Clean & Protect

Water Safety and Oil Spills

Staff need to be trained regularly in how to deal with an oil spill in the river. Here they are inflating an oil boom barrier.

Dartmouth is situated close to the busy shipping lanes of the Western Approaches of the English Channel. The risk of pollution from a vessel related incident is, therefore, very real and we have to be prepared, as best as possible, to respond if one should happen.

In recent years there have been significant grounding incidents in the West Country, although thankfully none has resulted in any significant pollution as a consequence.

Find out more about how DEEM aims to encourage water safety and deal with oil spills by reading this extract from the Management Plan.

The full original plan can be downloaded at the end of the extract, however the latest 2006-2011 Periodic Review Dart Estuary Environmental Management Plan (EMP) can also be downloaded here. It is closely linked with the Management Plan for the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has a five year horizon.

The plan's guiding principles provide the context in which the aims are achieved and the actions carried out.

Guiding Principles
To continue to ensure the safety of all users of the estuary
To continue to develop and improve the ability to deal with a threat from accidental pollution
Strategic Objectives
To establish a search-and-rescue emergency service in the Dart Estuary in co-ordination with existing agencies
To demonstrate the effectiveness of oil spill emergency procedures

2006-2011 Periodic Review Dart Estuary Environmental Management Plan

(To download this report as a PDF file click the link above)

Dart Estuary Environmental Management Plan

(To download this report as a PDF file click the link above)

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