XN000022-1973-08-30 — Page 2

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Thursday, August 30, 1973

SPECIAL LAUNCH TO COMBAT OIL POLLUTION

A specially designed 70-foot launch will soon be added to the

flect of the Marine Department Oil Pollution Unit to meet emergencies

related to large scale oil spillages and to enforce anti-pollution legislation

more effectively.

"The prime function of the vessel will be the control of marine

pollution, specifically oil, and in the event of a major oil spillage it

will act as a command boat of the fleet of craft used to combat the

emergency," a spokesman for the Marine Department said today.

"It will also be used for inspecting tankers and other vessels,

oil comparica' installations and ships' oil record books as well as

conducting bunker inspections on ships and conducting oil pollution exercises

particularly in respect of training of personnel and assessment of equipment,'

he added.

At present, the fleet comprises seven tug boats, seven lightero

and three fast personnel carriers to transport men and equipment.

The new launch will be equipped with oil dispersant storage

tanks, spraying equipment and agitating devices, oil containment booms,

a high pumping capacity for dispersing emulsifiers and lifting equipment

for use in conjunction with deploying and recovering oil containment booms.

The craft will be capable of a maximum speed of about 12 knots and

will carry sufficient fuel to operate for about 100 hours at half speed.

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