Secret formula for oil clean-up

Press, 4 April 1989, Page 9

Secret formula for oil clean-up

* NZPA-PA London A British scientist ar- - rived in Alaska yesterday 7 equipped with a secret - formula that could help clean up America’s worst oil spillage. The United States authorities believe the revolutionary product, developed by Dr Alfred Jones, aged 57, of Tavistock in Devon, can help disperse the huge Valdez oil slick, and they have called him over for urgent talks.

The secret of the nontoxic substance, called “Osprey,” is believed to be its buoyancy and its being impregnated with bacteria, which eat the oil as the material absorbs it.

■ The oil-eating bugs are - harmless and because the ‘ material they live in ' floats, monitoring the pol- ’ lution clean-up is made » easier. Dr Jones said, “I hope I - can help, but the size of the disaster should not be , underestimated.” His tiny Plymouth- ; based company, Biotech - Industrial Products, Ltd, developed and patented the product two years ago and has carried out trials with it over the last 12 months. A company director, “ Godfrey Rehaag, said the American request was welcome recognition of the company’s product, - but refused to disclose its ' $

content. He said, “Dr Jones was flown into Alaska by the military. He will be showing the American authorities how the product is used and discussing its potential.” Plans were being drawn up to send large amounts of the product to Alaska, if the Americans ordered it. But Osprey will only be able to treat liquid oil, not the thick tar forming in some areas after the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground spilling 50 million litres of oil into the sea.

Meanwhile, investigators allege the captain of the Exxon Valdez admitted drinking on board the tanker before it rammed a reef. When the first investigator on the scene of the nation’s worst-ever oil spill boarded the tanker and asked Captain Joseph Hazelwood what the problem was, he replied, “I think you’re looking at it,” according to court documents. The documents were filed in support of an arrest warrant issued for the captain last Friday on state misdemeanour charges of operating a ship while under the influence of alcohol, reckless endangerment and negligent discharge of oil. Captain Hazelwood remained at large yesterday. - ~