EMEA News
Port of Gothenburg Launches Oil Spill Robot
The Port of Gothenburg is introducing a new robot which will increase the speed of oil spill response in the harbour, the port announced.
The automatic GPS-controlled system will reportedly be activated using a button in the port's Energy Port office, which will send out a "torpedo-like unmanned craft" that will tow a boom out onto the water.
The port said the robot was developed in partnership with Gothenburg-based SP Marine at a cost of SEK 3.5 million ($0.4 million).
The system is expected to significantly decrease the average 10-minute response time that it would normally take with manually-towed booms.
"What is most important is that the oil is contained as quickly as possible to allow clearance to begin," said Dan-Erik Andersson, head of operations at the Energy Port.
"These are valuable minutes if we are to limit the spill as much as possible."
The port said that the technology is currently unique to Sweden, with the Gothenburg system having taken five years to develop.
"It has taken a long time to adapt the robot to the conditions in the Göta Älv river and at the Energy Port and that is why it feels particularly gratifying now that development has been completed," said Dan-Erik Andersson.
Last Month, officials in Canada were criticised after delays in deploying booms following a bunker spill in Vancouver.
The Port of Gothenburg is not alone in looking at automated technology to help improve its response to oil spills.
Earlier this week the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) unveiled a prototype of a waterproof drone it says will be used to help combat bunker spills.
