Flood Quiz
Floods happen everywhere - not just on the news. Would you know what to do if the water started rising?
Build a Pipe Network
The island's water supply is in need of modernisation. Balance the financial and environmental cost to score maximum points.
Main Content
Oil Spill Quiz
Mayday! Mayday!
Because of the storm, the crippled oil tanker has been shipwrecked on the coast of the island and is leaking oil into the sea. To organise the Island's emergency response you need to read up on the dangers of oil pollution by playing the Oil Spill Quiz.
A good score here will help you put together a disaster recovery plan, so read the background information with care.
The fate of the Island rests with you - so good luck!
About Oil Spills
Oil spills happen when people make mistakes or a ship is damaged in a storm, hurricane or war. Usually these accidents happen while the oil is being transported and oil spills into rivers, bays or the sea.
Distress calls
When a tanker or other ship gets into trouble, the ships master (usually the Captain) will send an emergency message calling for help. If the ship is in immediate danger a 'Mayday' message is sent. If the ship is in trouble but the danger is not immediate a Pan-Pan message is sent.
These voice messages are sent on VHF or satellite radio. When someone hears these messages they must re-transmit them as a 'Mayday Relay'. This means that a distress signal from a small boat off an island in Scotland could be picked up in Hong Kong or Australia!
Under Maritime Law another ship must respond to a distress call unless it would be dangerous to do so, or they are too far away. This ship would then run rescue efforts until a more suitable rescue ship arrived.
Oil Slicks
Oil floats on salt water (the sea) and usually floats on fresh water (rivers and lakes). When an oil spill happens, the oil spreads over the surface of the water to form a thin layer called an oil slick. Light oil spreads quickly over the water to form a very thin sheen, while heavy black oil often floats in big oil slicks until it is broken up by the waves.
Oil spills are harmful to marine birds and mammals, as well as fish and shellfish. Oil destroys the ability of furry mammals like seals to keep warm. It also breaks down the water repelling abilities of a bird's feathers. This stop birds from flying and exposes animals to the cold sea, and they often drown. Many birds and animals also swallow oil when they try to clean themselves, which can poison them.
Marine life on reefs, shorelines and riverbeds can be smothered or poisoned by the oil. The death of these small animals can have a terrible effect on the food chain for years to come. In the worst accidents, like the oil spill from Exxon Valdiz in Alaska, hundreds of thousands of birds and mammals can be killed or injured.
On land people need to prepare to help save the animals and clean up the beaches.
Prevention
The public will be informed about an oil spill through television, radio and other news media, which are the quickest way to reach people. The first thing that should be done is to try and stop an oil spill from reaching the shore. Containment equipment includes floating booms, barriers, and skimmers. These are put along beaches and across the entrance to rivers and harbours to hold back the oil slick.
Birds and animals can be scared away from the oil slick using fireworks, floating dummies, and helium-filled balloons. Floating barriers should stop a lot of the oil, but some will get through. This means that people also need to prepare clean-up operations.
Spill Clean-Up
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) usually help set up emergency treatment centres where they can clean wildlife with the help of local volunteers. Here, birds are given medical treatment, cleaned and looked after until they are well enough to be returned to the wild. Cleaning beaches is an expensive business but is usually paid for by the tanker's insurers.
Different clean-up methods work on different types of beaches. Road equipment works very well on sand beaches, but can't be used in marshes or on rock beaches. Here pools of oil may need to be shovelled up by hand. Rocks and stones may also need to be washed using high pressure hoses.
How to Play
The Oil Spill Quiz is a multiple choice quiz. All the questions are based on information you should have read here (or in the 'Info' section of the game).
After each question you will be given a choice of two or three possible answers. Click on the answer you think is right. You will then be told whether you are right or wrong, along with the reason why. Once you have read the explanation you can continue to the next question.
Make sure you keep an eye on the island as you play to see if you are making things better!
Oil Clean Up Game
When oil spills happen the response must be decisive. Will you be able to scoop up the oil and save the Island's beaches and wildlife?
The Lab
In the lab you can check that everything is okay on the Island. If it is not, you will need to take action - fast!