Ultra-Rapid Boom

It’s both a supplement and a paradigm shift in oil spill response operations. Typically, booms and operators arrive hours after the spill occurs, making the devastating consequences unavoidable. Ultra-Rapid Boom supplements this response with a portable, lightweight barrier that can be kept onsite for immediate deployment. With Ultra-Rapid Boom, oil spills can be contained in minutes with only two operators and a small boat, drastically improving clean-up capacity and the effectiveness of the full response.

It’s similar to a boom in that it’s deployed in the water to contain oil. However, as opposed to regular booms that tow the oil that’s already spread, Ultra-Rapid Boom stops spills from spreading right when it occurs. It’s deployed around the spill until it’s fully contained. This way, the oil is kept from spreading into large areas or splitting into multiple spots. Ultra-Rapid Boom is also the smallest and lightest oil spill containment solution available and can be stored onsite to be deployed immediately by anyone.

Yes, regular booms are often cheaper, but they are not an effective first-response solution. The cost of booms used during a spill is only a small portion of the total spill cost, and they can take 3–12 hours to be deployed, escalating potential damage. Regular booms require large trained teams, expensive equipment, and multiple boats. In addition, clean-up costs, damage costs, and reputational risks must be considered. Ultra-Rapid Boom drastically reduces the damage caused by a spill through its immediate-response capabilities, significantly lowering these costs without the extra manpower and equipment. Finally, consider the cost of the spill if you don’t contain it effectively.

No. The damage during these critical hours grows exponentially. Over six hours, oil spreads and splits across a large area into an extremely thin layer. The volatile materials will evaporate quickly, while the rest of the oil coalesces and sinks down the water column. An immediate response would prevent this, leading to a much more effective clean-up and less damage.

There is no limit because it’s modular. Each 50 ft cartridge can be easily connected to the next.

The unique patented design and geometry enable Ultra-Rapid Boom to ride the waves rather than fight them. The smart design creates very low drag and is hardly affected by the wind. With its submerged, angular-shaped ballast, Ultra-Rapid Boom significantly reduces entrainment.

Yes. However, the advantage of Ultra-Rapid Boom is that it doesn’t need to be towed. It’s deployed while encircling the spill. It is towable and comes with two powerful straps and special handles that enable easy manoeuvring.

Ultra-Rapid Boom underwent two separate weeks of successful testing at OHMSETT and was tested offshore in the Mediterranean Sea. It was also tested in the Pacific. In all cases, it was found to be very effective.

Ultra-Rapid Boom was tested at Sea State 4, with wave heights of up to 6 ft (2 m), wind speeds of up to 25 knots, and water temperatures between 32°F and 86°F (0°C and 30°C).

Each system is 15 m long and is stored in a cartridge weighing only 19.6 kg. With its compact size and weight, the cartridges require very little storage space. The system can be transported by hand, car, compact boat, or helicopter and deployed by two operators using a small lifeboat-sized vessel.

Properly stored equipment does not require maintenance. We recommend checking the cartridges and stainless-steel components once a year. Ultra-Rapid Boom should also be checked for water absorption. If no problems are identified, the cartridges should be repacked. If the marine-grade 316 stainless steel is rusted, remove the rust with a suitable rust remover. Do not leave any sharp edges that could damage Ultra-Rapid Boom.

Yes. Its specific gravity is similar to water, so it rides the waves as part of the ocean and won’t sink. It will not capsize and will return to its natural position.

The draft height is 12 cm and the skirt is 20 cm. Because it is built from small sections connected with flexible material, it easily follows the curvature of the water. The revolutionary design was tested at OHMSETT and retained a 7.5 cm-thick layer of oil. The test result stated “No Losses,” meaning no oil passed under or over Ultra-Rapid Boom.

At the end of June 2018, Ultra-Rapid Boom was used to help combat a major 200-ton spill at the Port of Rotterdam. A 1,000 m Ultra-Rapid Boom was deployed in under two hours. Ultra-Rapid Boom was also used during an innovative technologies demonstration at a natural oil seep offshore in the Pacific.

Ultra-Rapid Boom is built with a double-strap inner “backbone” that withstands pulling forces of up to 1.1 tonnes—more than required for deployment and containment. Ultra-Rapid Boom’s external layer is a custom-designed, multi-laminate film. Boats can pass over it, and the boom will resurface intact. Sixteen connected components, totalling 400 m, have been towed from one side. At OHMSETT, towing was successfully tested at speeds of up to 0.7 knots.