| Environmental Concerns: | | | | preparedness and continuous improvement in every |
| Yacht Management involves managing and protecting | | | | phase of yacht operations. |
| America's navigable waterways from oil spills and | | | | Yacht owners/operators can help mitigate the |
| other pollutions that may flow from recreational boat | | | | impacts of oil spills on the environment by taking |
| activities. The US waterways are an integral part of | | | | quick action to contain the spilled product. |
| many U.S. watersheds and must be protected from | | | | Fuel or oil in the water or on the boat can be picked |
| oil and other hazardous substances. | | | | up with special oil adsorbent materials. Adsorbents |
| The waterways play an important role in the U.S. | | | | come in many forms including pads, sweeps, and |
| commercial and recreational boating industries. | | | | pillows. Carry these products on your vessel. |
| Minimizing water pollution begins with preventing spills | | | | Products that can help you prevent spills and reduce |
| in theirs place. | | | | emissions include: |
| Some of the concerns that Yacht operations and | | | | Oil absorbent booms are perfect for marine and |
| other recreational water vehicles present to the | | | | industrial spill containment. These oil booms are |
| integrity of the water system include bilge water | | | | constructed with a strong mesh outer skin encasing |
| (water that collects in the lowest part of the ship's | | | | highly absorbent polypropylene filler. A nylon rope and |
| hull and may contain oil, grease, and other | | | | steel hardware ensure long-lasting durability and easy |
| contaminants. A single pint of oil released onto the | | | | retrieval. Repels water and won't sink even when |
| water can cover one acre of water surface area. | | | | saturated. |
| The Law | | | | Oil Absorbent Sweep is designed with built in straps. |
| The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the | | | | The absorbent sweep can be drawn over the water |
| discharge of oil or oily waste into or upon the | | | | surface to absorb broad sheens or surface spills. This |
| navigable waters of the United States or the waters | | | | is a great way to clean up oil spill on water. |
| of the contiguous zone if such discharge causes a | | | | A bilge boom can be lowered into your bilge, sump or |
| film or sheen upon, or discoloration of, the surface of | | | | tank to remove oil, not water. Won't sink, even |
| the water, or causes a sludge or emulsion beneath | | | | when saturated. Will float indefinitely. This product |
| the surface of the water. Violators are subject to a | | | | can be reused. The boom comes with loops for a |
| penalty of $5,000. | | | | rope for easy deployment or fastening. |
| The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the | | | | Disposal of Oil Absorbent Materials. |
| discharge of oil or hazardous substances that are | | | | The disposal of used oil absorbent material depends |
| harmful into U.S. navigable water. | | | | on what type of product it is and how it was used: |
| In Case of an Oil Spill | | | | Standard absorbents that are saturated with gasoline |
| Each recreational vehicle owner/operator must | | | | may be air dried and reused. Standard absorbents |
| develop a plan that identifies the personnel, | | | | saturated with oil or diesel may be wrung out over oil |
| equipment and materials required to deal with a spill. | | | | recycling bins |
| The plan should include information about storage | | | | Many spills are the result of human error. Being |
| capacity, environmentally and economically sensitive | | | | prepared to correct the problem with prompt action |
| areas, products that can contain the spill, personnel | | | | and proper equipment will protect future access to |
| training if appropriate and practice drills. This requires | | | | our boating environment. |