New Remedy For Oil Pollution

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 13

New Remedy For Oil Pollution

N.Z Press Association —Copyright)

PORT HAWKESBURY (Nova Scotia), February 10.

The Canadian Government has taken over the task of destroying the tanker Arrow, preparing to sink half of the shattered ship in the North Atlantic and burn off its discharge of oil with a new weapon used to combat pollution—tiny glass beads.

The Arrow grounded on a rocky reef in Chedabucto Bay last Wednesday and snapped in half on Sunday, and tugs pulled the stern half free yesterday. A test of the glass beads

yesterday was very encouraging, according to Mr James Hornsby, head of the Transportation Department’s team at the scene. “We set oil samples on fire under controlled conditions, and we definitely intend to use them.” he said.

The beads, which are porous and float, allow the oil to seep up to the surface, in a wick action, and burn off on the top. The glass insulates the flame from the cold ocean. which ordinarily makes it difficult to burn such heavy oil.

The glass balls are called “sea beads.” In Ottawa, the Minister of Transport (Mr Donald Jamieson) said that the stern section of the tanker would be sealed and sunk in the North Atlantic, beyond the continental shelf. The bow section, still firmly; lodged on the rocks, would probably be set on fire. The tanker, carrying 16.000 tons of a very heavy furnace oil. began leaking its cargo into the ocean when it ran aground. The oil turned to “thick, gooey globs,” in the cold water, so thick that it was thought it would not burn until the “sea-bead” tests. Canadian wildlife officers say that they fear the toll of sea bird and damage to shoreline will be severe if winds push the slick, three miles long and 100 yards wide, into Chedabucto Bay.