Containment/exclusion boom and methods of using the same

A method of cleaning fouling material from a boom curtain, the method comprising:

• providing a containment/exclusion boom comprising a curtain suspended in a body of water, the curtain comprising at least two sheets of a flexible fabric that control the passage of suspended particulates or marine life through the curtain and
• injecting a gas into the water, between the at least two sheets of the curtain, in a manner effective substantially to remove fouling material from the curtain.

A method of reducing the energy transmission of a shock wave from an underwater explosion, the method comprising:

• introducing into a body of water a first boom system which substantially surrounds a detonation site, the first boom system comprising a curtain having two sheets of flexible fabric and
• injecting a gas between the two sheets of flexible fabric, before detonation of an explosive at the detonation site, in a manner effective to reduce the transmission of energy of a shock wave resulting from detonation of the underwater explosive.

A method of reducing the energy transmission of shock or sound waves following an underwater event producing such waves, the method comprising:

• introducing into a body of water a first boom system which substantially surrounds a site of an underwater event that produces shock or sound waves, the first boom system comprising a curtain having two sheets of flexible fabric and
• injecting a gas between the two sheets of flexible fabric, before the occurrence of the underwater event, in a manner effective to reduce the transmission of energy of the shock or sound waves resulting from the underwater event.