News from Denmark: Effective Oil Spill Response with New Shallow Water Vessels

The following article was published in Danish by the Danish Emergency Management Agency, on 7 January 2020. The original article can be found here. The text was translated to English by OIL SPILL team member Kia Petersen from the Danish Civil Protection League.

“New vessels effective in oil spill response in Southern Jutland

The Danish Emergency Management Agency’s shallow water vessels have been in action for the first time at an oil spill at the fjord of Aabenraa. The new vessels showed their worth by effectively collecting the oil and thereby limiting the spill.

From time to time an oil spill occurs in Danish waters, and to limit the damages the Danish Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) has invested in new boats – so-called shallow water vessels. Monday and Tuesday, they were deployed for the first time.

During the weekend, an oil spill occurred at the fjord of Aabenraa. The fire and rescue service of Southern Jutland, the Danish Defence, the Danish Home Guard, and DEMA managed to contain the oil using floating booms. Monday and Tuesday three shallow water vessels succeeded relatively quickly in collecting the oil on open water.

– The Royal Danish Navy, the Naval Home Guard and the Danish Emergency Management Agency have all been deployed during the weekend. In close cooperation with the fire and rescue service of Southern Jutland and Aabenraa Municipality, the situation has been brought under control. The new shallow water vessels have played an important role, which shows that we have the right equipment and talented people. It has been a nice joint effort – says Defence Minister Trine Bramsen.

– DEMA has been training regularly in operating the new shallow water vessels. Monday and Tuesday were the first time they were in action at an oil spill. The shallow water vessels are a new tool in these types of responses. We were able to collect a large amount of oil before it drifted to the beach. They have showed their worth, says Chief Operating Officer of DEMA Lars Schou. The deployment is to be continued on Tuesday.

About the shallow water vessels

In connection with the previous defence agreement the political parties behind the agreement decided to invest in a mobile and flexible capacity, which can be deployed along the Danish coast in case of oil pollution incidents.

The concept of the new shallow water vessels has been tested and used in several foreign emergency management services. The vessels use a crane and a grab as well as a brush skimmer to collect the oil on shallow water before it drifts ashore.

DEMA has purchased 18 vessels in total, which are placed in Thisted, Herning, Haderslev, Hedehusene, Næstved and Allinge. Four of the vessels are 7.5 meters long, while the rest are 9.5 meters long.

The smaller vessels can be transported in the Danish Defence’s C-139 transport aircraft, so they can be deployed in all of the Danish Realm. The vessels are manned by specially trained personnel from DEMA supported by Danish Home Guard personnel.

The shallow water vessels are purchased to limit the following damages of oil pollutions as e.g. in Greenland in 2001. The vessels are developed in cooperation with the Danish Ministry of Defence’s Acquisition and Logistics Organisation, which has been responsible for the acquisition. 

All 18 shallow water vessels are expected to be fully operational medio 2020.”

(Source: DEMA)