Technology from Europe:
France/Belgium

Recovery system simplifies removal of oil from wrecked, sunken vessels

Marina Pere, JLMD Ecologic Group, Sophia Antipolis, France 

The latest version of a new, pre-installed, rapid oil spill recovery scheme has been patented by JLMD Ecologic Group and named JLMD system. The pre-installation feature enables the removal of oil from a wrecked and/or sunken ship without using pumps or drilling into the hull. 

Pipes and valves are situated at every corner of the tank. Based on Archimedes' principle (the difference of fluids' densities), the system offers access to a low point and a high point, no matter the ship's position on the seabed. 

If an accident happens, an ROV carries the pipe and connects it from the salvage vessel on the surface to the valves of the wrecked/ sunken ship. Then, water under hydrostatic pressure gets through to the lowest point of the tank. Due to its heavier density, the water pushes oil to the higher point, via the pipe connected to the surface vessel. 

As regards hulls that are already drilled, the intervention and connection can take place very quickly, while the oil is still warm, to avoid fluxant injection. 

A few months ago, the company's engineers found two new applications for the system – gas-freeing and tank cleaning operations. These operations are made easier by the fact that system pipes are already placed at each corner and at the bottom of the tank. The system pipes can inject washing liquids or pressured water in the corners, which are currently hard to access. 

The JLMD system benefits from a pre-installed scheme that facilitates removal of oil from a wrecked and/or sunken ship.

Having dedicated all of 2003 to the R&D phase, the system has received its basic concept approval from Bureau Veritas. It also has been validated by Asian and European shipyards and marine engineering offices. During October 2003, three orders for 14 ships coming from Qatar and France were awarded to firms in the commercial stage, launched two months earlier. 

Year 2004 will be more focused on the industrial stage. To go through it successfully, JLMD Ecologic Group is finalizing European agreements and partnerships. 

Supported by the French Ministry of Transport via its Maritime Affairs Department, the system was due to be presented on March 31 at the next MEPC meeting in London. It may lead to regulation of the system, as a marine safety rule.