Process for emergency small spill control

Abstract

A process for the collection of lighter than water pollutant spills to a small boat contained emergency collection sump is disclosed. A floating sump is disposed onto the surface of the water near a spill for the collection of pollutants at a surface disposed lip on the sump. A floating and flexible boom, dead ended to one side of the sump lip, is disposed from the sump to surround the spill. The boom is threaded through vertical take up rollers and then dead ended to the side of the small boat used for the control of the spill. Upon collection of the floating boom at the vertical take up rollers, collection and confinement of pollutants to two confined areas occurs. With regard to the spill as initially surrounded, the boom, when collected, defines a first decreasing area forcing the collection of the surface disposed pollutants to the sump lip. Interior of the sump, the solution inlet to a collecting pump is disposed at an elevation with respect to the surface of the ambient waters so that collection of pollutants only occurs. Secondly, as the boom is passed from the sump to and beyond the sump, a second pollutant containment area is defined. This second pollutant containment area typically surrounds the residual non-collected pollutants. This second area may be subsequently cleaned by using towels on the surface of the water. By the process of manipulating the boom back and forth to define respective decreasing and increasing pollutant collection areas, collection by pumping or sponging can occur at leisure until complete abatement of the spill occurs.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.