Absorbents - Simple Solution to Marinas’s Pollution Problems
Marinas provide an economic as well as a recreational benefits to society as a whole. As as result of the popularity of boating and other waterbased activities, Marina’s fueling docks are high traffic areas and generate large amounts of hazardous petroleum based products.
Marina owners are required to maintain an effective spill prevention plan which includes environmental safeguards that prevent the degradation of the water systems.
There are a variety of technologies and products that are available that can help this industries prevent or at least mitigate several of these inherent environmental concerns. Most marina owners practice an aggressive environmental protection program in the areas of oil spill containment.
It is sometimes the most inconsequential products that can produce the biggest impact. Absorbents represent that inconsequential product. Absorbents are the quick solution that many marinas use for cleaning up oil spills. Absorbents are used in many spill situations on land as well as in and around these water dependent industries because of the ease of use.
Absorbents are a general category of products that include a unique subcategory of special types of absorbents for the marine industry. Booms, sweeps, socks and bilges are the most commonly used. These absorbent products are functional for the marine industry because they can be quickly, safely and effectively deployed to contain spills.
Oil absorbent booms are perfect for marine spill containment. These oil absorbent booms are constructed with a strong mesh outer skin that encases a highly absorbent polypropylene filler. Oil only absorbent booms are ideal for collecting oil quickly when a boat is fueling and oil accidentally spills into the water.
A marine operator can toss the boom into the water, collect the spill quickly and then retrieve the boom. The booms are of course water repellent.
Bilge socks are flexible absorbents that can be shaped to accommodate the shape of spills. It is important to select absorbents based on their intended use. Marinas traditionally opt to use oil absorbents that only absorb oil-based fluids. But there are absorbents that an also absorb water based or chemical spills.
Oil absorbent sweeps are used often by marine operators to absorb broad sheens or surface spills.
Absorbents are just one of the many variety of products designed to contain and manage oil spills. The special needs of marinas require that they properly use several methodologies for effective hazardous waste management. To stay within the compliance guidelines, marinas are required to adhere to Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part s 260-268 (see Hazardous Waste Management, page 39).
When spills occur in a marina, the management of the marina should be notified immediately. Marina operators are usually very conscientious concerning containing oil spills within their environment. In fact, many marina operators, all across the United States have joined forces in an effort to use Best Practices in Marine Environmental Management to insure the safety of the waterways.
These individual marina operations practice strict adherence to the clean marina guidelines. Absorbents when used properly play a major role in this initiative.
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