Big Skimmer Hindered by Weather
Category U.S. | Tuesday, July 6th, 2010Twelve-foot high waves have hampered the collection of oily water by the Taiwanese ship A Whale, which continued testing its prowess on Monday as the world’s largest skimmer.
A Whale was the only skimmer out on the rough Gulf seas. Its gigantic size—more than 1,000 feet long—lets it maneuver in the high waves.
Last week, Hurricane Alex brought fresh oil ashore. The 12-foot waves on Sunday and Monday came not from Alex, but from a less powerful tropical depression.
Waves as small as two feet have sidelined smaller skimmers. Bob Grantham, a spokesman for the Taiwanese shipping company TMT Group, the A Whale’s owner, said it was significant that the A Whale was able to stay in the rough waters.