Marine Accidents in the Brazilian Amazon: Potential Risks to the Aquatic Environment

Jassiel V. H. Fontes (), Paulo R. R. de Almeida, Irving D. Hernández, Harlysson W. S. Maia, Edgar Mendoza, Rodolfo Silva, Elvis J. O. Santander, Rayrima T. S. F. Marques, Nádia Letícia do N. Soares and Ricardo Almeida Sanches
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Jassiel V. H. Fontes: Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnologias Navais e Sustentáveis (TNS), Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil
Paulo R. R. de Almeida: Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnologias Navais e Sustentáveis (TNS), Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil
Irving D. Hernández: Núcleo de Estruturas Oceânicas (NEO), Programa de Engenharia Oceânica, COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21945-970, Brazil
Harlysson W. S. Maia: Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnologias Navais e Sustentáveis (TNS), Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil
Edgar Mendoza: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Rodolfo Silva: Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Elvis J. O. Santander: Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnologias Navais e Sustentáveis (TNS), Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil
Rayrima T. S. F. Marques: Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnologias Navais e Sustentáveis (TNS), Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil
Nádia Letícia do N. Soares: Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnologias Navais e Sustentáveis (TNS), Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil
Ricardo Almeida Sanches: Grupo de Pesquisa Tecnologias Navais e Sustentáveis (TNS), Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-20

Abstract: Although the Brazilian Amazon is still one of the most well-conserved environments in the world, it contains an extensive network of waterways that are used by a wide range of vessels that transport both people and cargo, as well as undertaking other activities. To plan environmental risk disaster strategies here, the potential effects of technological disasters, including marine accidents, must be taken into consideration. This paper seeks to redress this by providing a review of the possible risks to the Amazon aquatic environment that could result from various types of marine accidents. While the Amazon region has been researched worldwide, both extensively and intensively, regarding land use, climate, and environmental characterization, work in this field is scarce. A review of the main environmental characteristics of the Amazon is provided, including a description of common marine accidents that have occurred in this region. The environmental impacts experienced by the aquatic environment due to marine accidents worldwide were reviewed from the scientific literature to examine potential risks to the Amazon waterways. It was found that marine accidents, such as fire/explosions and the sinking of ships with different types of cargo, can cause the spillage of oil and other hazardous materials, causing catastrophic damage to the aquatic environment. Changes in the hydrological characteristics of rivers, including unexpected changes in the weather, such as heavy rain and winds, may also influence pollutant dispersion. Initiatives to deal with these technological hazards in the Amazon basin should also consider the potential social and environmental impacts in the protected areas of this region. It is hoped that this paper can serve as a starting point toward the governance and planning of risk disaster management actions, which are aimed at reducing the negative environmental impacts caused by marine accidents in the region.

Keywords: Amazon basin; environmental impact; marine accident; risk management; technological disaster; sinking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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