The first vessel to fight pollution derived from hydrocarbon spillage has been successfully tested during an exercise which allowed testing and validation of the vessel in multiple scenarios. The vessel’s structure is reinforced with carbon fiber specifically targeting rigidity in order to achieve much lower noise and vibration levels than usual. The vessel, produced by Portuguese company – SWB, Seismic Workboats, Lda – headquartered in Peniche, was designed and developed by engineering teams from Portugal, England, USA and Norway and built at the Estaleiros Navais de Peniche (Peniche Naval Shipyards).
This is the first boat the company has produced to combat pollution derived from hydrocarbon spillage. Just as development of the vessel was being completed, approval was given for a project to develop a pollution response vessel able to operate in dangerous environments, in particular those derived from chemical accidents under P2020 (Portugal 2020, a partnership agreement between Portugal and the European Commission bringing together the expertise of five European Structural and Investment Funds).
In October, the National Maritime Authority in Portimão, Algarve (AMN), carried out an important validation test – designated Atlantic POLEX.PT 2016 – consisting of an exercise to combat hydrocarbon pollution in the marine environment. This exercise allowed testing and validation of the vessel in multiple scenarios to combat pollution at sea.
“It is a unique vessel, equipped with a controllable pitch propeller (WCP) which allows us to achieve high-speed and also very efficiently tow any oil containment barriers,” according to Filipe Duarte, from SWB.
Duarte adds, “I’d like to highlight the craft’s high stability that allows us to perform operations with maximum safety”.
Source & Image Credit: SWB, Seismic Workboats, Lda
