U.S. Navy Ship Salvage Manual Volume 6 - Oil Spill Response

S0300-A6-MAN-0604-2 CONTAINMENT BARRIERSContainment barriers prevent oil from spreading and contaminating sensitive areas. The mostcommon barriers consist of floating containment boom. Pneumatic, chemical and water barrierscan also contain oil, although not as effectively as floating booms.Barriers are put in place to:4-2• Keep oil offshore and contained for removal by mechanical skimmers.• Prevent oil from reaching waterways or other areas where oil spread will be accelerated.• Keep oil concentrated in a small area to enhance mechanical removal.• Divert oil into afloat skimmer systems.• Direct oil onto the shore in selected locations for controlled pickup by manual or vacuumtruck collection systems.• Stop oil from re-entering a body of water from the shore as the tide cycles.• Divert oil from sensitive areas.• Establish an in-place, precautionary containment barrier during oil transfer operations.The COMNAVSEASYSCOM and COMNAVFACENGCOM booms are available for oil spillresponse at ESSM and NOSCDR storage sites. Table 4-1 shows the various types of containmentboom and the applications for which they are best suited.4-2.1 Containment Boom. The most common barrier systems are floating containment boomsconsisting of several sections or one continuous length of material supported by a buoyant system.There are many types of boom, but most include the following features:• Flotation by air chambers or solid buoyant material.• A barrier that extends below the buoyant system to prevent the passage of oil.• Freeboard to prevent or reduce splashover.• Longitudinal tension member (wire rope, chain or synthetic fiber).• Ballast weights or chain near the skirt bottom to provide stability.Boom is constructed with tough, lightweight materials that are durable and abrasion-resistant yetallow ease of handling. It must be flexible enough to perform in widely varying weather, currents,