The Fast Response Unit (FRU) is a self-contained, skid based, skimming system that is deployed from the right side of a vessel of opportunity (VOO). An outrigger holds a 75 foot long section of air inflatable boom in place that directs oil to an apex for recovery via a Foilex 250 weir skimmer. The outrigger creates roughly a 40 foot swath width dependent on the VOO beam. The lip of the collection bowl on the skimmer is placed as close to the oil and water interface as possible to maximize oil recovery and minimize water retention. The skimmer then pumps all fluids recovered to the storage tank where it is allowed to settle, and with the approval of the Coast Guard, the water is decanted from the bottom of the tank back into the water ahead of the containment boom to be recycled through the system.
Once the tank is full of as much pure recovered oil as possible it is offloaded to a storage barge for disposal in accordance with an approved disposal plan. A second 100 barrel storage tank can be added if the appropriate amount of deck space is available to use as secondary storage.
