
Port of Mobile, AL  
Carnival Cruise Line:  Travel Advisory (Port of Mobile) 
  
  

Update on Horizon Oil Spill

Graphic Courtesy of NOOA

This is an ongoing event - search for later blog posts or see links for updates

On April 20th a fire and explosion occurred in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico involving a Transocean drilling Rig Deep Water Horizon.    The Horizon was engaged in drilling activity on behalf of BP at Mississippi Canyon Block 252, about 52 miles southeast of Venice, La.  Of the 126-member crew, 115 were safely evacuated. Despite exhaustive rescue efforts, eleven crew members lost their lives, nine of which were Transocean employees.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those families and to the entire community which is engaged in the response to this event.

Since that time, the world has watched as the equivalent of 5,000 barrels of oil a day continues to gush out into the Gulf.  Indications are that this could be the worst environmental disaster to date.  The difference between this incident and other oil spills is that the source of the oil flow comes from the ocean floor and will continue until it can be plugged.  In previous incidents, the source of oil was a container which would eventually be empty.

Many companies, local, and federal agencies are working closely together in response to this event.   For the latest information, consult the Joint Information Centre website.

We will continue to provide updates on this developing story and inform you of any impact to the cruise industry as well as the environmental impact.  

Resources & Updated News

U.S. EPA:  Federal Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Coast Guard:    Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Horizon Incident
NOOA:  Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico
Offshore Alabama     Update on the Oil Spill (Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce)
BP    Read the latest press release
NASA:  Earth Observatory Images

Updates for Cruise Ship Passengers 

So far, the ports of New Orleans and Mobile have not been impacted by the oil spill.  The Carnival Triumph is scheduled to arrive in the Port of New Orleans today and sail out again for their next cruise.  Carnival Cruise Line will continue to monitor this situation over the weekend to assess if there will be any disruption to the Carnival Fantasy cruise departing on Monday, May 3rd from Mobile, AL.

Port of New Orleans. LA    Mississippi River Ship Traffic Not Affected by Oil Spill

Carnival Cruise Line:  Travel Advisory (Port of Mobile)

Port of Mobile, AL    Press Release: Port of Mobile Open to Vessel Traffic