Fire Fighting Foams & Fire Extinguishing Chemicals, Fire Attack Systems, Environmentally Friendly Smart Foams
Any kind of oil spill, whether it’s out to sea, around coastlines, in rivers or near harbours can be potentially devastating for the local environment particularly birds, fish and marine mammals. When birds are exposed to contaminants like oil in the water their plumage is damaged interfering with its insulation ability and impairing flight. If affected by oil, birds will usually die unless they can be caught and cleaned up, as they cannot feed and have often ingested the oil. Mammals such as otters and seals are affected in a similar way, their coats are covered in oil leading to temperature fluctuations and hypothermia. If the oil gets into their stomach it will cause dehydration and prevent normal digestion.
Efforts to contain oil spills and reduce environmental impact, have resulted in the development of a number of innovative methods and products. One of the most effective is the containment boom or permanent or temporary floating barrier, which comes in a variety of purpose designed forms. They have several functions such as allowing oil to collect in thicker layers, enabling vacuums and skimmers to more easily collect the substance. Booms come in a range of forms and sizes specific to the location and type of water conditions they are intended for.
Booms can hold or slow down the movement of contamination, divert oil to a collection point or cordon off and protect a sensitive area. To counteract the consequences of floating oil pollution at sea, booms are made to be sturdy and quick to set up. One example is the Canarie boom, which has a honeycomb structure, and spacer floats in polyethylene foam, plus a double skirt and ballast chain. It is available with kits used for trawling and mooring the boom. Another containment boom, the versatile Barracuda, can be utilised at sea or within river areas such as estuaries, harbours and open coastal waters. Containment booms are extremely successful and are internationally renowned for efficiency when tackling oil spills.
Specialists in fire protection products 3F, are dedicated to limiting damage to the environment, and promote the manufacture of products which aim to address the outcome of natural and industrial disasters. They believe in active collaboration between companies and organisations to achieve this.