OIL BOOMS IN TIDAL CURRENTS

Abstract

The classic, and most effective way to prevent the spread of oil spilled in harbors is by surrounding the spill with a floating barrier, or boom In calm water, with no currents, early devices made from telephone poles and canvas were more or less effective In the presence of currents, however, and particularly with larger spills, the problem rapidly becomes more complex, and the rational design of oil booms requires an understanding of the behavior of the oil and the boom in the current This paper presents the results of an investigation into the oil holding capacity of a boom in a steady current, and the forces and moments acting on such a boom.