Editing Oil spill (section)

=== The impact on port activity ===
Ports are major hubs for economic activity; thus, an oil spill in or near a port can have significant consequences.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Brien |title=Oil spills in ports |journal=Ports and Harbours |date=2006 |pages=34–35}}</ref>  During and following a spill, all boats entering or leaving the port must be closely managed in order to prevent further spread. Furthermore, specialist cleaning contractors must be hired to effectively clean the various port structures.<ref name=ITOPF/> Oil spills are relatively regular occurrences in ports, as small spills often happen due to the large volume of boats, and these are not as well documented in the media as larger events are.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=O'Brien |title=Oil Spills in ports |journal=Ports and Harbors |date=2006 |pages=34–35}}</ref>  However, these spills must still be dealt with, and they can still have damaging economic repercussions.<ref name="Modeling Logistical & Economical Im">{{cite journal |last1=Sarder, Chad and Richard |title=Modeling Logistical & Economical Impact of Oil Spill on the Gulf Coast |journal=Proceedings of the 2011 Industrial Engineering Research Conference |date=2011}}</ref>  Both the incident and the response require expensive and time-consuming management which is disruptive to port activity.<ref name="Modeling Logistical & Economical Im"/>  Furthermore, special care must be taken during clean-up operations to ensure that the oil does not get stuck under the quayside, as this could act as a continual source of oil contamination.<ref name="Modeling Logistical & Economical Im"/>  This can also be seen with sea defenses; should the oil penetrate deep into the structures, they may become a source of secondary pollution.<ref name=ITOPF/>  Therefore, it is crucial for ports to manage and mitigate any oil spills, in order to limit the damage to ships and shipping operations. Otherwise, should large disruption occur, the economic damage can be extensive due to costly clean-up processes and delayed shipments.