Oil Spill Response Test Basin
Oil spill response test basin is designed for training and testing purposes. The facility is comprised of a major test basin and smaller test tanks that enable the use of a variety of test oils in a controlled environment.
Oil spill response testing and training facility provides a unique outdoor environment to improve spill response capability. Training or testing the spill response techniques with real oil has not previously been possible in this scale in Finland. The basin enables using full-scale on-water containment and recovery equipment with various types of oils.
Facility is operated by the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (Xamk) and it is located in Kotka, approximately 1,5 hours east from Helsinki.
Oil spill response test basin can be used for full-scale spill response method, equipment and product testing
Oil spill response training
Oil spill response training
Oil spill response test basin provides various possibilities to carry out practical training such as oil containment and recovery exercises.
We provide the most commonly used spill response equipment, but training can also be conducted using customer’s own equipment.
Contact person for training activities:
Antero Myrén, firstname.lastname@xamk.fi
Spill response tests and equipment trials
Spill response tests and equipment trials
Oil spill response test basin can be used to assess the performance of oil spill response equipment and techniques as well as to conduct tests on response products.
Contact person for testing activities:
Manu Kettunen, firstname.lastname@xamk.fi
Training and testing facility
Facilities
(1) Main test basin is a concrete structured and cylindrical with a diameter of 30 metres (area 660 square metres) and 3 metres water depth
(2) Smaller test tanks made of steel with capacities varying from 2 to 12 cubic metres
(3) Separate tank for testing and training onshore clean-up techniques
(4) Glass-panelled test aquarium (1.5 square metres) and smaller test aquariums and test columns
(5) Water channel, 12 metres.
(6) Oil separation unit for hydrocarbon-based products.
Equipment
Oil spill response and recovery equipment, such as
- oil recovery devices with power packs
- brush, disc and drum skimmers in different sizes
- weir skimmer
- containment booms
- sorbents and other absorptive products
- outboard motor boat and catamaran type work platform
- boom crane (max. 500 kg)
Possibility to adjust current and wind conditions
The oil spill response basin offers versatile and unique conditions for research, testing and training in oil spill response: the facility is the only one of its kind in Finland where real oils or other pollutants can be used in an environmentally safe manner. The site also serves as a test environment for improving the efficiency of spill response waste management.
After the construction work was completed, the functions were developed through pilot activities involving rescue and environmental authorities, companies and voluntary organisations.
The oil spill response test basin is converted from a decommissioned waste water aeration basin owned by regional water company Kymen Vesi Oy. This development work was carried out with the help of ERDF funding from the Regional Council of Kymenlaakso and further funding from Xamk.
Contact
Xamk’s oil spill response test basin is located in address Sunilantie 10, FI-48900 Kotka.
Wait in the parking area for staff to welcome you.