Abstract:
An apparatus to convey and seal a material recovery and separation container (MRSC) that is water and air permeable for in-place material recovery and separation of a primary product of clean water and clean air and a secondary product of floating contaminants such as an oil spill or other pollution from a composite mixture of products at the surface of water or at depths (oil plume). The apparatus has a horizontal platform base for support and to provide a lay-down area, provide an operator support area, and provide a structure for connecting to a local containment boom and standoff. One embodiment is a hook and rail conveying system brings the MRSC to the composite mixture, through the composite mixture for collection, to a container closing area and to a lay-down area. The MRSC is closed after filling.
Abstract:
An apparatus to convey and seal a material recovery and separation container (MRSC) that is water and air permeable for in-place material recovery and separation of a primary product of clean water and clean air and a secondary product of floating contaminants such as an oil spill or other pollution from a composite mixture of products at the surface of water or at depths (oil plume). The apparatus has a horizontal platform base for support and to provide a lay-down area, provide an operator support area, and provide a structure for connecting to a local containment boom and standoff. One embodiment is a hook and rail conveying system brings the MRSC to the composite mixture, through the composite mixture for collection, to a container closing area and to a lay-down area. The MRSC is closed after filling.
Abstract:
A Containment Boom and Standoff has two embodiments, a Dual Plank Assembly and a Dual Pole Assembly. The Dual Plank Assembly is a pair of buoyant planks covered and connected with waterproof and oil impermeable material with sealed poles inside the buoyant planks and mechanical connectors on both ends of both sealed poles. The assembly has sufficient buoyancy during deployment in water so the top of the assembly will float high enough in water to block the passage of a floating oil spill over the top and low enough to prevent oil from going underneath. Structure positioning magnets attach the assembly to an aquatic structure to provide a localized containment boom that is efficient to use as a containment boom and/or a standoff. When only a standoff function is desired, a Dual Pole Assembly (the Dual Plank Assembly without the buoyant plank and without the protective cover) may be deployed.
Abstract:
A method of using a portable external modular filtering system is disclosed where each layer of filtering assembly is assembled by attaching the appropriate multi-side vertical frame to a horizontal platform and attaching an appropriate filter material leaving slack for the filter material to create a temporary filter pool. Macro-particle, micro-particle or nano-particle filtration is accomplished using multiple filters and layers. An optional horizontal top layer may serve as a shock absorber to dissipate the force of the discharge and to collect large pieces of debris. Additional serial units are used depending on the speed of filtering desired. After the discharge is finished exiting the ship and is filtered, the filter material and the contaminants can be rolled up and put into plastic bags to be reported, tested, studied and/or destroyed as appropriate for the type and level of contaminant and the local regulations.
Abstract:
A Hull Band to prevent contamination transfer. The device can protect a ship hull from contamination from a floating oil spill or to protect the environment from contamination transfer from inside a vessel such as contamination leaking from a garbage truck. Band pleats fit the hull band to an individual hull shape; vertical strips of material to add stiffness to the hull band; weighted hems add tension to the hull band to keep it in place; horizontal securing devices hold the hull band in place; grommets or shackles secure the hull band panels to attach lines for belaying the hull band to cleats or rails. Options include waterproof band panels, and securing of the hull panel with magnet strips and/or double sided tape. The Hull Band can be disposable or designed for repetitive cleaning and use. The Hull Band may also protect complimentary tools such as oil containment booms.
Abstract:
A Mobile Environmental Berm assembly provides an immediately deployable offshore contain and absorb area to stop primary waterborne contaminates before these contaminates spread to secondary and tertiary areas such as shorelines, wetlands or fresh water supplies. Each Mobile Environmental Berm assembly has a plurality of Berm Arms that are made of a strong rigid material where each Berm Arm has a plurality of planar surfaces provided for vertical and/or horizontal close-coupled stacking with other surfaces such as those on other Berm Arms, on relatively horizontal or vertical surfaces or for connection to other accessories. Filter nets attach to the Mobile Environmental Berm assembly to allow for water column filtering below or adjacent to a floating or submerged Mobile Environmental Berm. Filter nets vary in size according to the application for filtering macro-, micro or nanoscopic particles such as oil, chemical or biological contaminates.
Abstract:
An External Filtering and Absorbing Device for Use in a Local Containment Area contains filter material with a mesh size not less than 50 microns for removing contaminants from ballast or bilge water from a ship or effluent from a storm drain. Examples of contaminants removed are aquatic nonindigenous species such as Fish, Zebra and Quagga Mussels, Asiatic Clam, Aquatic Weeds, Green Crabs, or other suspended particle contaminants. Filtering is accomplished above the ambient water allowing easy visual verification and visual gratification of the efficacy of the filter unlike closed on-board systems. Water and oil permeate the filter and flow into a local containment area where oil is absorbed by absorbent pads held in pockets. The filter is easily removed and can be sent to authorities to demonstrate compliance with environmental standards. Water sampling containers or instruments used with the assembly allow for further compliance monitoring.
Abstract:
The invention is a portable external modular filtering and contamination removal system for a ship. A plurality of non-fixed position modular filter assemblies filter and remove macro-, micro- and nano-particle contaminates ship-side. The filter assemblies may be vessel-based or port based. A floating access and maintenance unit provides easy access to the filter assemblies. The filter assemblies move in cooperation with each other to spread the discharge over multiple units. A flow collecting and diverting apparatus seals against the ship to prevent discharge from running down the side of the ship with a directional discharge to divert discharge to waiting filter assemblies. The filter assemblies may provide their own buoyancy, obtain some buoyancy from vertical support lines from the deck of the ship or shift the buoyancy needs partially or wholly to the floating access and maintenance unit.
Abstract:
A Local Containment Boom and Standoff or Enviro Boom® is described in three embodiments all of which are immediately deployable: Boom Arms, a Dual Pole Standoff, and Dual Chamber Boom Arms. The Boom Arms comprise buoyant material covered with impermeable material with rigid sealed poles inside the Boom Arms. The Dual Chamber Boom Arms have an upper chamber for flotation material and lower chamber for water ballast. Both types of Boom Arms sit partially submerged to block oil from passing both over and under the Boom Arm. Boom Arms are immediately deployable for booming operations, pre-booming operations and quick response spill containment. Structure positioning magnets attach the Boom Arms, Dual Pole Standoffs or Dual Chamber Boom Arms to an aquatic structure. The Dual Pole Standoff comprises sealed poles with structure positioning magnets to stand off other booms, including traditional booms, from an aquatic structure.
Abstract:
An External Filtering and Absorbing Device for Use in a Local Containment Area contains filter material with a mesh size not less than 50 microns for removing contaminants from ballast or bilge water from a ship or effluent from a storm drain. Examples of contaminants removed are aquatic nonindigenous species such as Fish, Zebra and Quagga Mussels, Asiatic Clam, Aquatic Weeds, Green Crabs, or other suspended particle contaminants. Filtering is accomplished above the ambient water allowing easy visual verification and visual gratification of the efficacy of the filter unlike closed on-board systems. Water and oil permeate the filter and flow into a local containment area where oil is absorbed by absorbent pads held in pockets. The filter is easily removed and can be sent to authorities to demonstrate compliance with environmental standards. Water sampling containers or instruments used with the assembly allow for further compliance monitoring.