A huge clean-up operation continued today after a large oil pipeline leak prompted a major incident at Poole Harbour, with swimmers warned to stay out of the water.
About 200 barrels of ‘reservoir fluid’ – which can contain crude oil – spilled into the internationally important body of water in Dorset from an underwater pipeline.
About 15 per cent of the 31,000 litres (7,000 gallons) of fluid is believed to be oil, meaning that almost 5,000 litres (1,000 gallons) of it may have polluted the harbour.
The area – close to the millionaires’ row of Sandbanks – is the world’s second largest natural harbour, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area.
The UK Health Security Agency warned members of the public that they ‘should not swim in Poole Harbour or the surrounding area until further notice’. The council defined the surrounding area as ‘water and beaches within Poole Harbour’.
Officials said anyone who has come into contact with the spill should immediately wash with soap and water – and if eyes were in contact, rise them with water.
Conservative MP for Poole Sir Robert Syms said he and South Dorset Tory Richard Drax have asked the Government to take an urgent question in the Commons today.
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
The clean-up continues this morning after thousands of litres of oil leaked into Poole Harbour
Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
Workers in a field during the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset today
An aerial view of the clean-up operation at Owes Bay at Poole Harbour in Dorset this morning
Poole Harbour in Dorset is pictured yesterday after a large pipeline leaked into the water
The RSPB Arne nature reserve in Poole, pictured yesterday, near where the leak occurred
Roads to the coast near Norden in Dorset were closed yesterday amid the major incident
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council told people to avoid swimming in the harbour
Phil Broadhead, leader of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said today that the incident was ‘just unacceptable, there’s no other words for this’.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning: ‘When I first heard about this yesterday, clearly I was angry and disappointed.
‘We have the second largest natural harbour in the world here, award-winning beaches, a very delicate ecosystem. So the natural reaction is always to be very worried.
‘From what we are hearing – we’re not the lead agency on this, Poole Harbour Commissioners is, clearly it’s an outside body that runs the facility – it’s a small leak of reservoir fluid, so about 85 per cent water and 15 per cent oil, which was caught fortunately quite quickly. They’ve stopped any further leaks.
‘One hopes at the moment that we have avoided any real disaster here. We won’t know more until this morning but the early indications are already that the surface slick is already dispersing.’
Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) has put its oil spill plan into action and also warned the public not to swim in the surrounding area.
The area is the world’s second largest natural harbour and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Poole Harbour Commissioners warned the public not to swim in the area until further notice
The RSPB Arne nature reserve in Poole is just around the corner from where the leak occurred
Anyone who has come into contact with the spill should wash with soap and water
The wetlands are recognised as being internationally important for wildfowl and it is an important area for breeding and overwintering water birds.
Just outside Poole Harbour, Poole Bay is a Marine Conservation Area. The seabed features ten types of habitat and is home to more than 360 marine species.
Mr Broadhead added: ‘As soon as the oil or any of the material gets ashore, that’s when everything becomes much more difficult and has the bigger ecological effects as well.
‘In these circumstances you ideally want it out to sea and dispersing as quickly as possible.
‘We’ve got experts coming in this morning through the lead agency on this to assess further, so we’ll know more shortly.
‘But what we are urging people in the area at the moment is just to stay out of the water, no recreational activities, and if you do get in contact with water, just to wash with soap and water.
‘But we’re not talking huge amounts, terrible though this is, and we are hoping and keeping our fingers crossed that this will disperse quickly.’
The area is close to Sandbanks, the exclusive peninsula that is home to Britain’s most expensive waterfront homes and has an award-winning Blue Flag beach that attracts thousands of visitors in summer.
The pipeline is operated by Perenco, which runs nearby Wytch Farm, the largest on-shore oil field in Western Europe. The leak happened under Ower Bay.
The millionaires’ playground of Sandbanks sits very close to where the pipe leaked in Poole
The council leader said the incident was ‘just unacceptable, there’s no other words for this’
About 200 barrels of ‘reservoir fluid’ spilled into the internationally important body of water
The pipeline was turned off and floating barriers known as booms were placed either side of the leak.
Dr Fay Couceiro, a pollution expert from Portsmouth University said: ‘Any large oil spill is a concern to the environment but I was hopeful that I have heard it seems to be under control and there is no further leak and the oil spill response plan has gone into effect.
‘The sheen on the surface of the water is the lighter fraction of the oil, that will disperse over a few days, disperse and turn into gas. That’s good news because that part is quite toxic so that has quite quick negative impacts on wildlife.
‘The longer term concern is the heavier parts of the oil which sink down to the bottom, it goes sticky and likes to get into the sediment.
‘That can stay for many years and tend to be more carcinogenic. That could have a negative impact over time for many years.’
Steve Harding, who has a boat at Salterns Marina in the harbour, came into contact with some oil yesterday. He said: ‘It was definitely noticeable, there was a significant amount of oil on the water.
‘We’ve been very lucky here that we’ve not really suffered this type of event before. I’ve been in and on the water for a decade and have never seen anything like this before, it is unusual.’
And Garry Connell said: ‘I was windsurfing in the harbour yesterday afternoon at the back of round island and it stank of oil.’
Members of the public have so far heeded the warnings to stay out of the water. There was no sign of anybody in the sea at popular Branksome Beach this morning.
Only a handful of dog walkers and the occasional jogger could be seen on the sand and promenade.
One walker, who wished to remain anonymous, said his friends who were swimmers had decided against entering the water amid safety warnings.
The man in his 40s said: ‘My swimming friends all know about it (the oil spill).
‘I always walk along here on a Sunday and Monday morning and there are normally 20 to 30 people in the water swimming but not today. I’ve not seen anyone.’
Shore Beach in posh Sandbanks, another popular spot for sea swimmers, was empty today. Windsurfers have also heeded official warnings to stay out of the water.
A spokesman for the Watersports Academy in Poole said: “We have been staying out of the water and following the advice of the Poole Harbour Commissioners.”
Perenco and PHC have commissioned two companies specialising in oil spill incidents to help with the clear-up.
In a statement PHC said: ‘PHC have activated their oil-spill plan and are working with a number of organisations. A major incident has been declared and a gold command unit has been established.
‘We would advise members of the public that they should not swim in Poole Harbour or the surrounding area until further notice.
‘Anyone who has come into contact with the spill should wash immediately with soap and water. If eyes have come into contact with the spill they should be rinsed with water.’
Franck Dy, Perenco UK’s Wytch Farm general manager, said: ‘Any spill is an extremely serious matter and a full investigation will be launched to ascertain what happened in Poole Harbour.
‘It is important to stress that the situation is under control, with the discharge of fluids having been stopped and the spill is being contained.’
The firm confirmed a clean-up operation was under way.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: ‘We have received reports of a large amount of oil in Poole Harbour and we are supporting the port authority and other partners in responding to this incident.’
