Member News

SURFCLEANER AND BRIGGS MARINE TEAM UP TO UNLEASH REVOLUTIONARY WATER- TREATMENT TECH IN UK

Swedish tech developer SurfCleaner has partnered with Briggs Marine to unleash its revolutionary water treatment systems in the UK market – including the world’s first ‘hybrid’ skimmer separator.

SurfCleaner’s products are designed to separate and recover contaminants from the water surface – including oil, diesel, petrol, sludge and other pollutants.

The versatile technology can be used across multiple sectors from industrial wastewater and municipal water-treatment to oil-spill cleanup and recovery. It also holds major potential for use across the maritime sector, covering harbours, coastlines and nearshore markets.

Following a recent three-week test period at Briggs Marine in Aberdeen, Scotland, SurfCleaner’s SCO 1000 machine was able to repeatedly remove 200ltrs of oil from a 9000ltr contaminated tank, in just 15 minutes, including completely removing the oil sheen. Briggs Marine is now in the process of securing SurfCleaner’s first product orders in the UK.

“We’re thrilled to have partnered with a prestigious UK maritime brand in Briggs Marine, which will drive greater profile and awareness of our product range,” said SurfCleaner CEO, Mikael Andersson.

“The move opens up major potential across the UK’s vibrant maritime sector covering harbours, coastlines and nearshore markets. The SurfCleaner machines are the only systems in the world capable of removing and separating oil sheen and light hydrocarbons, which is particularly relevant in oil-spill clean up, removing the need for costly absorbents. Aside from being the world’s first dual skimmer separator technology, it delivers a huge range of other environmental, energy-saving and cost-cutting benefits - making it a truly revolutionary product. With an expanding portfolio, SurfCleaner has an opportunity to make a significant impact on global water treatment market in the coming years and its value will only increase as environmental regulations tighten across the board.”

Aside from offering a unique oil separation technology, SurfCleaner delivers a broad range of environmental benefits. Its SCO1000 device requires just 20W on average of electricity, making it ultra-energy efficient. Other comparable devices require circa 7.5KW. This low power profile means devices can be operated using mobile batteries for up to four days.

In addition, the streamlined, lightweight machine is fully automatic and contains just two moving parts, the motor and mechanical bellows, removing the need for pneumatics, hydraulics, pumps or hoses. This dramatically reduces the need of on-site supervision and maintenance costs, while the simplicity of the design makes it versatile, easily transportable and deployable in restricted locations.

Jamie Campbell, General Manager of Briggs Environmental Services, said: “I look forward to working with SurfCleaner in the future with what I can honestly say is one of the best skimming products I’ve seen in a long time, proof was certainly in the pudding so to speak!”

Invented by the late Stig Lundbäck MD PhD, clinical physiologist, SurfCleaner’s technology mimics the pumping principles of the human heart. To date, the firm has installed circa 40 units across the oil-water separation segment, serving a variety of customers including the Swedish Coast Guard, Preem Refinery, Esso Refinery, Sonatrach Refinery, Exxon Mobil and Ports of Stockholm.

For more info contact Peter Cheney – SurfCleaner AB peter.cheney@surfcleaner.com

Stuart Foreman – Briggs Marine Environmental Ltd sforeman@briggsenvironmental.com

MILESTONE REACHED IN THE HISTORY OF WILDLIFE RESPONSE AND PREPAREDNESS: GLOBAL OILED WILDLIFE RESPONSE SERVICE BECOMES PART OF OSRL’S SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT

Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) is pleased to announce that in 2022, the Global Oiled Wildlife Response Service (GOWRS) will become part of OSRL’s Service Level Agreement (SLA).

GOWRS is a ready-to-deploy Assessment Team of four wildlife response experts, drawn from 10 leading international wildlife response organisations, which will be available 24/7/365 to deploy for a four-day incountry incident assessment.

The team will be hand-picked from a pool of international experts depending on the needs of the specific incident. The GOWRS Assessment Team will evaluate and provide on-the-ground recommendations to the client. These recommendations will cover the need, feasibility, and elements for a wildlife response that meets industry Good Practice standards.

The annual funding for GOWRS will enable a year-round work programme for the ten partner organisations (listed below), all leading wildlife response organisations in their home countries, to develop and maintain a pool of qualified, response-ready Tier 3 Assessment Team personnel.

Robert Limb, Chief Executive at OSRL, comments: “Integrating GOWRS into our SLA is a significant milestone in the history of wildlife response preparedness. It represents the first time a Tier 3 response system will integrate operational wildlife responders. GOWRS will help sustain wildlife response knowhow for the future and create a more resilient network of wildlife response organisations.

He continues: “The GOWRS Partners will also continue to develop and maintain international standards. An essential part of this work will be supporting our members with their ongoing preparedness journey, especially efforts to improve Tier 1 and 2 wildlife response preparedness in parts of the world with limited capability.”

The addition of GOWRS enables all OSRL members to access an enhanced offering of SLA wildlife response services. GOWRS joins the SLA as a new service that complements the existing SLA services of access to expert oiled wildlife advice from the Sea Alarm Foundation and Tier 3 Wildlife Response Equipment by providing an expert infield assessment of any incident.

The GOWRS recommendations would help guide the implementation of a fullscale operational response, if needed and feasible. In this way, GOWRS helps ensure that OSRL members can access the best professionals in the world and establish a wildlife response correctly from day one.

Contracting for GOWRS is in progress and expected to be complete by the second half of 2022.

Notes to editors:

Global Oiled Wildlife Response Service (GOWRS)

The Global Oiled Wildlife Response Service (GOWRS) is a collaboration of ten of the world’s leading professional oiled wildlife response organisations representing a variety of models and missions unanimously committed to the best possible outcomes for wildlife. It currently consists of Aiuká (Brazil), Focus Wildlife International (U.S.A.), International Bird Rescue (U.S.A.), Oiled Wildlife Care Network/UC Davis (OWCN) (U.S.A.), PRO BIRD (Germany), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) (U.K.), SANCCOB (South Africa), Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research (U.S.A.), WILDBASE/Massey University (New Zealand), and Wildlife Centre Ostend (Belgium)

For information please contact: Emma Smillie: emmasmillie@ oilspillresponse.com Tel: +44 (0)23 8033 1551

MAJOR CHANGES AT AMBIPAR RESPONSE IN THE UK

Brazilian multinational Ambipar Response, one of the world’s leading environmental management and emergency response organisations, are delighted to name Martin Lehane as CEO of its European Operations as part of its continued growth in the region.

In his new role, Martin will manage Ambipar Response’s nine European locations and continue to facilitate the integration of the current companies recently acquired by the Ambipar Group, as well as any future additions.

As part of Ambipar’s continued growth, restructuring and streamlining of services, Mathew Perkins (Commercial Manager), Steve Doig (Operations Manager) and Tharsis Guido (Finance Manager) will now take on the responsibilities of the former Executive Committee under the leadership of Martin Lehane and continue to provide the high level of service that members and clients have been accustomed to over the years.

Ambipar Response Limited has been established in the Environmental Services and Incident Management Sector for over 70 years. As an accredited Marine Oil Spill Response Organisation and long serving member of the UK & Ireland Spill Association, Ambipar continues to deliver a wide range of preparedness and response services.

In 2018, the Ambipar Group acquired Braemar Response Ltd, renaming the company and integrating it as part of its continued growth outside of South America. Since then, Enviroclear Site Services Limited in the UK and Lehane Environmental & Industrial Services Ltd in the Republic of Ireland were further acquired in 2021 as part of the Group’s global expansion into the industrial services and hazardous waste management sectors.

These recent changes will enable Martin and his team to avail of the full resources of an international waste and environmental response PLC across Europe.

“For me the European Market is significant and I know we can build on the energy that the Lehane, Enviroclear and Ambipar businesses have currently. Over the next period we will be looking to build a solid Ambipar Brand – one company, one team, delivering high quality response and industrial services throughout Europe”.

Lehane Environmental & Industrial Services Ltd was founded in 1974 and Martin joined the family business in 1990 and built it into one of the largest environmental services providers in the Republic of Ireland before selling to Ambipar in 2021. Martin remained with the company after the sale, serving as EHSQ Director.

Martin was offered the position of CEO European Operations in early March – and officially takes office on the 1st April 2022.

Ambipar’s wide service offering coupled with asset ownership, represents an attractive value proposition to international and local clients; and now with greater reach and expansion in the European market in which it already has consolidation, will allow the organisation to increase its portfolio of services and environmental solutions even further, with new unique cross selling opportunities.

In addition to the commercial advantages and opportunities, the synergy between the business vision and the growth purpose will bring good results for everyone, especially for the market and our clients.

ABOUT THE AMBIPAR GROUP

Present in 18 countries, with over 300 bases and 12K+ employees, the Ambipar Group is a leader in the environmental management market. The company offers sustainable solutions for environmental protection, transport, logistics, distribution, training, management and support for crisis and emergencies globally. Each Ambipar sector is led by a highly qualified team, specialised in environmental response, incident management, industrial services and hazardous waste management services, and has the experience to address today’s challenges efficiently and establish lasting partnerships.

The Ambipar Group has recently further demonstrated its vigorous commitment to expansion in the global emergency response and marine oil spill markets – with the additional acquisitions of Flyone Specialized Air Service and Dracares.

Flyone Specialised Air Service will become Ambipar Response Air, offering a range of aerial platforms for wildfire and other emergency response, whilst Dracares will continue to support clients in the oil and gas sector, specialising in offshore and onshore oil spill emergency care, operating its own vessels to combat oil spills, scouts for seismic ships, environmental data collection vessels and bathymetric surveys.

For more information visit www. ambipar.com or email sales.response@ ambipar.com

OSRL ACQUIRES SHETLAND BASE

Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) has taken over the management of a response base on the west coast of Shetland.

The facility, based at Scalloway, houses equipment that can be rapidly deployed in the event of an incident, either offshore or nearshore.

Response equipment can be transported to the ports of Scalloway or Lerwick for deployment onto suitable vessels. Shoreline equipment is stored in trailers ready to deploy at short notice to any areas that could potentially be impacted.

The base supports several west of Shetland operators and was established by BP. OSRL and BP completed a thorough handover to ensure continuity of service under OSRL’s operatorship.

Robert Limb, OSRL Chief Executive, said: “We are pleased to announce the introduction of an OSRL base in Shetland.

“While we never want to face a situation requiring deployment, this important service provides an extra layer of protection when responding to incidents. Its favourable location on the west coast of Shetland allows us to act quickly and efficiently.

“The base will be run on a daily basis by our trained contractors on Shetland and managed remotely from the OSRL Aberdeen office. Training courses will also be offered at the base for our contractors and other interested stakeholders on the island.”

For more Information: Emma Smillie: emmasmillie@ oilspillresponse.com Tel: +44 (0)23 8033 1551

BRIGGS ACQUIRES MAJORITY INTEREST IN WIND TURBINE MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION PROVIDER

Briggs Marine has acquired a majority stake in ARB Wind, a Fife-based, inspection, testing and certification business focussing on the wind energy industry.

ARB Wind has a reputation for providing a high-quality service to wind energy clients onshore and the new association with specialist marine services provider Briggs, will enable these skills to be transferred offshore.

Collieson Briggs, Managing Director of Briggs Marine Contractors Ltd commented: “The agreement with ARB Wind represents an exciting opportunity for Briggs to further its involvement in the offshore wind sector. Briggs is keen to build on its reputation for providing marine services across all aspects of the renewables industry and this new partnership with ARB Wind allows Briggs to provide a complete package in terms of maintenance services for wind farms, both above and below the waterline.”

Briggs and ARB Wind will collaborate closely to provide operations and maintenance services to the increasing number of Scottish windfarms, with Briggs providing the marine expertise and project management capabilities to support expansion. With both companies based on the Forth Estuary, they are ideally placed to provide support as well as allowing developers to invest in the local supply chain.

Arran Bell, Managing Director of ARB Wind Limited commented: “We are delighted to be joining the Briggs Group this year in a joint commitment to provide enhanced offshore operations, inspection and maintenance services to the wind energy sector. Combining Briggs extensive marine experience with our onshore expertise will offer the Scottish offshore market a unique integrated package of wind farm services.”

ARB Wind will remain an autonomous company, teaming with its network of regional, national, and international partners and will continue to target growth in its established onshore wind markets. It will benefit from the collaboration with Briggs in various upcoming bids with key clients in the offshore wind industry.

INTERSPILL 2022 - 21-23 JUNE 2022

Interspill is an important conference and exhibition for our marine members and manufacturers. This year it is to be held at the RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre, Amsterdam from 21 – 23 June.

So far exhibition bookings are above 2018 and more space is being made available and should reach 1400sqm sold. There will be three main conference themes throughout. There are strong opening speakers.

The event has exhibitor led sector themeddays focussing on clean seas, ports and harbours and shipping and salvage which are shaping up well. The following Association members are attending: OSRL, Vikoma, Elastec, Surf Cleaner, Ambipar, Empteezy, Lamor, Darcy, NRC, Briggs so far.

The most recent Interspill newsletter follows this issue of Spill Alert!

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