OIL BOOM

Response Boom Maintenance

STORAGE, HANDLING AND MAINTENANCE OF OIL CONTAINMENT BOOM

BY FOLLOWING PROPER STORAGE AND HANDLING PROCEDURES YOUR OIL CONTAINMENT BOOM WILL PROVIDE MANY YEARS OF USEFUL SERVICE.

STORAGE:
To reduce degradation by ultraviolet (UV) light, pigments have been added to the Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) coating used on the boom fabric. You can further delay the effects of radiation by keeping your boom in covered storage and away from sunlight when not in use. Covered storage includes storage boxes, sheds or tarps placed over the boom. Oil containment boom should also be protected from excessive heat. The volatile component in the PVC that provides flexibility in the fabric coating is reduced as the temperature increases. Provide adequate ventilation in storage areas to keep temperatures down. It is also important to protect boom from physical damage that could be caused by such things as protrusions in the storage area, sharp objects or tools stored with the boom or rodent infestations. Boom should be stored off the ground if possible to allow better air circulation.

HANDLING:
Careful handling of oil containment boom is necessary for the long life of the boom and the safety of personnel involved in boom deployment. A minimum of three persons should be used, two persons in the boat, and one on shore supervising the pay out of boom to prevent snagging or tangling. Two way radio communication between boat and shore is helpful. Prior to deployment all connectors should be connected and the boom should be folded in such a way that it pays out with out twisting or tangling. A line should only be connected to the towing points provided on the boom to prevent damage. Boom should be towed in place at a slow idle. Once the boom is in place, both ends must be secured and anchor lines attached as needed to pear links located at the bottom of each connector.

MAINTENANCE:
When boom is removed from the water, it should be cleaned of any oil contamination or marine growth using a mild detergent and soft rags. The boom should be rinsed with fresh water and inspected for any damage to hardware or fabric. Any damage to the boom should be repaired prior to storage or redeployment. Boom should be stored with all connections made up and folded properly for rapid deployment. Boom in long term storage should be pulled out and inspected at least annually. Ideally this can be done in conjunction with a spill drill.