Integrated oil spill response: boom, blower, skimmer and storage as one set

In an oil spill the first hours matter most. Oil spreads, thins and weathers, and it becomes harder to contain and recover the longer it is left. Equipment bought piece by piece from different suppliers often needs adapting on site: hoses that do not fit, a skimmer too large for the power pack, or a boom with no way to inflate it quickly. A matched set avoids that. Boom, inflation, skimmer, power pack, hoses and storage arrive ready to connect.

What a matched set includes

• Inflatable booms that pack small on a boom reel and inflate as they are deployed.

• An air blower system: an engine-driven blower, hose reel and controls on one skid with a lifting frame.

• A skimmer and power pack, supplied together in the integrated oil containment and recovery system.

• Portable storage tanks for recovered oil and water.

• Where needed, shore sealing booms to protect the shoreline, and other containment booms for permanent or standby use.

How the integrated system works

The boom is towed or anchored in a U or J shape so that the current, wind or a vessel pushes floating oil into its apex. There the oil collects into a thicker layer, which is what a skimmer needs to work efficiently. A disc skimmer placed at the apex picks up the oil and pumps it to storage. The power pack drives the skimmer and pump. Because the parts are chosen together, the skimmer's recovery rate, the pump, the hose sizes and the storage volume are in step with each other.

Matching the parts

Part	Job	What to match
Boom	Contain and concentrate the oil	Height above and below the water to suit waves and current; compatible connectors along the whole length
Air blower	Inflate inflatable boom quickly	Air delivery and hose connections to suit the boom chambers and length
Skimmer	Recover the oil	Recovery rate and design suited to the oil type, light or heavy
Power pack	Drive the skimmer and pump	Hydraulic flow and pressure, and hose lengths to reach the apex
Storage	Hold recovered oil and water	Enough volume for the expected recovery between emptying

Planning a response set

• Start from the scenario. The largest credible spill, the type of oil and where it would happen: a jetty, a harbour, a river or open water.

• Allow for current. If the current across a boom is too strong, oil escapes underneath. Booms in flowing water are set at an angle to deflect oil towards a collection point rather than straight across the flow.

• Plan the access. How the equipment reaches the water: by vehicle, crane, jetty or vessel.

• Train and exercise. Crews who have deployed the equipment in a drill deploy it much faster in an incident.

• Look after stored equipment. Inflate and inspect booms, run engines and check hoses on a regular schedule.

Checklist: what to send us

• Response area: port, terminal, river, inland water or offshore

• Type of oil handled on site

• Length of boom you need to deploy and the deployment method

• Expected wave and current conditions

• Storage and transport arrangements

• Any requirements in your oil spill contingency plan

Frequently asked questions

Inflatable or solid flotation boom?

Inflatable booms pack small and deploy quickly from a reel, but they need a blower. Solid flotation booms need no inflation and are simple and robust, but take more storage space.

Can the blower work from a vessel?

Yes. The blower, hose reel and controls sit on one skid with a lifting frame, so the unit can be craned onto a vessel or a jetty.

How much storage do I need?

It depends on the skimmer's recovery rate and how often the storage can be emptied. Remember that recovered liquid includes water as well as oil.

See our full oil spill response range. Send us your details and we will come back with a proposal. Customers in the European Union can also order through our European company, VDT Europa OÜ in Tallinn, Estonia.

Related guide: ASTM standards for oil skimmers, and how Vens skimmers comply.