Skip to main content
European Commission logo print header

MultiEnvironment Air Cushion Oil Spill Fast Response & Post Emergency Remediation System

Objective

HoverSpill driving force is based on the concept that the greatest part of oil spills has a strong impact on coasts, beaches and shoals. Even if the pollution takes place at open sea, vessels usually don’t reach the location in short time to contain the spot, which rapidly expands. Moreover the oil hits those areas which can not be easily reached by traditional vehicles/vessels, nor by land nor by sea, for the lack of water depth or for the muddy land. The main objective of HoverSpill system is the development of an innovative procedure for oil spill emergencies, with the greatest immediacy and efficiency possible during the intervention and effectiveness during the following remediation activities. HoverSpill project is mainly focused to operate on the transitional areas between land and sea, where shoals, difficult access areas, long distance from ports, make difficulties more relevant. The project will study the best approach for the prevention and for the remediation and will use a specific air cushion vehicle, completely amphibious and capable of working on land and water, in areas with high and soft mud, which can be used as a pontoon in floating conditions: the vessel will be designed to be cheap and with easy maintenance, capable of high operative speed (>30 kn.) and spilled oil storage. It can be transported quickly on the road and can be parked on land or beaches near potential oil spill dangers with no need of harbours or other special structures necessaries for traditional vessels. New operational procedures and protocols will be defined in order to match the new technological approach and the vehicle characteristics. The hovercraft could be positioned on ships or oil tankers deck and used during oil transfer operations for a preventive action. Intervention on the water will foresee a double separation system and the remediation intervention will use the same air-cushion platform as a power supplier for tools and separator for polluted or washing waters.

Call for proposal

FP7-SST-2008-RTD-1
See other projects for this call

Coordinator

INNOVA SRL
EU contribution
€ 227 687,00
Address
VIA GIACOMO PERONI 386
00131 Roma
Italy

See on map

Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Administrative Contact
Federica Marotti (Dr.)
Links
Total cost
No data

Participants (9)