The initial 21 day contract period was extended due to the magnitude of the operation, with British Shield used as a storage and transfer unit for recovered oil, moving between locations on demand and transporting oil to the Repsol Refinery at La Coruna.

British Shield has a double skinned bottom, the ability to create double skinned sides, and is believed to be the only oil recovery vessel in the world to have fixed steam heating coils in its tanks. The latter have proved invaluable during this project as steam is needed to heat the oil to alter its viscosity for easier hydrocarbon delivery.

In its first transfer the vessel loaded a cargo of recovered oil totalling 2,067 tonnes from the vessels Far Scout and Arca as well as from a shore storage facility at Villagarcia for delivery to and discharge at the La Coruna refinery. British Shield has already handled in excess of 7,750 tonnes of oil.

Briggs earlier participation in the Sea Empress and Erika spill incidents had inspired the installation of additional equipment on board British Shield which ensured sufficient materials and consumables, enabling Briggs to provide customised portable heating coils for each of the other support vessels located at the Prestige incident.

No other team had considered the difficulties when oil becomes weathered and viscous, making it extremely difficult to transfer or pump.

MJ Information No: 18041