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Countermeasures/ Mitigation

A 2.5 mile long segment of boom protected the Bay of Morlaix.  Although it
required constant monitoring, the boom functioned properly because this
sheltered area was protected from severe weather and from receiving excessive
quantities of oil.  Boom was largely ineffective in other areas due to strong
currents and enormous quantities of oil.

Skimmers were used in harbors and other protected areas.  However, skimmer
efficiency was limited due to the blocking of pumps and hoses by seaweed. 
Vacuum trucks were used to remove oil from pier and boat slip areas where the
seaweed was thick.

"Honey wagons",vacuum tanks designed to handle liquid manure, were effective in
pumping out the emulsified oil along the coast.  These wagons were able to pump
oil, water, and seaweed.  After the water and oil were separated as much as
possible, the tanks were emptied through filter-buckets into interim storage
tanks.  When interim storage tanks were not available, the oil mixture was
stored in large holes that were dug in the ground and lined with plastic sheets. 

Stranded oily seaweed was manually removed from the beaches using rakes and
front-end loaders.  Natural cleaning of the sand by wave action occurred on oil
penetrated beaches after ploughing and harrowing of the sediments.  Both
artificial fertilizers and bacterial cultures were poured on the oily sand
before harrowing.

Several brands of diluted and concentrated dispersants, including BP 1100 X,
Finasol, OSR, BP 1100 WD, and Finasol OSR -5, were used by the French Navy. 
Good dispersion of oil was difficult since the emulsified oil was several
centimeters thick in some places. 

Approximately 650 metric tons of oleophilic chalk, Nautex, was applied in an
effort to sink the oil and prevent it from entering the "goulet de Brest." 
After one month at sea, the oil was so viscous that the chalk could not
penetrate it.

A rubber powder made from old tires was applied to promote oil absorption.  The
powder was spread with water hoses aboard French Navy ships or applied manually
by workers from small fishing boats.  Wave action proved to be insufficient in
mixing the powder with the oil.  The powder had little effect on the slick
because it remained on top of the oil.

High-pressure hot water (fresh water at 2,000 psi, heated to 80° - 140°C) was
very effective in cleaning oil from rocky shoreline areas during the third and
fourth months of cleanup.  A small amount of dispersant was applied to prevent
the oiling of the cleaned rocks during the next high tide.\\Several of the
impacted rivers contained oyster beds and marshes that required manual cleaning.
 Soft mud river banks were cleaned by using a low pressure water wash to push
the oil down the river.  To make collection more efficient, a sorbent material
was mixed with water and poured in front of the washing nozzles.  The oil was
later collected by a locally developed device called an "Egmolap."  This device
was able to collect any material floating in sheltered areas.\\Much of the
collected oil was stored at Brest and Tregastel and treated with quick-lime for
encapsulation and stabilization.