The Spill Python™ project (EU Oilblock), presents a disruptive solution to improve the efficiency of oil spill response (OSR) systems. By containing spills BEFORE they spread, our primary containment system will fundamentally alter the way organizations, policymakers, and regulators prepare for – and respond to oil spills. SpillPython’s goal is to bring to market the first unmanned, remote-controlled vessel, equipped with a compact, easily deployable oil spill containment system at standby positions in ports, oil terminals, onboard large ships, oil rigs and other high-risk locations (similar to sprinkler systems pre-installed in commercial buildings to stop fires). Just minutes after a spill is detected, the vessel can deploy hundreds of meters of T-Fence® boom (floating barrier) around the spill. The oil will be kept contained until the responder’s teams will arrive at the scene and recover the oil.
Up to this moment, ports, oil terminals, oil rigs, and tankers are unprovided with immediate response equipment to stop a spill from spreading during the first minutes of the incident. The current emergency systems are bulky and heavy; the operation is done by a team of at least 8-10 persons using two vessels and, it’s a risky job for the responders. No wonder only 7%-15% of the oil is recovered. The consequences are disastrous.
Having containment equipment on-board would help minimize the consequences of oil spills. However, no practical solution exists so far and current solutions are bulky and cannot be deployed immediately. A typical boom weighs 2-20 Kg/m and is stored in batches of up to 150 m that together with the reel can weigh 1-4 tonnes. They are stored in central locations and require a trained crew to deploy, as well as machinery. Being brought to the spill from afar in limited quantities, they cannot contain the spill, but can only serve as a clean-up device.
In contrast to existing methods that currently take 12 to 24 hours to respond and begin cleaning up an oil spill, we offer Oil Spill Spread Stopping by Instant Containment. A first emergency oil-spill containment solution for immediate response and engagement. We will put the disruptive Spill Python vessel in the market, a cutting-edge, remote-controlled unmanned vessel developed by L3 ASV, equipped with an innovative boom -HARBO’s T-Fence™- that weighs less than 1/15th of a traditional boom and that takes up a fraction of the storage space. Our innovative Zero Time to Spill system enables immediate deployment of up to 150-250 m of boom at the spill location in less than 10 minutes to encircle and contain the spill, with no need for specialty crews. This will significantly limit associated environmental damage, avoid large collecting/clean-up expenses while offering superb cost-efficiency, and minimize financial damages for companies, and all this is done without risking human lives.
