Oil and Water Don't Mix but Do Work Together

p3skyking

The slick hull thread lightly touched on this subject, but this deserves it's own thread as few have ever heard of it.

Pumping oil into the sea is generally frowned on today.

This technique was last used to good effect during WWII to rescue souls in the water. It was also used to save ships and cargo in the north Atlantic convoy routes.

Line officers, is this still even taught as an option?

https://io9.gizmodo.com/dumping-oil-in-the-ocean-lets-you-literally-master-the-1666279269

Ford 23

Interesting--Already a good day I learned something new never had a clue previously--Thanks for posting

AzAfshin

Very fascinating if true. I just can't visualize how a gallon of oil an hour can have such a large effect surrounding a ship in a violent storm. I'll have to try the puddle experiment in my swimming pool next time it's very windy.

HandLoad

Used to be, and I members when, "Storm Oil" and a slow leaking container was standard gear on Lifeboats. I "Swallered the Anchor" and came ashore in 1982, having accrued the Three Things a Sailor Don't Need: Wife, Home, Car.

p3skyking

Yeah, it's true. It's well documented in WWII and before.
I put the question if the technique was still taught at the USCG Academy to a former Coast Guard line lieutenant. This was his reply:

Scott XXXXX Mike, very little was taught to most Cadets about Oil Pollution at the Academy. Most Cadets were studying Engineering Majors. There was one Major taken by Cadets called Physical Sciences and they had more in this field. After Graduation, newly minted Ensign's would attend such Marine Environmental Schools at Yorktown, Va. Really up until 1972-almost everything was discharged or thrown overboard until Regulations came into effect.

Further questioning revealed he knew nothing about using oil as an
ocean dampener.

FORD, You learning something new every day will never get old. Keep it up!