Oil Spill Analysis on Ambon Bay, Moluccas, Indonesia: Its Influence on the SS Aquila Shipwreck Site

Oil Spill Analysis on Ambon Bay, Moluccas, Indonesia: Its Influence on the SS Aquila Shipwreck Site

The Steam Ship (SS) Duke of Sparta or SS Aquila shipwreck site is one of the underwater cultural heritages (UCH) discovered in Ambon Bay, Moluccas waters, Indonesia. Currently, this 1940-s British-Italian shipwreck is threatened by an oil spill contamination on Ambon Bay. In Ambon Bay, there is Wayaime Port, which is a transit port for ships, and the port for oil tankers to loading and unloading their oil cargoes. One of the biggest oil spill incidents in Ambon Bay occurred in August 2005, when a fishing boat of MV Fu Yuan Fu F66 was exploded. This on-going oil spill occurrence can affect SS Aquila site sustainability due to corrosion issue, disrupt marine tourism activities, and harm marine biota in the surrounding area. One purpose of the study conducted by Research Institute for Coastal Resources and Vulnerability in 2016 is to determine the oil spill distribution inside the Ambon Bay which is threatening the SS Aquila shipwreck site. The method employed in this research is a hydrodynamic modelling approach of oil spill module. The result of oil spill modeling is then analysed spatially. The study results show the period of diesel oil distribution is reached ± 285 hours, with the spread direction is toward to Southwest (outer of the bay). The processes found in this oil spills event includes a process of dissolution,evaporation, and vertical dispersion. Based on the study, it can be concluded that the intake of the oil spill on Ambon Bay waters is undoubtedly threatening the preservation of the SS Aquila underwater cultural heritage along with its marine environment, and the development of marine heritage utilization.

Ulung Jantama Wisha,

Guntur Adhi Rahmawan

Nia Naelul Hasanah Ridwan

Gunardi Kusumah

The Museum of Underwater Archaeology

2017

English