Dominant constraints to the effective use of oily-water separator (OWS) in the control of ship-based oil pollution in West African waters

Abstract

The International Regulations for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from ships (MARPOL 73/78) provided for the deployment of oily-water separator (OWS) technology for ship-based oily-water pollution in the marine ecosystem. Previous studies on the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of OWS technology showed failure rates of about 40 % and ineffective use, while also identifying a multiplicity of correlated factors constraining the effectiveness of the use of the technology onboard. To overcome the constraints posed by the identified factors to the effective use of OWS technology requires a systems approach, which demands the determination of the dominant and significant factors most constraining the effective use of the technology and prioritization of the elimination of the significant factors. The study used a survey design approach, employing primary data and principal component factor analysis, to determine the existence of about five principal factors significantly constraining the effective use of the technology by ship operators in West African waters. The policy implications were discussed, and recommendations for effective use of the technology were proffered.