Distribution of oil spill response capability through considering probable incident, environmental sensitivity and geographical weather in Vietnamese waters

ABSTRACT Various occurrences of marine incidental oil spills in the Vietnamese waters require effective high response system. The probability of oil spill, environmental sensitivity, and geographical weather conditions were simultaneously considered to calculate the distribution of the oil spill response capability (OSRC). In this contribution, 13 important factors (3 priority protected areas, marine traffic, max. amount spill, industrial installation, offshore activities, historical spill, distance to spill, sea state, tidal current, visibility and sea-water temperature) of 8 oil spill response (OSR) areas were investigated and calculated by using Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (Fuzzy AHP). The results were reflected the highest OSRC in Vung Tau area, peaking about 1,457 tons of the amount of Vietnam national marine OSRC. The study suggested the new scientific platform for the distribution of areal OSRCs to mitigate the damage of future marine incidental oil spills to marine ecosystems, coastal resources, humans, and socio-economy.