03 October 2011
Article from Lamor NewsReel 2/2011 by Thomas Barbieri
Shallow Water Oil Recovery Catamaran (SWORC) is under construction by Danish based Tuco ApS, and designed by the innovative KNUD E. HANSEN naval architects, designers and marine engineering group. Onboard is the Lamor Bow Collector for oil spill clean-up operations close to shore where regular spill clean-up vessels cannot reach.
The innovative and unique six meter long catamaran can operate effectively in 35 cm water depth and employs carefully selected and proven oil recovery equipment. Moreover, SWORC can be operated by a two-man team for undertaking oil recovery operations. This new unique Catamaran makes it possible to reduce oil pollution along the coasts.
“The SWORC excels in difficult working environments with limited access, extensive shallow waterways or remote areas where a self-contained solution is the only option. It is ideally suited to these environments and is highly maneuverable, versatile and operator friendly,” says Christian Damsgaard, Managing Director SWORC A/S.
The extreme shallow water capability gives the potential to avoid highly expensive and environmentally disastrous contamination of coastal lowlands and other sensitive ecosystems. Damsgaard continues: “The impact of contamination on these shallow water areas is huge and without protection by vessels such as SWORC the only option is to wait for the oil to wash up and then all the contaminated soil, beach sand and vegetation must be removed and disposed of. The removal and disposal of shore material is both highly destructive to the coastal environment and very expensive to safely handle.”
Lamor Bow Collector (LBC)
The Bow Collector (LBC) is a stiff brush conveyor belt unit which effectively recovers oil and debris. It operates most effectively at vessel speeds of 1 to 4 knots. Forward motion of the vessel concentrates surface oil and oily debris into the brush conveyor for separation and recovery.
“The LBC collects oils of all types and viscosities and can operate in choppy sea conditions without disrupted performance. Moreover, the LBC brush conveyor automatically separates and recovers oils, emulsions and oily debris from the water and delivers it to deck level. Recovered oil contains less than 5% free water,” says Lamor’sChristoffer Wallgren, Regional Manager Europe.
The number of brush belts varies from four to six depending on the desired capacity and the size of the vessel. “The skimmer module is hydraulically powered and off-loaded by a suction pump, Archimedes screw pump, or a centrifugal pump. That said, the system can be supplied with portable power packs and can also be operated using vessel hydraulics. The technical specifications vary on the size of the LBC and vessel. It is an ideal solution for the new SWORC,” says Wallgren.
SWORC facts:
- Length: 5.80 m
- Breadth, sailing 3.10 m
- Breadth, stored 2.20 m
- Draught 0.35 m
- Deadweight, max. 1800 kg
- Speed 15 kn
- Lamor Bow Collector LBC 2900/2C M