Oil Spill

Wilma · July 01, 2010, 05:13:08 PM

I am not sure that this belongs here, but since it will probably turn into a political diatribe, it might as well start here.

Frank, I am addressing this to you because I am sure you are familiar with laws that would affect this. I heard on the news that a skimmer has been brought to the Gulf that is longer than 3 football fields. Then this evening I hear that they aren't going to be allowed to try it. Now why couldn't they just go ahead and do whatever they want with their boat? Why do they have to get permission from anyone to try to clean up the spilled oil? What is going on here?

frawin · July 01, 2010, 05:40:53 PM

Wilma, the last I knew the owners and Capitan of the "A Whale" were waiting word as to whether it would be allowed to operate in the Gulf. I am sure it is due to the Jones Act, which was designed to protect the US Maritime Union and US Shipping. Under the Jones Act the only vessels that can go from a US Port to a US Port are American flag vessels which have all US Seamen and are all Union. Foreign Flag Vessels can go from a Foreign Port to a US port and from a US Port to a Foreign Port. My guess is the service of skimming in the Gulf is considered all US Port to US Port activity and they are waiting on a Waiver. We have turned down other Skimmers because they were Foreign. Very disturbing how badly this whole mess has been handled. I am sure that Politics has delayed the cleanup considerably.

W. Gray · July 01, 2010, 05:46:33 PM

Although, this post is not connected with clean up, the Russians suggested early on that the oil leak in the Gulf be stopped with a nuclear explosion.

The attached video shows how the USSR put out an uncontrolled gas leak with a nuclear blast. They apparently used nuclear explosions to extinguish at least five monstrous oil or gas leaks.

frawin · July 01, 2010, 05:50:59 PM

Wilma, the "A Whale" is rated to skim 500,000 barrels of oil a day, that is 21Million gallons a day.

frawin · July 01, 2010, 06:07:21 PM

Wilma the "A Whale" is under the Taiwanese Flag. It is a monster in size . It is designed as an "OBO" to carry Oil and Iron Ore. When I first started in the Marine Department for Phillips they had several Ore/Oil carriers. The A Whale has been redesigned or modified to be a skimmer.

Wilma · July 01, 2010, 06:43:13 PM

Thank you, Guys. I understand the situation a little better but it still doesn't make sense that the vessel that could do the job has to just sit there and watch the oil go by. I am of the opinion that everything and anything should be done to get it cleaned up. As to stopping the leak, the thought of nuclear explosion gives me pause. Still if the Russians have done it without problems, why shouldn't it be tried or do we have to wait for the politicians to decide on that, too.

srkruzich · July 01, 2010, 06:50:41 PM

well being that its 5000 feet down, a small small tactical nuke could seal it. It wouldn't cause a radiation problem since water does shield it. The only problem i can forsee is that it is right off the continental shelf. that in itself could cause some serious tectonic plate shifts. When we talk using nukes for that, its a complete unknown. I think it would and should be last resort!

I Do however think that obama and co could have had this problem with the jones act cleared up days after the 30+ other countries offered assistance, but he is afraid of pissing off unions. Personally, piss em off and get r done.

sixdogsmom · July 01, 2010, 06:53:55 PM

Does a skimmer get to keep the oil it sucks up?

Diane Amberg · July 01, 2010, 07:09:19 PM

OK, so where are the unions on this? Why haven't there been several press conferences by now confirming or denying the accusation of interference? They have jobs at risk too. It seems like everybody is talking and having opinions except the people who actually have the ability to do something. No nukes please. We have plenty of boom power without that. Bigger doesn't always mean better. It would take precision and B/P's record to date doesn't give me confidence in that. Keep doing what they are doing,until it works in a few weeks or it doesn't.

srkruzich · July 01, 2010, 07:14:07 PM

Quote from: Diane Amberg on July 01, 2010, 07:09:19 PM
OK, so where are the unions on this? Why haven't there been several press conferences by now confirming or denying the accusation of interference? They have jobs at risk too. It seems like everybody is talking and having opinions except the people who actually have the ability to do something. No nukes please. We have plenty of boom power without that. Bigger doesn't always mean better. It would take precision and B/P's record to date doesn't give me confidence in that. Keep doing what they are doing,until it works in a few weeks or it doesn't.

What do ya think where unions are on this, they don't give a crap. It doesn't matter if they have anything at stake. They cannot do the job because they don't have the equipment to do the job. So if they can't do the job because of lack of equipment, then they have no say in this.

Nukes are a last option. It can be done, but not unless there is no other option.