Brian Barton
A boom is a temporary floating barrier used in environmental management to contain oil spills and floating debris. They are critical in mitigating environmental impacts from oil spills and other pollutants. Booms can also redirect or deflect floating debris and other pollutants or be used for other protective measures. They are used to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources, and to help make recovery easier. Booms can be fixed to a structure, such as a pier or a buoy, or towed behind or alongside one or more vessels. When stationary, the boom is anchored below the water surface and requires frequent monitoring due to changes in tides, currents, winds, and other factors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To control the spread of oil and reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources |
| Function | Containment, diversion, deflection, and exclusion |
| Use cases | Oil spills, protection of critical infrastructure, protection of sensitive areas, ice jams, turbidity control |
| Types | Permanent, temporary, wildlife protection, silt curtain, fire-resistant, sorbent, fire boom |
| Construction | Plastic, metal, vinyl-coated fabric, wood, inflated fire hoses, automobile tires, empty oil drums |
| Performance | Effective in gentle seas with smooth, long waves; may fail in rough waters with waves higher than one meter or currents faster than one knot per hour |
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What You'll Learn
- Boom types: permanent, temporary, improvised, fire-resistant, silt curtain, etc
- Boom construction: plastic, metal, vinyl, laminated fabric, etc
- Boom deployment: across ocean entrances, near shorelines, in calm waters, etc
- Boom functions: diverting spills, containing spills, blocking off areas, etc
- Boom maintenance: monitoring, tending, adjusting, lengthening, etc
Boom types: permanent, temporary, improvised, fire-resistant, silt curtain, etc
A boom is a barrier used in environmental management to contain oil spills and floating debris in water bodies. They are critical tools for protecting the environment and preventing the spread of contaminants.
There are several types of booms, each with its own unique features and applications:
- Containment booms: These are temporary floating barriers used to contain and control the spread of oil spills. They help concentrate oil in thicker surfaces, making it easier to recover. Containment booms are often used to prevent oil from polluting shorelines and other resources. They can also be used to divert and channel oil slicks along desired paths.
- Diversion booming: This involves placing a boom in a body of contaminated water to divert the contamination to a collection point.
- Deflection booming: This method uses a boom to change the course of contamination that is not intended to be recovered and is, therefore, not typically associated with oil spills.
- Exclusion booming: This type of booming blocks off a sensitive area from contamination.
- Improvised booms: When no containment equipment is available, improvised booms can be made from materials such as wood, plastic pipes, inflated fire hoses, automobile tires, or empty oil drums. They are effective in calm waters such as streams, slow-moving rivers, or sheltered bays.
- High-tensile booms: In fast-moving water environments like intertidal areas and rivers, high-tensile booms are necessary to withstand waves and currents.
- Lightweight fence booms: In calmer waters, such as streams and ditches, a lightweight fence boom can be used.
- Shore-sealing booms: This type of boom uses water-filled chambers instead of a draft, allowing it to rest on the exposed shoreline during low tide to protect the beach from oil contamination.
- Hard booms: These are non-absorbent booms that are the most common type of spill containment boom.
- Sorbent booms: Some booms, like the Ultra-Filter Boom, are made of special materials that absorb oil.
- Silt curtains: Silt curtains are another type of boom mentioned, but no further details are provided.
While booms are an essential tool for environmental management, they have limitations. They require frequent monitoring due to changes in tides, currents, winds, and other factors. Most booms perform well in gentle seas with smooth, long waves, but they may not operate properly in rough and choppy waters with high waves or fast currents.
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Boom construction: plastic, metal, vinyl, laminated fabric, etc
A boom is a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill. They are used to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources and to make recovery easier. Booms can be fixed to a structure, such as a pier or buoy, or towed behind or alongside one or more vessels.
There is a great deal of variation in the design and construction of booms, but they generally share the following four basic elements:
- An above-water "freeboard" to contain the oil and to help prevent waves from splashing oil over the top of the boom.
- A "skirt" that hangs below the surface of the water to contain the oil and prevent it from spreading underneath the boom.
- A "longitudinal support," usually a chain or cable running along the bottom of the skirt, that strengthens the boom against wind and wave action. The support may also serve as a weight or ballast to add stability and help keep the boom upright.
- A "top tension cable" or "top load cable" that runs along the top of the boom and is used to anchor the boom to a structure or vessel.
While there are many different types of booms, they can be broadly categorised into two types:
- Containment booms: These are used to hold and slow down the movement of contamination in a body of water.
- Diversion booms: These are used to divert contamination to a collection point or to change the course of the contamination.
When a spill occurs and no specialised equipment is available, improvised booms can be made from materials such as wood, plastic pipe, inflated fire hoses, automobile tires, and empty oil drums.
Companies like Paramount Materials manufacture trash booms from PVC-coated polyester, which are used to prevent trash, construction site debris, and sediment from entering bodies of water. These booms are typically used in areas with light winds and currents, such as canals, ponds, and small lakes. Aer-Flo, another manufacturer, offers continuous panels made of non-penetrable vinyl-polyester (PVC) fabric. These barriers are often used in construction sites, ponds, marshes, and other shallow bodies of water to control sediment and floating debris.
Boom Industrial is another company that manufactures custom rubber, plastic, and metal products for various industries, including construction. While it is not explicitly stated that they produce booms, their products are used in the construction industry and could potentially be used in the creation of improvised booms.
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Boom deployment: across ocean entrances, near shorelines, in calm waters, etc
Boom deployment strategies vary depending on the location of the oil spill, the water conditions, and the resources available. Here are some key considerations and strategies for deploying booms across ocean entrances, near shorelines, and in calm waters:
Across Ocean Entrances:
- Ocean Inlets and Outlets: Booms are often placed across narrow ocean entrances, such as stream outlets or small inlets, to prevent oil from entering sensitive areas like marshlands or estuaries.
- Deflection and Diversion: In some cases, booms are used to deflect or divert oil away from sensitive locations, such as shellfish beds or beaches used by certain bird species for nesting.
Near Shorelines:
- Exclusion Booming: Booms are deployed to block off shorelines and other sensitive areas from oil contamination, reducing the possibility of pollution.
- Recovery and Protection: Near shorelines, booms help concentrate oil in thicker layers, making it easier to recover and protecting the environment from the spread of oil.
In Calm Waters:
- Fence Booms: Calm waters, such as streams, slow-moving rivers, or sheltered bays, are ideal for deploying fence booms. These booms have a vertical structure and are easy to set up, effectively containing oil in calm conditions.
- Improvised Booms: In remote locations or when specialised equipment is unavailable, improvised booms can be used in calm waters. These are made from readily available materials like wood, plastic pipe, inflated fire hoses, automobile tires, or empty oil drums.
General Deployment Considerations:
- Water Conditions: Booms generally perform well in gentle seas with smooth, long waves. They may not function properly in rough waters with waves higher than one meter or currents faster than one knot per hour.
- Anchoring and Monitoring: Booms can be anchored to structures like piers or buoys or towed by vessels. Anchored booms require frequent monitoring due to changes in tides, currents, and winds, which can impact their effectiveness.
- Spill Size and Type: Before deployment, assess the size and type of the oil spill, potential environmental impacts, and ensure you have the appropriate boom type and length to cover the affected area.
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Boom functions: diverting spills, containing spills, blocking off areas, etc
Booms are temporary floating barriers used to contain marine spills, protect the environment, and assist in recovery. They are often used to reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources. They can be fixed to a structure, such as a pier or buoy, or towed by a vessel. When stationary, they are anchored below the water surface and must be monitored frequently due to changes in tides, currents, winds, and other factors. Booms perform well in gentle seas with smooth, long waves but generally fail in rough and choppy waters or when waves are higher than one meter or currents are faster than one knot per hour.
Booms can be used to divert spills away from sensitive habitats and into collection locations. This is known as diversion booming or deflection booming, where the boom is placed in a body of contaminated water to change the course of the contamination. This method is used for contamination that is not intended to be recovered and is therefore not associated with oil spills.
Booms can also be used to contain spills for on-site recovery and treatment. They include a containment partition that floats on and extends above the water's surface and a "skirt" or "curtain" that sinks beneath the surface. This helps to concentrate oil in a thicker surface layer, making it easier to remove from the water.
Another function of booms is to block off sensitive areas from contamination. This is known as exclusion booming or resource protection, where booms are placed to prevent oil from reaching critical infrastructure, sensitive habitats, or other resources.
There are various types of booms used for different purposes. Sorbent booms, for example, are made of a material that absorbs oil, while fire booms are made of metal plates and a floating metal cylinder with a "skirt" of thin metal plates to contain oil long enough for it to be burned. Permanent pollution booms protect critical infrastructure from obstructions and control pollution in sensitive areas, while litter fence booms are used in wetland habitats to protect against floating and wind-blown debris.
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Boom maintenance: monitoring, tending, adjusting, lengthening, etc
A boom is a temporary floating barrier used to contain an oil spill. They are used to control the spread of oil and reduce the possibility of polluting shorelines and other resources. Booms are also used to divert and channel oil slicks along desired paths, making them easier to remove from the water's surface.
Boom maintenance is essential to ensure the safety and longevity of the equipment. Here are some key aspects of boom maintenance, focusing on monitoring, tending, adjusting, and lengthening:
Monitoring and Tending
Stationary booms require frequent monitoring due to changes caused by shifting tides, tidal currents, winds, and other factors influencing water depth, direction, and force of motion. These forces can impair the boom's ability to hold oil. Round-the-clock personnel are needed to monitor and adjust the equipment. Mechanical problems and improper mooring can also cause boom failure, so it is important to address these issues promptly.
Adjusting
In some cases, adjusting the length of the boom's skirt or freeboard can aid in containing the oil. However, longer booms have more resistance to natural forces and are more prone to failure or leakage. Therefore, it is crucial to consider the trade-off between containment and the increased risk of failure when adjusting the length of the boom.
Maintenance Practices
Regular inspections and maintenance are vital to the upkeep of booms. Visual checks should be conducted according to a well-defined checklist to identify wear and tear, cracks, leaks, or other signs of damage. Lubrication of moving parts is also important to minimize friction and protect against rust. It is recommended to follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning and maintenance, including the use of specific lubricants.
Storage and Transportation
Proper storage and transportation are critical to maintaining boom arms. Boom attachments should be stored in a clean, dry, and secure environment, protected from the elements. Following guidelines for storing heavy machinery and boom arms helps prevent damage and deterioration when the equipment is not in use. Additionally, ensuring safe transportation to and from work sites is essential, including securing the boom arm during transit.
Training and Operator Awareness
Proper training is fundamental to ensuring the safe operation of heavy machinery with boom arms. Operators should be well-trained to understand the intricacies of boom arms, potential risks, load capacity, handling techniques, and emergency procedures. Raising operator awareness contributes to the safe and efficient operation of the equipment.
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Frequently asked questions
A boom is a temporary floating barrier used to contain oil spills and protect the environment. They are often made of plastic, metal, or other materials and work to slow the spread of oil and keep it contained.
Booms are directly connected to water pumps during operation, creating a fire-proof seal. They can be fixed to a structure like a pier or buoy, or towed by a vessel. They are anchored below the water surface and require constant monitoring due to changes in tides, currents, and winds.
There are several types of booms used for environmental protection, including:
- Permanent pollution booms: Protect critical infrastructure and control pollution in sensitive areas.
- Litter fence booms: Used in wetlands and sensitive areas with additional height to protect from floating and wind-blown debris.
- Temporary storage booms: Used in emergencies to contain and store oil or pollutants during spill response.
- Wildlife protection booms: Used near the shore, offshore, or in ocean currents to protect wildlife.
- Silt curtains or turbidity curtains: Floating barriers that contain sediment during construction or dredging activities.
- Sorbent booms: Absorbent, sausage-like booms that can contain oil.
- Fire booms: Metal plates with a floating cylinder and thin metal "skirt" that contain oil for burning.
