BMT Fleet Technology Ltd, a subsidiary of BMT Ltd, has recently been awarded a number of contracts to design, fabricate and deploy boom systems to protect water intake channels from ice, debris or human ingress that may be a threat to safety or security.

The new contract awards will complement BMT’s continuing work in this area, which has seen the company undertaking advanced analysis on improving the effectiveness of existing boom studies. BMT has established itself as the leading authority in this field, with its success demonstrated in cumulative contracts of approximately $1.1 million (Canadian). In addition to this, the company is currently bidding on an additional $2 million of boom work for 2006/2007.

BMT’s expertise lies within performing site surveys, including bathymetric modelling; and also in the custom design, development or selection of existing boom systems currently on the market in order to meet the specific needs of a particular site. In cold regions where ice is a significant hazard, BMT has worked for over a decade producing custom steel boom systems to help create stable ice covers and reduce the formation of irregular ice floes which can block or damage intakes.

Ice and debris can cause costly physical damage to power generation operations, both hydroelectric and nuclear. Therefore, a reliable, unobstructed water supply is required as water intake channels provide direct access to power generation facilities. Reduced water flow or the contamination of the intake access of the facility can result in significant losses of power generation, subsequent revenue losses and possibly power outages when supply cannot meet demand. Robust boom systems within these conditions are imperative for minimising or eliminating risk.

Alongside completing a number of boom projects designed specifically for ice and debris controls, BMT has also completed a number of projects to satisfy a variety of other purposes. Recent work has included an efficacy assessment of an existing oil spill control boom, which functions as a barrier between the facility and open water. In the event of an oil spill, the contamination will remain restricted to the boom system perimeter, which will protect the surrounding environment as well as facilitate clean-up operations.