Locating oil spill response equipment and facilities: A cluster analysis approach

The response to marine accidental spillage of oil requires careful advance planning to ensure that the impact of an oil spill is minimized. In this paper a binary integer mathematical model based on the cluster analysis approach is developed to aid in determining the optimal sites for locating oil spill response equipment and facilities within a semienclosed waterway. The application of the model has been illustrated through a numerical example using hypothetical but representative data to determine optimal sites for locating oil spill response equipment and facilities in the Arabian Gulf region.