Introduction
The Deepwater Horizon and the Ixtoc oil spills have been the greatest in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1979, the Ixtoc platform experienced the biggest oil leak ever in history. In 2010, BP Company reported one of the largest gas leaks, which led to subsequent explosions that killed 11 people. The Harte Research Institute and BBC released reports on the causes and effects of the BP spill and Ixtoc disaster.
BP Communication Strategy
BP presented its disaster report in a review published by Ernst and Young, with aims of briefing stakeholders, investors, communities, and consumers. The company created a breakdown of activities from the time the disaster struck, through the losses, and finally to the response measures. The strategy was instrumental in revealing the company’s social responsibilities and its commitment to consumer satisfaction. The first section sympathizes with families and friends of those affected by the disaster (Ernst & Young par. 1). In the main section, the company illustrates its financial commitment to mitigation strategies.
BP also offers its commitment to research to ensure the BP fails to demonstrate its commitment to public safety when it fails to admit responsibility for the technical breakdowns. Additionally, the company does not include any effects of using dispersants during the oil spill. Whereas the traditional oil spill responses relied on floating booms, skimmer ships, and controlled burns, the use of dispersants created challenges in separating oil from seawater. The company has also scheduled its financial commitment towards reviving tourism and fishing, which were worst hit by the oil spill. The commitment does not stipulate the extent within which the company will lay its resources to address the specific issues that led to deep-sea spills.
Report by the Harte Research Institute
The Harte Research Institute also addressed the BP spill. Although the institute was involved in post-spill research, it gathered information from experts in order to understand the causes, damages, and possible control measures. According to the researcher, BP erred in introducing dispersants, which interfered with normal clean-up activities (Harte Research Institute par. 2).
The mitigation strategies reported by the research institute include mapping of shorelines to detect any change (Harte Research Institute par. 9). Additionally, shoreline models will be constructed and distributed to various geospatial laboratories. One of the advantages of the communication strategy used by the firm over others adopted after oil spills is focusing on practical mitigation strategies. It presents detailed accounts of what transpired during the spill. One of the accounts includes the effects of the oil on the microbial community in the region. In fact, it presents statements made by professionals, hence enhancing its authenticity and reliability.
Although the report admits that errors were committed during the recovery process, it proposes future solutions to similar disasters. The proactive approach to the specific oil spill is expected to increase trust in the firm. The other advantage is that the company presents its rationale for studying the BP spill. It argues that the findings from the spill will contribute towards identifying better solutions in future spills. Despite the advantages of this communication strategy, the report has one serious disadvantage. The company does not present any information to illustrate its financial commitment towards finding alternatives to dispersants.
BBC Report
In 2010, BBC published an article on the 1979 Ixtoc spill that took more than nine months to control. The introduction presented the causes, magnitude, and damages incurred during the spill. Similarly, it highlighted different control measures adopted by Pemex, a Mexico’s state-owned company. In the body paragraphs, the article presented conflicting arguments from researchers and fishermen.
Whereas some researchers argued that the impact was reduced by winds and other natural factors, others claimed that many fishermen were severely affected by the disaster (Miglierini par. 11). The article was beneficial because it reported different views and perceptions of victims and researchers. Additionally, it attempted to predict the effects of the BP spill to the ecosystem. The last section proposed long-term solutions collected from drilling experts.
The communication strategy adopted does not present biased information. In fact, it presented views of victims, drilling experts, and researchers. The collective information focused on facts and attempted to create awareness over the BP spill. Additionally, it assessed the mitigation measures applied after the spill for errors and assumptions that caused the deaths and serious damages to the ecosystem. Finally, it presented professional views on long-term mitigation measures along the Gulf of Mexico. One of the drawbacks was failure by the author to quantify damages caused by the disaster. Although it presented unbiased reports, it failed to explain how the ecosystem was affected by the oil spill.
Communication Analysis
BP focused on improving its PR by consoling with the affected communities. Additionally, it presented its financial plan and commitment to finding a long-term solution. However, it did not admit to any technical liability during and after the disaster. Harte Research Institute concentrated on faults committed during and after the disaster but failed to establish a connection with the affected communities like BP did. BBC also recognized the losses suffered by surrounding communities. The approach taken by BBC and BP was aimed at building trust with the affected communities.
Works Cited
Ernst & Young. Deepwater Horizon accident and response. 2014. Web.
Harte Research Institute. Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Four Years Later. n.d. Web.
Miglierini, Julian. Mexicans still haunted by 1979 Ixtoc spill. 2010. Web.