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

S0300-A6-MAN-060Net boom has been successful in cold weather spills of heavy oils. Decreasing water and air temperaturesincreases the oil’s viscosity, allowing nets to hold a high percentage of the oil. Deploymentof net boom can be easy and quick because it is very lightweight. Net boom is very good forFigure 4-3. External Tension Member Boom.keeping objects from fouling floating boom and making it ineffective. Net boom operation isshown in Figure 4-2.4-2.2.4 External Tension Member Boom. The tension member of inflatable, solid flotation orfence boom can be rigged externally as shown in Figure 4-3 to relieve stresses on the boom andimprove seakeeping properties.4-2.2.5 Fire Boom. Fire boom is constructed with components designed to withstand intense,long-burning fires and is used to contain burning oil as well as for conventional containment.Float outer fabric is PVC-based with the inner layers a combination of heat-resistant ceramics andabrasion-resistant stainless steel similar to steel-belted radial tires. Buoyancy is provided by aheat-resistant solid flotation core. Strength members are similar to that used in conventionalboom.4-2.2.6 Sorbent Boom. Sorbent boom is made from oil-sorbent material encased in a netted fiberthat keeps the boom intact but allows contact with oil. Most sorbent materials repel water, absorbup to 20 times their own weight in oil, are long lasting and usually do not deteriorate or disintegrate.This boom can be effective for protecting sensitive areas when placed inshore of barrierboom or net boom across small, still waterways. It absorbs sheen and light layers of oil that getpast containment boom and keeps contamination from shore plants, beaches and soils.Sorbent type booms are not designed to contain oil from spreading in open waters like floatingbarrier booms, nor do they have great tensile strength. Sorbent booms do not have any appreciable4-7