Slick operator

Radar-based technology for instantly detecting and monitoring oil spills has been unveiled by engineers in Norway. Developed by offshore sensing expert Miros, the system is claimed to be capable of spotting and tracking the tiniest oil spills from up to 4.5km away regardless of weather or light conditions.

Miros managing director Erik Sandsdalen said the technology is underpinned by algorithms that can glean extra information from the data provided by conventional marine radar navigation systems. It is the first system of its kind, he claimed.

In the past offshore operators have relied upon hit-and-miss visual inspection techniques and costly helicopter-mounted infrared cameras to monitor spills. Sandsdalen said that while more recently operators have begun to look at the use of satellites to find oil spills, this technique is hampered by cloud cover and the fact that it is only possible to obtain an image once or twice every 24 hours.