Oil pollution in Svalbard

Coles Bay in Svalbard is marred by heavy oil pollution and contamination. NGI investigated the area and recommended that the area be cleaned up. But first, the sources of contamination must be removed.

Coles Bay in Isfjorden, half-way between Longyearbyen and Barentsburg in Svalbard, was originally a whaling station. After the Second World War, it was used as a shipping port for coal from the Russian mining town Grumant. The port was closed when Grumant was closed down in 1963. Extensive prospecting for coal was done in this area up until 1988, during which small amounts of oil was discovered in boreholes in Kapp Laila on the west side of the bay.

The Svalbard Environmental Fund decided to fund an environmental investigation of Coles Bay in the spring of 2008. NGI was awarded a contract to suggest mitigation measures. The contamination of the Coles Bay is due to two ship wrecks which were most likely used for oil storage in the period 1965 - 1987.

NGI's report documented the heavy oil pollution and contamination of the area. The ground has a black colouring north-west of the ship wrecks and around the timber sleepers east of the ship wrecks. The traceable oil contamination has no negative human health effects, but may represent a proliferation source to the recipient Isfjorden and can endanger fish life. A considerable amount of unattractive residues is also spread in the area, and these should be removed. The NGI report suggests mitigation measures. Prior to further action in the area, the sources of contamination must, however, be removed. This implies that all tanks must be emptied and cleaned for oil or removed.

Contaminated area in Coles Bay in Svalbard: red marks show locations of NGI samples.