Bunding resources

To mitigate these risks, it is essential to invest in appropriate spill kits and absorbent materials, as well as to implement effective bunding strategies. Adhering to guidelines set forth by regulatory bodies can help ensure that marine engineering workshops operate safely and responsibly.

What this page covers

This resource list brings together practical bunding guidance, inspection and maintenance pointers, and real-world incident links that highlight why secondary containment matters. It is written with marine engineering workshops in mind (oils, fuels, coolants, cutting fluids, cleaning chemicals and the added risk of drains leading to coastal waters or docks).

Quick-start checklist for bunding in marine workshops

• Map spill pathways: identify drains, interceptors, dock edges, door thresholds and any routes to surface water.
• Bundle the highest-risk points: bulk storage (drums, IBCs), dispensing areas, decant points, waste oil tanks, and chemical stores.
• Keep “ancillaries” inside containment: valves, filters, sight gauges, hoses, taps and fill points should be within the bunded area where possible.
• Plan for rainwater and washdown: bunds should not become a routine “drain to surface water”; manage liquids collected in bunds properly.
• Pair bunding with response: bunding slows and contains; absorbents and spill kits finish the job safely and quickly.
• Inspect and record: routine checks (cracks, seals, capacity, housekeeping, blocked drains, damaged pallets) are part of compliance.

Internal Serpro resources

Use these pages to build your site procedure and training pack:

• Bund design guidelines
• Bunding solutions
• Containment strategies
• Regular inspections
• Emergency response guidelines
• Spill response plans
• Oil spill kits
• Regulatory Compliance

UK guidance and legal references

If you store oils or fuels on-site, UK rules and “good practice” guidance typically expect secondary containment (bunds or drip trays) and controls to prevent pollution to water.

• UK Government guidance: Storing oil at a home or business
• Legislation (England): The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001
• HSE (COMAH) technical guidance: Secondary containment
• Pollution prevention overview: Pollution prevention for businesses

Marine and port-specific learning resources

Many oil spills are small and occur in or near ports during operational activities. In marine engineering settings, that can include bunkering support work, maintenance, hose handling, and transfer/decant tasks. ITOPF resources are particularly useful for workshops near docks and coastal waters.

• ITOPF overview: Oil spills in ports
• ITOPF case studies library: Case Studies

Real-world incidents and what they demonstrate

1) Westram Ltd (Scunthorpe) diesel pollution case

A UK transport operator was fined after diesel escaped from site storage and entered a nearby watercourse. While this was not a marine workshop, it is a clear example of how inadequate on-site containment and drainage pathways can turn a single release into a water pollution offence.

Case reference link: Commercial Motor archive report on the prosecution

Takeaway for marine workshops: treat every drain as a potential route to controlled waters; bund storage and dispensing points, and keep response equipment immediately to hand.

2) Buncefield (2005) containment lessons

The Buncefield incident is widely referenced in containment and bund integrity discussions because the investigation examined how primary, secondary (bunds) and tertiary containment can fail under extreme conditions and why containment needs to be treated as safety-critical infrastructure.

Official report links: The Buncefield Investigation (Cm. 7491)  |  Buncefield Initial Report (BMIIB)

Takeaway for marine workshops: bunds need integrity (joints, sealants, surfaces) plus a plan for liquids collected in containment (including contaminated water).

3) BOW JUBAIL (Port of Rotterdam, 2018) marine spill case study

An allision during berthing released bunker fuel oil and contaminated port infrastructure and numerous vessels. This illustrates how quickly port-side incidents spread and why preparedness (containment, rapid response, and protection of water) matters.

Case study link: ITOPF case study: BOW JUBAIL, Netherlands, 2018

Takeaway for marine workshops: where your work interfaces with quaysides, jetties or waterline operations, prioritise rapid isolation and oil-only absorbents appropriate for water use, and prevent workshop-origin spills from reaching the dock edge.

Recommended “bundle” of controls for marine engineering sites

• Prevention: bunded storage, drip trays under connections, good housekeeping and clear labelling.
• Containment: right-sized bunding at storage and decant points, plus drain protection where appropriate.
• Response: spill kits matched to the liquids present and the location (indoors, outdoors, near water).
• Competence: toolbox talks and simple escalation rules (when to stop work, isolate drains, and call external support).
• Documentation: inspection logs, incident records, waste handling notes and corrective actions.

Next steps

If you are updating your workshop controls, start with a short site walk: identify your top three spill pathways (usually drains, door thresholds and dock edges), then bundle those with bunding plus a correctly matched spill kit. For practical selection help, use: Bunding solutions and Oil spill kits.