AKTEA Skimmers Highly Effective for Gulf Spill

DALLAS, July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- AKTEA skimmers are effective for heavy oil spill cleanup required in the Gulf of Mexico according to Dr. Vassilios Mamaloukas-Frangoulis, Director of the Marine Environment Department of Environment Protection Engineering S.A., a firm that has successfully responded to more than 1,500 oil response incidents.

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"It is unconscionable that the United States is using makeshift skimmers on shrimp boats and barges with vacuum trucks to do the work that the AKTEA skimmers have won recognition for," said Allegiance Capital Chairman David Mahmood.

The AKTEA skimmers were showcased in a conference paper given at the Interspill 2009 World Conference by Dr. Mamloukas-Frangoulis and Michael O'Brien, a world recognized oil spill response expert who is Technical Team Manager for the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation (ITOPF). ITOPF is a not-for-profit organisation, involved in all aspects of preparing for and responding to ship-source spills of oil, chemicals and other substances in the marine environment.

AKTEA vessels have an incorporated skimmer that is a heavy oil weir type skimmer equipped with centrifugal pump for recovered oil.  Whereas many oleophilic-based and wier-based systems are challenged by thick viscous oils and oils mixed with debris, the central collecting channel of the AKTEA skimmers does not require any active mechanical principles to capture the oil. It is purpose-built for spills like the one in the Gulf of Mexico.

AKTEA are one of three types of skimmers Allegiance Capital is proposing for use in the gulf.

"Currently skimmers in the gulf are collecting less than 2,000 gallons a day per ship on average. The AKTEA could collect as much as 20,000 gallons per day per vessel Dr. Mamaloukas-Frangoulis has informed us. We want to be clear that people understand the high quality of the equipment we're offering," said Mahmood.

In a recent article attacking Allegiance Capital's efforts to bring in European skimmers to help in the Gulf of Mexico, a maritime association spokesperson disparaged the AKTEA ships.

"There is clearly a broad based need for help and equipment, both U.S. and foreign-owned, to assist in the cleanup effort. Those saying there isn't are in the minority and likely have ulterior motives for that view," said Mahmood. "Some are trying to keep foreign vessels from doing any work in the Gulf of Mexico at all costs."

SOURCE Allegiance Capital Corporation