The "NOFI Current Buster 4" – a mobile, inflatable system for containing oil spills, was unveiled on Thursday in Ostend.
The €264,000 inflatable boom was bought with the help of contributions paid by windfarms to counteract their impact on the marine environment.
The North Sea is one of the world's busiest seas, with over 66,000 ship movements a year in Belgian territorial waters alone, which makes oil spills a real hazard. The Marine Environment Department of the federal health ministry thus invested in the new system to combat such spills.
The "Current Buster 4" is a floating hydrocarbon filter made of inflatable cushions. The device collects hydrocarbons in a large bag at its rear. When full, the oil can be pumped onto a ship. This innovation significantly increases resources already put in place by the Belgian Government for dealing with potential marine oil spills.
North Sea Minister Paul Van Tigchelt (Open VLD) welcomed the investment. "In the past, we have witnessed the horrific impact oil spills can have on the environment – particularly on seabirds – as well as on fishing and tourism. It is therefore crucial that we are well-prepared."
