Oil spill recovery vessel to Portugal
The Kvichak 30’ rapid response skimmer is a shallow water capable, near shore skimming vessel, well suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays, and harbours.
Kvichak Marine Industries of Seattle in the USA has delivered a 30' Rapid Response Oil Skimmer fitted with a Marco Pollution Control CL-1 Filterbelt oil recovery module to Administração do Porto de Sines (APS) of Portugal.
Construction of the new skimmer was supervised at Kvichak Marine in Seattle by representatives of APS and the vessel was delivered early, in less than 10 weeks from contract execution. This is the second skimming vessel fitted with the Marco Filterbelt in the APS spill response fleet. The first was delivered in 1976 and is still in service.
APS takes its responsibility to maintain environmental standards and robust response capabilities seriously, as the European rules are very strict . The Port has a well thought out spill containment system which has been designed to allow simple deployment of a containment boom from land based reels down concrete ramps. The boom can be deployed in successive layers very quickly in the event of a spill.
The new Kvichak skimmer has the ability to operate inside the containment boom, very near ships and docks. The skimmer is intended to augment the port’s existing fleet with additional capabilities including the ability to operate in restricted access locations such as the spaces under the platforms and between the piers of the terminals.
The Kvichak 30’ rapid-response skimmer is a shallow water capable, near shore skimming vessel and is well suited for use on oil spills in waterways, bays, and harbours. It can do this under its own power or whilst being towed.
The all aluminium skimmer is powered by twin 60 to 70hp outboards, which give it a response speed of over 17 knots, and a recovered oil capacity of 1,000 gallons. This highly specialised skimming system is adaptable to a variety of marine spill scenarios and is able to recover a very wide range of spills, from light sheens to thick weathered oils contaminated with debris.
Ross Hendrick at Kvichak told MJ, ‘Kvichak Marine has built a business and reputation over the past 30 years primarily with repeat clients. The Port of Sines and our domestic clients are great examples of this success.’
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