Oil spill recovery system sets record

Norwegian offshore player Egersund Group recently set a new oil spill recovery record when its newly developed Marine Oil Spill (MOS) Sweeper system managed to recover 96.4% of oil released in a North Sea exercise.  

Image: MOS sweeper system in action/Egersund Group

The record was set when the Norwegian Clean Seas Association for Operating Companies (NOFO) recently carried out a realistic oil on water exercise in the North Sea. The purpose was to test and develop preparedness against serious spill accidents, and field-prove new equipment before it is put into an operational oil spill situation.

In the final report (Oil on Water 2015) of the exercise published by NOFO, it was highlighted that the MOS Sweeper system had a recovery rate of 96.4% of the oil released into the sea. This sets a new record for an active oil recovery system and has drawn attention from oil companies and oil spill response networks around the globe.

“Norway is one of the few countries that benefits from full-scale, offshore oil-on-water exercises organized annually,” said Bjørn Havsø, managing director of Egersund Group’s subsidiary Egersund Trål AS. “These events provide us with a unique knowledge base for testing, understanding and improving products and oil spill preparedness.”

Egersund Group, in collaboration with NOFO, has developed the MOS Sweeper system. It is a complete system with revolutionary properties in heavy seas and high speed. The oil is collected efficiently and pumped back to the ship continuously. The MOS Sweeper system, which is highly suitable for harsh weather conditions, is very cost effective as only a single vessel – for example a fishing vessel, supply or offshore supply vessel, coast guard vessel or stand-by vessel – is required to operate it. This ensures rapid response in case of an oil spill emergency.

The MOS Sweeper system has been part of NOFO`s Oil Spill Response 2010 program. Verification by NOFO is a stamp of quality that the system can perform as an oil recovery system.  

Egersund Group is a supplier to the fishing, aquaculture and offshore markets. Established in 1952 and has over 1300 employees. Total group revenue in 2014 was an estimated US$219 million (NOK 1.8 billion).