Schermenpool deployments

In recent years, it fortunately rarely happened that an incident occurred requiring the deployment of the schermenpool, but in the last quarter of 2024 and early January 2025, it happened three times. The Port of Rotterdam experienced three significant heavy fuel oil spills in Q3 of 2024 and early 2025, where oil booms of the schermenpool were used.

The first incident occurred in the Amazonehaven, where 300 meters of oil booms from a pontoon out of the Pistoolhaven were deployed to limit the spread of a spill there.

The second incident was larger and more challenging due to its location in the 7th Petroleumhaven. Here, 1700 meters of oil booms were deployed from both a pontoon out of the Donauhaven and from several containers.

In both cases, the oil booms contributed to controlling the spread, and rapid deployment made the difference.

The third and final spill, where 350 meters of oil booms were deployed, was a spill in the southern branch of the 3rd Petroleumhaven. A large contamination was found here without a clear cause. Deployment was chosen to contain the contamination in the southern branch and prevent the entire 3rd Petroleumhaven from being blocked.

All in all, it was a busy time, with a lot of work still needed to get everything ready for deployment again.