10 
Rauterberg - Current position of German spill managers 
Zone I < 10m 
Generally not 
recommended in 
Wadde n sea, exception 
estuaries und special 
conditions, locally 
limited 
Figure 3.1 : Zoning of the North Sea depending on water depth for dispersant use (Umweltbundesamt, 
Report 10204 216/05). 
Zone III > 20m 
applicationof 
dispersants possible 
Zone II 10m-20m 
single case decision 
limited use of 
dispersant possible 
In zone III with a water depth of more than 20 m the use of dispersants is generally possible. 
Due to research results the water body in these areas is big enough to enable a proper dilu 
tion of the oil/dispersant mixture which keeps harmful effects to the marine environment on a 
low level. 
In zone II, the water depth ranges between 10 m and 20 m and the use of dispersants is 
considered as an option on the basis of a single case decision with limited amounts. 
In zone I with water depth below 10 m the use of dispersants is not recommended with ex 
ception of the estuaries of the big German rivers Elbe and Weser, locally limited. 
The concept of 2007 does not contain any hard criteria how to decide if the use of dispersant 
is better for the marine environment than letting the oil drift ashore. The benefit of the use of 
dispersants for the ecosystem has to be indicated by a net environmental benefit analysis 
(NEBA). However, a NEBA for the coastal waters of Germany as preparation for the decision 
making process prior to an oil spill has not yet been conducted and would have to be per 
formed during the spill. The use of dispersants in the Baltic Sea was still no option. 
Even with the current concept the mechanical recovery of oil remains the priority response 
strategy in Germany. The main aim is still to remove as much oil as possible from the water 
surface in order to minimize damage to the ecosystem. Therefore, equipment acquisition and 
training has mainly been focussed on mechanical recovery. Until now, no dispersant stock 
piles have been built and no dispersant specific equipment has been purchased by Germa 
ny- 
Intended revisions of the spill response concept 
In 2016, Germany plans to revise the dispersants concept from 2007. Some key points of the 
new concept are to find situations and areas along the coastline which would benefit from the 
use of dispersants in case of an oil spill.