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Hydrocarbon Decontamination Services

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Oil pollution from oil spills and gas releases is a recurring problem. In the event of a disaster, action must be taken very quickly and effectively to avoid the dispersion of the pollutant as much as possible. THOMSEA has become the world leader in the decontamination of hydrocarbons at sea by trawling. Its trawls, very quick to set up and versatile, are also capable of adapting to different characteristics of hydrocarbons, whether heavy or emulsified. No floating solid can resist this trawl. THOMSEA`s expertise allows it to provide its subcontractors with precise plans for the manufacture of the different parts of the trawls: inflatable parts, nets, hoops (which keep the opening of the "pocket" above and below the water). This collaboration is crucial in the search for an optimal solution. The elements are then assembled and tested by THOMSEA, with a permanent desire for improvement that makes its trawls ever more efficient.

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The French Navy was a pioneer in their use, fighting against the Prestige oil spill in 2003. The first THOMSEA prototype used at the time came from the company founder`s experience with the Erika oil spill 3 years earlier. Following this action, the French Navy validated the THOMSEA trawl and equipped its main ports with it. To date, more than 100 trawls are positioned in Cherbourg, Brest and Toulon and in the French Overseas Territories. These same trawls played a crucial role in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010.
Even more impressive, the trawls provided by THOMSEA to respond to the Grande America oil spill (2019) helped prevent disastrous consequences. Thanks largely to the use of the THOMSEA trawl, the French Navy was able to collect all of the pollutant before it reached the French and Spanish coasts. For the first time, human action made it possible to prevent the effects of an oil spill.

Efficiency and speed: these are the key words for an oil spill clean-up operation. THOMSEA continues to work on more efficient methods and tools to limit the effects of these disasters.