Immediate Oil Spill containment to mitigate impact on the marine ecosystem

In Europe alone, about 20,000 oil spills were detected over a period of 6 years. Oil spills turn into major disasters because no immediate containment equipment is housed on-board large ships or oil rigs, so nothing can prevent oil from spreading during the first hours of a spill.

OILBLOCK project goal is to bring to market Spill Python, the first in the world oil spill containment system on a proved Unmanned Marine System.

OILBLOCK focuses on demonstrating the system in real world scenarios and enabling quick product commercialization. For this scope key value chain players are part of the consortium: HARBO Technologies, the developer of this disruptive technology; HEBO Maritiem, one of the largest Oil Spill Responders in Europe and ASV a leading producer of autonomous surface vehicles.

OILBLOCK integrates HARBO’s core technology into a dedicated remote-controlled vessel that will be installed on-board tankers, oil rigs and large ships. This solution – Spill Python - will start operating immediately after spill detection and in less than 10 minutes, deploying up to 500 meters of a revolutionary containment boom. Spill Python will multiply oil recovery rates and significantly decrease the environmental impact and costs of spills.

OILBLOCK is based on patented technology that has already been proven at the world's best testing facility. Many potential collaborators, such as emergency response organizations, coast guards, shipping lines, oil rig operators and coastal infrastructure facilities have already expressed interest in OILBLOCK solution.

The project will help demonstrate first units for early adopters and put the consortium partners on a path to reach a sales rate of 270 units/ year by 2024 with an expected turnover of €94M. This growth will be reflected in the recruitment of up to 86 new employees in next five years. By 2028 sales are expected to reach 2,500 units/year due to regulators considering our technology as a benchmark for oil spill primary response.

More information about the project can be found at the project website.