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Solutions for marine pollution control, coastal and shoreline protection to effectively address environmental concerns
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Solutions for the protection of critical infrastructure and other high-security areas
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Solutions for marine pollution control, coastal and shoreline protection to effectively address environmental concerns
View All Products
Solutions for the protection of critical infrastructure and other high-security areas
View All Products
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Oil Booms, also often referred to as Oil Spill Containment Booms, are primarily used to contain oil spills to prevent further damage to the marine environment. In this post, we’ll explain the different oil boom types and their functions.
Oil booms can be implemented in ports, harbors, pipeline and intake projects, and in marinas and waterways as well, to protect them from oil spills. In addition, they can also serve to protect marine areas from unwanted debris.
We have four oil boom types under the brand name Ecobarrier. Foam-Filled Oil Booms, Solid Flotation Oil Booms, Harbour Oil Booms and Emergency Oil Booms. Each is designed for specific environmental conditions and project durations.
Suitable for short-term installations and calm water environments. The booms can be deployed much faster than any other oil boom, due to their lightweight construction.
Our Ecobarrier® Fence Oil Booms are typically used for static or low current applications, featuring a series of flat panels that float on the water to contain oil and debris.
The floats are closed-cell to avoid taking up any water. Manufactured in UV stabilized PVC membrane fabric, the booms are fitted with zipties (class I) or ASTM slide connectors (class II) for easy coupling of the panels and quick deployment.
They can be deployed much faster than any other containment boom, due to their design, and come in five sizes.
Ecobarrier® Solid Flotation Oil Booms are suitable for longer term installations and low to high currents. These are general purpose booms that operate with little maintenance and provide years of performance.
These oil booms can be deployed in various water environments, ranging from low to moderate and high currents.
They are general purpose booms that will provide years of performance. The booms are made of UV-stabilized PVC membrane with chain ballast, grab handles and anchor points, making it easy to install.
They are available in different sizes and tensile strengths. We also provide solutions for custom requirements.
Heavy-duty, durable oil booms suitable for permanent installations.
Our permanent boom – the Bolina Harbour Oil Boom – is a heavy-duty, durable oil boom designed to stay in the water for years with minimum maintenance.
Typical installations include petrochemical shipping terminals, desalination plants and marinas.
The boom is constructed of very durable high tensile material. Its floats are rotary-moulded, foam filled, long and wide, providing superior buoyancy and high stability in rough water, and eliminating the need for bottom ballast to keep the boom upright.
More about these booms in this blogpost:
Besides product design and delivery, Ecocoast can provide the full service cycle of installation, maintenance, removal and recycling.
Our contracting background allows us to offer tried and tested products. As the entire range has been used on our own projects, we know what works and what does not work.
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More details here about our oil boom range.
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Ecocoast’s Inflatable Oil Booms are rapid-response floating barriers designed to contain oil spills in calm to moderately dynamic water environments, such as marinas and sensitive marine areas like mangroves. These booms are air-inflated, allowing for compact storage on boom reels and extremely fast deployment when every minute counts. Once deployed, they form a robust physical barrier that prevents oil from spreading, helping to protect marine ecosystems and infrastructure. Their lightweight, durable construction ensures easy handling and reliable performance during emergency spill response, especially where storage space and swift action are critical.
Ecocoast oil booms are constructed from high-performance, oil- and chemical-resistant materials such as PVC, polyurethane and high-tensile fabrics, with added UV stabilizers to ensure durability in harsh marine environments.
The choice of material directly influences the boom’s buoyancy, flexibility and lifespan. For example, Ecocoast’s Bolina Harbour Oil Booms use rotomolded, foam-filled floats for exceptional stability and long-term performance, even in rough waters. Lighter materials like polyurethane are ideal for rapid deployment and temporary use, while heavy-duty, high-tensile fabrics are selected for permanent installations and critical infrastructure protection.
These material choices ensure that each oil boom is tailored to specific site conditions, offering reliable containment, easy deployment and minimal maintenance across a range of marine applications.
Ecocoast oil booms are quickly deployed either from shore or by boat, with modular sections easily connected for the required length. Once in place, they are securely anchored using site-appropriate methods such as ground anchors or ballast weights to ensure stability in varying water conditions. Maintenance involves routine inspections for damage, checking connections and anchors, and promptly repairing or replacing any worn sections to ensure ongoing effective performance.
Ecocoast manages seasonal and extreme weather variations by providing oil booms specifically engineered for different conditions, including heavy-duty models with robust, foam-filled floats and high-tensile materials for rough waters. Anchoring systems are customized and regularly adjusted to match site-specific weather and water forces, ensuring the booms stay secure and effective even during storms or rapid environmental changes. This approach keeps sensitive areas protected year-round.
Yes, oil booms can be reused, but their reusability depends on several factors. The type of boom, the extent and type of oil contamination, environmental conditions during deployment, and how well the boom is cleaned and maintained all play a role in determining if it can be used again. Heavy-duty and high-quality booms – like our Bolina Harbour Oil Booms – are more likely to withstand multiple uses, especially if they are properly cleaned after each deployment and regularly inspected for damage or wear. If a boom becomes saturated, damaged or deteriorates, it should be replaced or disposed of according to local regulations. Proper storage and maintenance further extend the lifespan and performance of reusable oil booms.
For Ecocoast products, test reports can be made available upon request to verify performance and compliance with project requirements. These reports detail the results of rigorous in-house and third-party testing, ensuring that each product meets specified standards for durability, effectiveness and safety. Clients can request these documents to support project documentation or regulatory submissions, providing added confidence in the quality and reliability of Ecocoast solutions.
Ecocoast offers specialized booms for specific marine challenges, ensuring the most effective solution for each problem. While oil booms are engineered primarily to contain and control oil spills, Ecocoast provides dedicated debris booms for managing floating waste, plastic and other debris in waterways, ports and critical infrastructure sites. Using the right type of boom – oil booms for oil, debris booms for trash and floating waste – maximizes performance, durability and environmental protection. This targeted approach ensures that each marine issue is addressed with the most suitable and efficient barrier system.
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