ANTI-POLLUTION
Oil Spill Recovery Vessels (OSRV) and Waste Collection Vessels (WCV) are units specifically designed to respond to environmental emergencies involving oil spill response or solid waste collection in port and coastal areas. These vessels combine advanced technology with an optimized design to provide a fast and efficient response to marine pollution incidents or situations.
Main Characteristics
- Adapted dimensions: With an approximate length of 12 to 13 meters and a beam of between 4 and 5 meters, these vessels are ideal for operating in restricted areas such as ports and canals. Their size allows for agile maneuvering and rapid mobilization in case of emergencies. These dimensions can be increased in the case of units operating in coastal areas.
- Storage capacity: Even smaller vessels have storage tanks with a capacity of 10 to 15 cubic meters to collect solid waste, crude oil and other hydrocarbons. These systems can store large volumes in short periods of time (approximately 10 tons every 15 minutes).
- Spill collection systems: Equipped with bow collectors, these vessels can recover different types of hydrocarbons: light, heavy and even those of high viscosity. The efficiency of the system ensures that the presence of water in the tank is minimal, generally less than 5%.
- Solid waste collection systems:
- Dedicated solid waste collection units have specialized equipment for the extraction and onboard storage of all types of debris found floating on or between waters near the surface. An efficient way to perform the extraction usually consists of redirecting the water sheet to a tank thanks to specially designed bow forms and filtering with sieves the waste, which is lifted by a hydraulic system to tanks on deck.
- Specialized equipment:
- High performance suction pumps.
- Anti-pollution containment barriers to limit spill expansion.
- Davits with up to half-ton capacity for deployment of equipment and booms.
- Ample deck space for storage of equipment, booms or solid waste containers.
- Variable geometry bow that allows to increase the sweeping area and therefore the collection rate.
- Ballast system that allows for optimal draft and seating for the collection.
- Forced circulation tank using the propeller itself and a retractable tunnel that increases the flow of water entering the tank.
- Multipurpose configuration in vessels that can be adapted with specific interchangeable equipment to respond to all types of environmental contamination situations.
- Fast Response: These vessels are designed for immediate readiness, which allows to act in the shortest possible time once a spill is detected.
- Compliance with International Regulations: All vessels comply with rigorous regulations and standards of construction and operation to ensure safety and efficiency in their interventions.
Applications and Operations
Oil spill response vessels are essential in operations such as: – Containment and clean-up of spills in ports, canals and coastal areas – Prevention of the spread of oil through containment booms – Oil recovery to avoid severe environmental impacts – Storage and transport of polluting waste to appropriate treatment facilities These vessels are operated by environmental protection agencies, maritime security forces and port entities as part of their emergency intervention protocols.
In summary, anti-pollution vessels represent an advanced and reliable technological solution to mitigate the effects of both marine pollution from solid waste and oil spills, thus protecting marine ecosystems and sea-dependent economic activities.
