MARCH 28, 2013 — Gulf of Mexico oil spill response resources have received boost with the addition of two new 95-foot rapid response vessels to the Clean Gulf Associates fleet. The Breton Island and Galveston Island complete the line-up of three new oil spill response boats designed and purchased since early last year by the non-profit oil spill clean-up consortium, joining the H.I. Rich, which was dedicated and posted to Leeville, LA, in July 2012. The two new vessels will be stationed in Venice, LA, and Galveston, TX. to help anchor spill response readiness all along the Gulf Coast. These vessels represent a $10.5 million investment in new Clean Gulf response resources designated for the Gulf of Mexico. Each vessel is manned by a crew of six specially trained response team members.

Built by the Midship Marine shipyard in Harvey, LA, the Breton Island and Galveston Island are the first aluminum construction oil spill response vessels in the Gulf of Mexico that can safely conduct clean-up operations during both day and night hours through the utilization of x-band radar and infrared oil detection systems.

The vessels have an estimated daily recovery capacity of 12,500 barrels of oil /water mix per day and are designed to operate up to 200 miles out into the Gulf as well as in shallow water inland marshes and estuaries. All three vessels are equipped with a pair of three-brush Lamor side-mounted skimmers with 249 barrels of recovered oil storage and state of the art navigation and communication systems.

"These three rapid response vessels are a part of our continuous effort to grow our response fleet with cutting edge technology and to ensure the protection of the Gulf Coast, our marine habitat and commercial and recreational fisheries resources in the event of another spill," said Captain Frank Paskewich, Executive Director of Clean Gulf Associates.

"Clean Gulf Associates is committed to delivering new technology and equipment to ensure fast and professional response capabilities for the deep and shallow water marine as well as coastal environments," said Doug Blakemore, Chairman of the Clean Gulf Executive Committee.

Clean Gulf Associates' spill response resources include a turbo prop dispersant aircraft, which Clean Gulf funded in 2009, water containment and clean-up equipment such as four 46 ft Fast Response Vessels, four trailer-able, 56 ft purpose-built skimming vessels capable of operating in shallow waters (3 ft - 4 ft) and the near shore areas, twelve portable self contained skimming Fast Response Units and 11 sets of rigid sweeping Koseq arms to be deployed on large offshore supply vessels, a $10 million High Volume Open Sea Skimmer system (HOSS) which is one of the most advanced long duration offshore oil spill collection systems in the world, and two different models of shallow water skimmers for shallow water operations such as in bays, bayous, marshes and lakes. In addition to this equipment, CGA also owns and stocks ocean containment boom, and has wildlife rehabilitation and support trailers.