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MPC, One of the World's Most Prominent Environmental Management Companies, to Demonstrate New Submarine on Detroit River for Oil Recovery Operations

Posted on: Thursday, 11 October 2007, 12:00 CDT

DETROIT, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit's Marine Pollution Control (MPC), one of the world's most prominent environmental management companies, will demonstrate the recovery of oil on the floor of waterways in a new specially designed submarine on the Detroit River October 16.

The two-person submarine called the STAR (Submerged Transport And Recovery), which can dive to 3,000 feet, helps solve the problems of recovering oil that sinks to the bottom in major oil spills on the oceans, lakes and rivers, said David Usher, MPC chairman and one of the world's experts in oil spill cleanups. Usher added:

"MPC, which pioneered the use of portable hydraulic offloading systems to remove oil cargo from ships, thereby preventing pollution of the seas, is now leading the way toward effective recovery of heavy oils that sink when it is spilled in water.

"The company is in the process of patenting its unique concept of using manned submersibles to fight oil pollution and the tests and demonstrations scheduled for October are an important part of improving our environment in the future."

The demonstration to be held at 4:30 p.m. is part of MPC's 40th anniversary celebration which will be held at MPC's headquarters at 8631 W. Jefferson.

MPC will demonstrate the use of the submarine, but given water conditions, live video feeds may not be possible. However, MPC will distribute videotapes of the submarine's test operations at other locations.

"Recovering oil from the bottoms of oceans, lakes and rivers has been a major problem in oil spill cleanups," said Usher. "The STAR goes a long way in helping solve this problem."

The STAR houses a pilot and one passenger, is 15 feet long, almost eight feet wide, and weighs 7,100 pounds. It has a normal air supply for six hours and a reserve supply of an additional 72 hours.

The pilot and passenger sit in a 54-inch spherical acrylic cabin which gives them an excellent view under water in all directions, said Usher.

The submarine has been equipped by MPC with a giant underwater skimming device that uses suction to remove oil from the bottom. The unique characteristic of this system is that it does not contact the polluted sea bed; rather it hovers above, minimizing disturbance to the affected area.

MPC, headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, celebrates is 40th anniversary this year. A pioneer in oil and hazardous spill response, the company has participated in the cleanup of many of the world's most well-known environmental catastrophes. MPC maintains a highly trained and qualified staff of response professional, and has equipment depots located at 18 strategic ports in the U.S. and overseas. The company participated in the Exxon Valdez incident in 1989, the Persian Gulf oil spills resulting from Operation Desert Storm in 1991, and during the response efforts for Hurricane Katrina in and round New Orleans in 2005.

Marine Pollution Control

CONTACT: Berl Falbaum of Falbaum & Associates, +1-248-737-1588

Source: PRNewswire

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