Recently, a historic wooden schooner sank in Hamburg, Germany as the result of a collision with a 462-foot container ship.  The 136-year-old sailing ship had just undergone an expensive renovation and had recently returned to Hamburg from a Danish shipyard.  There happened to be response vessels in the area, and the 43 passengers were quickly rescued.  One passenger was severely injured while four others also incurred relatively minor injuries.           

As shown in the image above, the sinking vessel was surrounded by oil containment boom.  Using boom to surround a sinking or sunken boat can help prevent fuel, hydraulic fluid, or oil from escaping the immediate area and contaminating the body of water.  By containing the hydrocarbons by deploying a boom, it allows for sorbents and skimmers to remove them from the water surface.

Timeliness of deployment is a key factor in the effectiveness of this technique.  The sooner the containment boom is deployed, the more of the fuel and oil will be contained.  In order to be timely with the deployment of the boom, it is critical that the containment boom is staged at the ready in a nearby location.  This means that the coast guard, marinas, response vessels, ports and shipping lines should all have containment boom in stock for just such emergencies.  

A collision between a tanker and two barges occurred in the Houston Ship Channel on Friday, May 10, 2019.  The tanker collided with one of the barges, resulting in the second barge capsizing.  The barge damage resulted in a spill of 9000 gallons of flammable material called reformate, which is a gasoline blend.  Six oil skimmers have recovered 376 barrels of product-water mixture.  More than 20,000 feet of spill containment boom was deployed to contain the spill and help protect vulnerable areas.  Salvage teams have secured the two barges and all remaining product has been removed from the damaged barges.  The spill has resulted in some wildlife and fish deaths, and a seafood warning was issued by the Texas Department of Health.  Air quality tests in the area have resulted in no actionable levels.  The Galveston Bay Foundation will continue to take water samples for testing.  At this time, the Houston Ship Channel has resumed full operation.

The Ocean Cleanup project has launched its second attempt at using a boom system to remove plastic from the world’s oceans.  Last year, the initial design was launched, including the use of a 2000-foot boom to capture floating plastic in the Pacific.  The target is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch located midway between Hawaii and California.   The initial design was launched in September of 2018, but by January, a section of the boom had become disconnected.  In addition, there were issues with the inconsistent speed of which the boom traveled relative to the floating trash. 

The team at The Ocean Cleanup went back to the drawing board to tackle some of the design issues.  Instead of “chasing” the debris, the new design allows for the track to float into the U-shaped boom, which is slowed by a large sea anchor.  The boom system was broken down into segments, allowing it to be serviced at sea instead of requiring a tow back to San Francisco.  In addition, the boom size was scaled back to make it feasible for the entire system to be towed at a much higher speed.  Finally, the collection boom and curtain combination has been moved forward of the main boom flotation, reducing structural stress on the overall system. 

This new approach has been launched and is showing early signs of success.  Time will tell if this new design is on the right track, but there’s no doubt that the goal is important to accomplish.  Reducing the trash at sea will certainly lessen the impact on sea life. 

Texas Boom Company has a long history of providing oil spill containment boom, buoys, markers, bladder tanks, and containment berms to all branches of the US Military and the civilian organizations that provide support for them across the globe.  Our company is proud to manufacture our products in the United States and to support our military in their mission to keep our country safe and maintain our freedom.  As such, we are pleased to have recently received these pictures of our 10-inch oil spill containment boom being used in port by the USS Wichita in Puerto Rico.  

There are two major categories of floating oil boom:  Absorbent Floating Oil Boom and Non-Absorbent Floating Oil Boom.  Both serve a specific purpose, and they can be used in tandem to help contain oil spills in bodies of water such as oceans, gulfs, bays, rivers, streams, lakes, canals, and ponds.

Absorbent Floating Oil Boom is comprised of a mesh sock or tube filled with polypropylene.  The fibers in the boom absorb oil and other hydrocarbons while repelling water.   In addition, the properties of the polypropylene fibers also provide buoyancy, allowing these absorbent booms to float with no additional material required.  These floating oil booms are effective until they become saturated, reaching the end of their useful life.  Upon saturation, these booms are then disposed of properly, having removed a significant volume of oil from the water where they were deployed.  Absorbent floating boom are typically deployed in calmer waters.   

Non-Absorbent floating oil boom is made to be a barrier that contains oil, keeping it from spreading.  This oil can then be skimmed or dispersed using chemicals that break the oil down into smaller particles.  This type floating oil boom can either utilize foam filled chambers or air filled chambers to provide the floatation.  The foam filled floating oil boom is conventional or contractor boom, while the air filled floating boom is inflatable boom.   Because these floating oil booms do not absorb oil, they offer a longer term solution to contain the oil.  There are additional styles of non-absorbent floating oil boom, including permanent oil containment boom.  This permanent oil boom is made of more durable materials and is intended for extended use after deployment.  Any of these types of floating oil boom can be sized accordingly, making them effective for water and weather conditions ranging from calm to severe.  

Over the last few years, beachgoers have been faced with the awful sights and smell of stinking seaweed washing up on the shorelines.  Conditions have been perfect for the massive growth of Sargassum, the aquatic vegetation that continues to pile up on beaches throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.  The staff at resorts and hotels work tirelessly to keep their beaches clean and attractive for guests.  Many rely on using heavy equipment to clear the beaches daily of the Sargassum piling up on the sand.   The task is required to be performed continuously when large mats of seaweed arrive.

Sargassum isn’t all bad.  Offshore, it can provide excellent habitat for sea turtles, crabs, fish, and other sea creatures.  Onshore, it’s a different story.  No one likes the feel of seaweed against their bodies while trying to enjoy the ocean.  As Sargassum piles up on the beach, it creates a handful of problems.  In addition to being unsightly, it also begins to decay onshore.  As it rots, it attracts insects and produces hydrogen sulfide.  Hydrogen sulfide is the same gas that gives rotten eggs their sulfurous smell and can cause breathing problems for beachgoers and boaters with asthma.  Scientists predict that the current trend of massive Sargassum floats to continue for the foreseeable future.   The Sargassum growth is tentatively linked to rising levels of nutrients in the seawater, including nitrogen and phosphorus.

Texas Boom Company offers a Seaweed Boom that serves as a floating barrier to Sargassum before it reaches the shore.  Because Sargassum floats, these seaweed barriers block the nuisance from reaching the guests and the beach.  The Seaweed Boom is anchored offshore, in parallel to the beach, to keep the seaweed away and leave clear swimming areas for the guests.  The Sargassum can either be collected along the barrier or be deflected to a designated shore location to allow for pick up.  Using these floating Sargassum barriers can both improve guest experiences and lower costs to keep the beaches free of seaweed. 

Turbidity curtains, also referred to as silt curtains, offer a means to keep suspended particles from vacating the immediate area in a body of water.  The curtains hang from floats down into the water and impede the flow of the turbidity or silt.  Over time, the suspended sediment settles back to the bottom.  These floating curtains can be made from solid fabrics that impede all flow of water, or built using a geotextile mesh fabric that allows water to flow through while still blocking the silt or other particles from escaping. 

One application for turbidity curtains is to contain runoff from storm drains or pump station discharge points.  These are typically exit points for storm drain systems that provide drainage from developed urban areas to prevent or minimize flooding.  Because the water is collected from public streets and other areas, the water is prone to washing away trash, dirt, and other debris.  Instead of simply dumping this water into waterways, the systems may run the water through filtering processes to remove garbage and larger debris.  However, these filters may not capture all of the materials suspended in the water. 

By creating a barrier using a turbidity curtain between the drain exit point and the body of water, much of what passes out of the storm drain system other than water can be retained.  The floating curtain system allows any suspended sediment to settle to the bottom instead of washing downstream.  Should there also be a concern of oil, fuel, or other hydrocarbons also being discharged, floating sorbent boom can also be used in conjunction with the turbidity curtain to capture and retain any slick that may form as it comes in contact with the sorbent boom.

Texas Boom Company – a leading manufacturer of oil spill response and marine construction products, today announced it was named to the 2024 Inc. 5000—an annual list of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The prestigious ranking provides a data-driven look at the most successful companies within the economy's most dynamic segment—independent and entrepreneurial businesses.

"We are honored to be named one of America's fastest-growing companies by Inc. for the first time," said Keith Harrison, CEO of Texas Boom Company. “While the company was established in 1986, growth in core markets has been emphasized in recent years.  Our team is building on the company’s longstanding reputation while expanding our repeat customer base. We recently expanded into a new facility and are capitalizing on efficiency gains to build on the recent momentum. The best is yet to come for Texas Boom.”

The Inc. 5000 class of 2024 represents companies that have driven rapid revenue growth while navigating inflationary pressure, the rising costs of capital, and seemingly intractable hiring challenges. Among this year's top 500 companies, the average median three-year revenue growth rate is 1,637 percent. In all, this year's Inc. 5000 companies have added 874,458 jobs to the economy over the past three years.

Texas Boom Company has relocated.  Our new facility is five miles west of the previous location.  The new address is provided below.  The new plant offers significantly more space on the manufacturing floor, as well as additional office and showroom space.  Our team is realizing improved efficiencies with the expanded production space, which translates into shorter lead times and greater throughput.  Each of these factors should benefit our customers.  

Production at this facility includes the manufacture of oil spill containment boom, turbidity curtains, containment berms, fuel bladders, pillow tanks, and other related products.  The main focus of manufacturing at the facility centers around RF welding of fabrics.  Texas Boom also distributes sorbents, skimmers, spill kits, anchors, buoys, boom reels, life rings and rafts, and tank trailers.  Custom RF welding services are also offered. 

Texas Boom Company address as of February 1, 2024:

Texas Boom Company is a proud sponsor of the 2019 Clean Waterways Conference and Exhibition at the Hyatt Regency in Cincinnati, OH Apr 16-18.  By supporting this type event, Texas Boom Company helps to support industry partners across various sectors.  It also puts TBC in very good company, joining many recognizable players in the spill prevention and response industry.  Texas Boom Company is also the only Oil Spill Containment Boom manufacturer sponsoring this event.  

Texas Boom Company is Exhibiting at CLEAN WATERWAYS - Come Visit Us at Booth #502

For busy contractors, staging and deploying containment boom or turbidity curtains is one small part of a much larger and more hectic schedule.  The pipeline, roadway, bridge, or bulkhead has to be completed on time.  Staging it to be ready when the time comes to put the boom or silt curtain into position is more about timing than optimizing storage or prolonging the life of the products.  The containment boom or silt curtain is made to be used outside in difficult condition, so what's the difference?  Many times the longevity of the product is the least of anyone's concerns in the heat of the moment.  Does the image below look familiar?  

We do want to remind our customers on steps to help optimize the useful life of oil containment boom or turbidity curtains.  When at all possible, storing these products in a dry location out of the sun will greatly prolong their life.  If possible, storing them in a container or building that prevents access to rodents is another key priority, as rodents often inflict damage to this type of product.  Rinsing them and drying them (an ordinary leaf blower can be effective in blowing out the ballast chain chamber) prior to stacking them in storage is also recommended.  Re-bundling the boom or silt curtains will make redeployment much quicker and easier.  It is also important to inspect the products prior to storage, and every six months when they are in storage, to be sure that no significant damage has occurred.  

Treat your spill containment boom or turbidity curtains properly, and you will get your money's worth out of them.   Ignore the basic guidelines for proper storage, and you will be replacing the boom and curtains at a much greater frequency.  

Texas Boom Company typically uses a 22 oz PVC fabric to construct our oil spill containment boom.  This fabric offers a good balance between durability and cost.  This weight fabric adheres well during the RF welding process that TBC utilizes for all seams.  However, there are times when either a lighter fabric is prefered to reduce costs since the oil spill boom may be utilized for a shorter window of time.  Other times, a heavier weight fabric is preferred to add longer life and greater durability if the oil spill containment boom is expected to be deployed and retrieved repeatedly over time.  

Shown above is a recent production run that utilized 28 oz PVC fabric.  The customer needed the oil spill containment boom to be used repeatedly to conform with port requirements when their ships were docked.  Other fabrics like Polyurethane are also options.  Color is also a consideration with some customers.  Permeability is a key requirement on some silt curtain skirts.  We are always willing to consult with customers to choose the best fabric material and weight to meet their needs.  TBC can manufacture oil spill containment boom, silt curtains,and collapsible fabric tanks to exact customer specifications. 

Bigger isn't always better.  Sometimes our customers need a custom sized boom to meet a specific purpose.  Depending on the application and conditions, smaller containment boom can be even more effective than larger sized models.  We will profile this particular application in more detail upon completion of the installation, but we wanted to highlight Texas Boom Company's ability to deliver products to a customer's exact specifications.  

In this particular case, a three inch freeboard is combined with a three inch draft to form a containment boom with six inches of total height.  The customer also requested the boom in all black fabric.  Because of the smaller size and installation, the customer also requested no connectors, making this particular product a hybrid between a conventional containment boom and a Type I turbidity curtain.  The sections of custom containment boom are attached with stainless steel nuts and bolts and galvanized shackles.  The shackles provide sturdy anchor points on the boom as well as attaching the sections together at the bottom pair of grommets.  

At Texas Boom Company, we stock a wide range of products that meet the needs of many of our customers.  We develop these core lines of containment boom, silt curtains, and secondary containment berms based on a long history of fabricating these type products per the specifications of our clientele.  TBC has also learned along the way that many of our customers have a unique need that isn’t necessarily addressed by one of our off-the-shelf solutions. 

A recent example includes a new customer who is looking to use silt curtains to help manage the flow of algae and had a few criteria that were important to him as he looked to purchase silt curtains.  His first requirement was a durable fabric that would hold up over repeated use.  He planned to deploy, retrieve and store the silt curtains daily, and he wanted a longer-life silt curtain that would hold up to frequent use. 

Next, the customer was interested in a permeable skirt that would allow water to flow through the skirt to reduce pressure on the silt curtain.  However, it would still be important for the geo-textile used in the silt curtain skirt to impede the flow of algae and vegetation.  These were the fundamental factors that necessitated the need for the silt curtains in the first place. 

Texas Boom Company is pleased to be participating in the 2019 Dredging Summit and Expo, hosted by the Western Dredging Association (WEDA).  This annual meeting brings together many of the leaders in the dredging industry and is a great opportunity for ongoing education and networking.  Texas Boom Company is a burgeoning leader in supplying silt curtains to the dredging industry.  

It's exciting to hear about all the projects underway across the US.  Customization of silt curtains to the exact specifications is a leading topic of discussion amongst our existing and prospective customers here at the show.  Each of these projects is planned and executed with exacting attention to detail.  Texas Boom Company has the ability to quickly deliver customized silt curtains to meet the demanding needs of these dredging customers.  

Come see the TBC display at booth 30.  The event is being held June 4-7 at the Chicago Hilton.  

The skilled craftsmen at Texas Boom Company have quite a bit of experience fabricating coated fabric products to exact customer specifications.  These custom products are sometimes based on existing product designs, while other times they are completely unrelated to TBC's core business.  Regardless, we offer our customers the ability to receive a product that meets their exact needs.

Recently, Texas Boom Company tackled a project to produce a custom-designed inflatable boom product.  These 8-inch diameter inflatable booms were intended to provide flotation for a very specific application.  These custom booms also required the addition of retention loops to serve as guides for this particular use.  Because these booms are inflatable, you can see they require less space to transport and store when not inflated.  Use of a leaf blower or an air compressor can quickly transform these from flat pockets to fully inflated floats.  

Another example of custom fabrication work completed by Texas Boom Company is a set of floats that help self-right a capsized watercraft.  These inflatable balls are constructed similar to the geometry of a soccer ball.  The RF welding provided terrific bonds between each of the side panels.  The valve types used met the customer's exact standards required.  

Texas Boom Company has produced a number of silt curtains recently from dredging projects across the US.  As you would expect, as a dredging operation takes place, mud and sand are stirred into the adjacent water.  This material remains suspended in the water until it washes away or settles back to the bottom.  Dredgers use floating silt curtains (turbidity curtains) to keep silk and sediment from migrating while suspended.  This helps to avoid muddying local waterways during the dredging process.  Whether used to meet regulatory requirements or simply as a courtesy to others, silt curtains are effective in helping to reduce sediment runoff. 

Three recent projects are highlighted below, selected because our customers were kind enough to share pictures of the silt curtains in use.  

The first project was a roadway construction project here in Texas.  As can be seen in the image, the silt curtain is effective in keeping the sediment from escaping the construction area.  Because the silt is contained, it will eventually settle in place, leaving the area water clear and free of an abundance of eroded mud. 

Cattail Marsh is a 900 acre wildlife area located in Beaumont, Texas.  This marsh is located adjacent to Tyrrell Park and serves as a component of the waste water filtration system for the city.  The marsh features a 520 foot boardwalk that was installed in 2016 at a cost of $285,000.  Cattail Marsh and the surrounding area support a wide variety of local wildlife and is a popular bird watching site. 

As is common in many bodies of water in the area, Water Hyacinth has taken root and spread rapidly across the entire marsh.  Water Hyacinth is an invasive plant species that is recognized as one of the fastest growing plant species in the world.  The plants primary means of reproduction are runners that eventually form sister plants.  It also produces large volumes of seeds that remain viable for up to 30 years.  Because of its ability to rapidly reproduce, coverage areas can double in periods as quickly as two weeks.  

If left unchecked, Water Hyacinth can completely cover a body of water, resulting in reduced water flow, complete blocking of sunlight to submerged plant species, and a depletion of oxygen from the water itself.  These results can have a major detrimental impact on plant and animal species.  This plant is difficult to control once introduced to a lake, pond or stream.  Water Hyacinth has no know direct food value for wildlife.  

For the second consecutive year, Texas Boom Company is proud to provide sponsorship for Wreaths Across America.  This outstanding organization aims to achieve three primary goals:

• REMEMBER our fallen US Veterans
• HONOR those who serve
• TEACH your children the value of freedom

This is in part accomplished by laying holiday wreaths at every gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery, as well as over 1600 other locations around the country and abroad.  There are a few ways you can help with this worthy cause.  Saturday, December 14, 2019, is National Wreaths Across America Day.  You can volunteer to help at one of the many locations with the placement of the wreaths at the gravesite of fallen veterans.  You can also donate to help fund the purchase of the wreaths for placement.  Your donations can be either to the national program or targeted to a local cemetery.  Either way, you are helping with a worthy cause.  Please consider participating in this important program.