In the midst of increasing oil tanker traffic along U.S. coasts, Texas is using new technology to protect beaches, wildlife and marine resources against oil spills.
Oil spills can be unpredictable, thwarting efforts to minimize damage.
A computer-generated oil slick trajectory model combined with an automated buoy system capable of measuring surface currents that can be interrogated by cellular phone. Texas General Land Office. Buffalo Marine Services Inc., Aramco Services Co., Marine Spill Response Corp., ESRI, Sun Microsystems, Seaconsult Marine Research Ltd. On March 18, a barge carrying 17,000 barrels of oil buckled in heavy weather off the coast of Texas, spilling an estimated 5,000 barrels of fuel oil into Galveston Bay. To prevent the barge from breaking up further, the tow captain grounded it on nearby Bolivar Peninsula until the remaining cargo could be safely transferred to another vessel.