Containment Boom

Basics

• A Tool used to contain Oil Spills and similar spills in a Liquid Environment such as Waterways or the Ocean
• Certain types can be used on the Land, or have equivalents

Classification

• Typically classified by function, then size, but there aren’t “standards” as much as vaugely cohesive Industry Jargon

By Mechanism

• You have boom that acts as a Barrier (think most boom)
• You also have boom that can partially act as a barrier, but also has an adsorbing function
  • Most of this type does poorly as a barrier, short of very small volume spills or if “doubled up” in layers etc

By Size

• ”Harbor Boom” vs “Offshore Boom” etc

Main Components

Float

• One side has a “float” inside it to keep it at/above the surface
• Typically Polystyrene Foam
  • Although from an Intrinsically Litter Proof approach, replacing this would be nice

Barrier Material

• A somewhat thick PVC Canvass tends to be used over all the float and other components making up most of the boom

Sink

• The lower side of the boom typically has a Chain to make it heavy and keep the “skirt” below the water line to reduce things flowing past the boom with waves etc
  • Although sufficient current and/or poor placement can still lead to stuff going under/around etc

Fittings

• Some Grommets for rope/chain on occasion
• Most have a semi-standardized interlocking metal section with holes for 2 pins as well to allow “sticks” of boom to be merged as many times as needed for larger spills

Potential Routes of Development

• Biodegradable Boom, or at LEAST plastic foam-free Boom (or Non-Biodegradable plastic foam at least)
  • Cleaning up one form of pollution (Oil/Petroleum Products) and replacing it with another (Plastic Litter / Micro/Nano-Plastic Pollution etc) isn’t great
    • May be a necessary evil for a while though so not the BIGGEST issue

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on Containment Boom