2.1. Sea conditions
This is the most critical factor affecting spill control and it is
described in terms of wave height and period. Wave heights of 1e
2 ft and periods of 1e3S render most booms ineffective. Also, wave
heights above 6 ft make control operations difficult for small
vessels (Ladd and Smith, 1970). For example, cleanup efforts were
restricted for two weeks following the Amoco Cadiz accident of
1978, as a result of the isolated location of the grounding and rough
seas (Enzler, 2006).