NEW UK COUNTER POLLUTION EQUIPMENT TESTED IN BELFAST
New high-tech equipment that can be deployed anywhere in the UK to clean up oil spills has today (Wednesday 11 June) been put to the test in Belfast Harbour.
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has recently purchased two new pieces of equipment known as the NOFI Current Buster 6. This is the very latest in up to date technology and was developed following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response in 2010.
The latest piece of kit can operate five times faster, as the
hydrodynamic shape reduces the drag force and allows the system to move
more easily through the water. This model also has debris nets, wave
dampers and a splash-over cover to avoid spillages. With an oily water
separator it has a temporary storage capacity of 70m2.
The MCA is often called upon to deal with a wide range of pollution
incidents off the UK coast and has a detailed plan of action and
equipment in place to deal with such issues.
Gail Robertson, the MCA’s Counter Pollution Resource Manager, said:
“The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has a thorough response procedure
in place to deal with many different types of emergencies at sea that
cause pollution, or threatens to cause pollution.
“Demonstrations like the one in Belfast Harbour today show how our
equipment is fit for purpose. These two NOFI Current Buster 6 will
enhance and boost our response capability around the whole of the UK.”
Attending the demonstration, Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said:
“There have been some major oil spills at sea in recent years in
other parts of the world, which caused devastating damage to the marine
and coastal environment and to the wider economy in those regions.
"Given
that the North of Ireland imports all of its oil by sea and that
several major shipping routes pass close to our coast, it is not
inconceivable that a serious marine oil spill could occur on or close to
our coastline.
"It is therefore vital that we tackle such incidents with
the most modern of technology. The fact that we now have equipment
which is five times faster in cleaning up such serious pollution is most
welcome.”
The MCA is the UK authority that responds
to pollution from shipping and offshore installations. The MCA is
regularly called upon to react to a wide range of maritime incidents and
have developed a comprehensive response procedure to deal with any
emergency at sea that causes pollution, or threatens to cause pollution.
Further pictures are available on the MCA image library: https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/press/Counter-Pollution-demo%2C-Belfast