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Other Special Interest - Oil Recovery Issues

On November 22, adverse weather prevented fire fighting and deployment of
skimmers, and from November 28 to 29 bad weather prevented all cleanup operations.

On December 5, the OSC requested the Pilots Association to meet ships 4 miles
farther out to sea than the Burmah Agate, as the OSC felt that ships were
passing too close to the containment and recovery gear.  On December 17 a
foreign vessel anchored near the Burmah Agate and carried away the Goodyear
booms as it dragged anchor.  The boom was re-deployed the next day.

Through the duration of the response, four skimming barriers (OWOCRS) and one
Lockheed skimmer (OWORS) were used.  Heavy seas (typical of winter weather in
the area) hindered booming and oil recovery efforts.  Oil began to entrain under
the OWOCRS when the current  reached .75 knots, and once the current reached 1
knot the OWOCRS were totally useless.  Furthermore, the OWOCRS were only useful
in a stationary configuration, and could not be maneuvered effectively to follow
a moving slick.  Problems also arose due to the constant replacement of vessels
in the OWOCRS configuration.  Eleven vessels were rotated through deployment and
maintenance of the OWOCRS.  This rotation was caused by short-term contracting
of vessels by the owners of the Burmah Agate.  While problematic, the rotation
of various types of vessels did illuminate the characteristics of a vessel best
suited for OWOCRS deployment and maintenance.  These characteristics were:
seaworthiness (which the crew boats did not have due to their small size), large
work area astern, maneuverability (twin-screw, bow-thruster equipped boats
worked the best), onboard tank space, open stern close to the water, and
adequate power.  Of all the vessels used, a large offshore supply vessel worked
the best.  Deployment of booms and skimmers around the burning tanker before the
fire was extinguished resulted in the ignition and subsequent loss of 4000 feet
of Goodyear boom and one OWOCRS.  The Marco Class V skimmer proved to be the
most effective skimmer.

The Lockheed skimmer (OWORS) broke down and spare parts were not readily
available.  This made on-site repair of the OWORS impossible.  Furthermore, the
deployment of the OWORS in conjunction with the OWOCRS was difficult.  When
attached to an outrigger on a vessel, the OWORS did have partial success in
recovering oil.

Staging areas for response vessels and storing areas for USCG and NAVSUPSALV
equipment were difficult to find.  The OSC finally rented a dock from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, however the OSC had to arrange for the docking of the
Army dredge Gerig once it returned to port.