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Situation Update - 2 May 91

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS BASED ON THE MOST CURRENT DATA PROVIDED TO NOAA. - 

Tuesday, May 2 SSC Report from Saudi Arabia  

SLAR The last Coast Guard SLAR flight was on 27 April 1991.  On 28 April, one
SLAR aircraft was used to photograph some of the oil impacted shoreline from
Saffaniya to Abu Ali.  The aircraft was able to complete three lines before the
camera become inoperative.  The film has been shipped to the U.S. for
processing.  It is anticipated that the developed images will be available for
use in Saudi Arabia by 10 May.  The two Coast Guard AIREYE (SLAR) aircraft
departed Bahrain on 30 May for the United States.  Overflights Since the SLAR
capability is no longer available, an attempt has been made to schedule Navy
C-12 overflights twice weekly.  

The last C-12 overflight was on 29 May.  During that flight, oil was observed to
be leaking in small quantities from the following locations: 
    - Oil platform in Marjan oil field (27 deg 43 min N, 049 deg 49 min E).  
    - Sea Island Terminal and Single Point Mooring (3 separate leaks at 29 deg 
      07 min N, 048 deg 17 min E). 
The next Navy C-12 overflight is scheduled for the morning of 3 May.  

Oil Recovery Operations 
Floating oil is still being recovered in the following general areas:     
Safaniya, Tanaquib, Manifah, and Brice Bay. Once the oil is trapped by booms,
man-made dikes, or natural barriers, the oil is skimmed or vacuumed and conveyed
to temporary pits constructed along the shoreline.  The oil is then transferred
to more permanent storage areas where the oil will be kept until a final
disposal method is determined.  

Shoreline Clean-up Activities 
As of this date, there are only two sites being cleaned; Karan Island and Gurmah
Island (Dawhat Ad Dafi).  Karan Island (27 deg 43 min N, 049 deg 49 min E) is
used by large numbers of birds for nesting.  Also its sandy beaches are used by
Green and Hawksbill turtles for nesting during the month of May. The clean-up
effort is approximately 80% complete and the contractor hopes to be off the
island by 6 May. Gurmah Island is primarily a mangrove type habitat.  The
contractor is water-flushing the mangroves and recovering the oil as it is
refloated back on the water.  The project is about 35% complete.  

Topics of Concern (under discussion)     
      Disposal of recovered oil.
      Priorities of remaining shoreline clean-up.
      Damage assessment.