21st Feb 2018
Innovation in Closed-Cell Polyethylene Foam Tackles Sea-borne Robbery
The twenty-first Century has seen a growing number of sea routes infringed upon by pirates. The severity of hijacking is also on the increase with a number of cases resulting in death. According to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) piracy attacks are on the increase, a statement that exposes the frightening vulnerability of sea-bordering countries across the world. This type of robbery puts all aspects of sea-borne trade and tourism at risk, making the protection of sea-borders a common interest that has the potential to impact trade on a global scale.
Together with a leading marine barrier protection engineering company, we have developed a foam barrier defence boom that aims to protect vessels and sea-borders without the need to manually police vast expanses of water.
Contoured foam buoys are joined together using thick steel ropes to form an unsurpassable barrier, designed to initiate engine failure and debilitate hijackers before they reach their target vessels. The closed-cell polyethylene foam renders the barriers unsinkable, even when perforated by bullet holes. The application is of increasing interest to all sea-faring trade – from cruise liners to oil tankers.
ZOUCH eFoams’ closed-cell polyethylene foams are amongst the most diverse and highest quality foams available. They are durable, lightweight, have low water absorption rates, are non-corrosive and non-toxic, making them ideal for marine and flotation applications. Several countries across the globe are considering the foam and steel barriers as a pivotal mark of their peripheral marine defence, particularly as insurgent hijackers become increasingly ambitious in their piracy efforts.
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