摘要 |
A system for containing oil or other contaminants which have leaked from an oil tanker or similar structure is disclosed. A series of flotation members are connected end to end and stored around the perimeter of the tanker. A membrane is folded and packed into a recess in each member and held between the member and the tanker. The members are held against the sides of the tanker by a movable stay. In case of an oil leak, a triggering mechanism sequentially moves the stays to release the flotation members, which drop off the tanker into the water. One edge of the membrane is attached to the members while the opposite edge of the membrane is free. The free edge of the membrane falls from the members so that the membrane forms a curtain in the water. Each flotation member is further connected to adjacent members by a flexible jacket and adjacent edges of each membrane are connected to each other. In this manner a continuous curtain surrounds the tanker to prevent passage of all or most of the spilled oil.
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