[StBernard] Shallow water vacuum barges ready for use in St. Bernard Parish to fight Gulf oil spill

[Westley Annis]

Shallow water vacuum barges ready for use in St. Bernard Parish to fight
Gulf oil spill
The Times-Picayune
Posted:  06/23/2010 3:13 PM
     
Two shallow water vacuum barges will ply the waters of St. Bernard Parish to
attack any oil that makes it way into the marshes, the parish said.

The vessels, called Shallow Water Barge Recovery Systems, consist of a
vacuum similar to a shop vac. The sucked up oil and water are held in
6,000-gallon tanks. St. Bernard Parish government said in a news release
that the barges work well in shallow water, where larger skimminmg vessels
cannot operate.

The barges attack the oil that has made it through the miles of boom and
into the marsh and shallow inlets, the parish said.

Similar vacuum barges are operating in Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes. 

"This key resource is a critical tool that will help us quickly respond to
oil if it enters the shallow inlets and marsh areas," St. Bernard Parish
President Craig Taffaro said. "We are very grateful to the Louisiana
National Guard for its assistance in securing these vessels.''