Posted on 06/30/2010 6:57:44 PM PDT by Bad~Rodeo
NEW ORLEANS – With hurricane-whipped waves pushing more oil onto the Gulf of Mexico's once-white beaches, the government pinned its latest cleanup hopes Wednesday on a huge new piece of equipment: the world's largest oil-skimming vessel.
The Taiwanese-flagged former tanker named the "A Whale" is the length of 3 1/2 football fields and stands 10 stories high. It just emerged from an extensive retrofitting to prepare it specifically for the Gulf, where officials hope it will be able to suck up as much as 21 million gallons of oil-fouled water per day.
"It is absolutely gigantic. It's unbelievable," said Louisiana State University environmental sciences professor Ed Overton, who saw the ship last week in Norfolk, Va.
As the monstrous vessel made its way toward the Gulf Coast, large waves churned up by distant Hurricane Alex left Alabama beaches splattered with oil and tar balls the size of apples. The rough seas forced most smaller skimming boats into port for a second consecutive day, putting many cleanup crews at a standstill.
The ship looks like a typical tanker, but it takes in contaminated water through 12 vents on either side of the bow. The oil is then supposed to be separated from the water and transferred to another vessel. The water is channeled back into the sea.
But the ship has never been tested, and many questions remain about how it will operate. For instance, the seawater retains trace amounts of oil, even after getting filtered, so the Environmental Protection Agency will have to sign off on allowing the treated water back into the Gulf.
"This is a no-brainer," Overton said. "You're bringing in really dirty, oily water and you're putting back much cleaner water."
The vessel, owned by the
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
To all who doubted 0bama: in your face! I told you he was a man of action! But seriously, 71 days in and now this bloody thing heads towards the oil spill, what a joke.
>> It just emerged from an extensive retrofitting to prepare it specifically for the Gulf,
Oh. I thought it was just tied up in red tape. /s
Why did it take 72 days for them to send it?
"Sure we'll clean it up ... if we can keep what we capture"
About the size of a cruise ship.
They could have been here 71 days ago! BUT Obama had EVERYTHING under control, don’t you know!
“But the ship has never been tested, and many questions remain about how it will operate. For instance, the seawater retains trace amounts of oil, even after getting filtered, so the Environmental Protection Agency will have to sign off on allowing the treated water back into the Gulf.
“This is a no-brainer,” Overton said. “You’re bringing in really dirty, oily water and you’re putting back much cleaner water.””
Not for Dumb’O’s EPA. They’re going to take months to figure that out.
So Bill Clinton says a few things four days ago and suddenly five or six things change to the positive suddenly? That’s all that had to happen? Man, we need Bill back in office.
Tack on another 90-180 days before it sucks up the first gallon of oil.
PLEASE tell me you are kidding!
YOUR President said he did not need help. He had it all under control.He refused the help.
Never thought I agree to that, but I do. This MF has got to go.
Facts mean something.
Having the bent one back actually sounds good compared to what we have now.
Reports state that only 2% of the oil from the BP well leak reaches the surface, and the Corexit injected at the leak site keeps oil from reaching the surface by intention. The A Whale is a welcome addition. How effective it is with various sea wave heights remains to be experienced.
What’s the rush?
When the news that the SUPER TANKER ‘A WHALE’ offered to help out, there were pictures of it all over the internet.
THERE ARE NONE, now, that I can find.
I have tried all kinds of searches.
Isn’t that odd?
Well, it's going to have oil for supper, and breakfast, and lunch now.
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