Vessel
of Opportunity Skimming System (VOSS) The VOSS deployed on the U.S.
Coast Guard Cutter Katherine Walker during the New England
Environmental Expo in May, 1998 (Photo: USCG). The Coast Guard owns and
maintains pre-positioned Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System
(VOSS) equipment suites throughout the country at three spill
response Strike Teams and at strategic sites within each Coast Guard
District. Pre-positioned equipment in the First District is stored
in Portsmouth, NH and Davisville, RI (Quonset Point).
Each site has four flatbed trailers that carry the VOSS and 5,000 feet of 42" open water containment boom. The VOSS system, designed to be deployed on available vessels of opportunity 60' or longer, consists of two Desmi 250 auger screw skimmers, two outrigger arms and oil collection booms, a weight handling davit and hoist, two diesel hydraulic prime movers, two centrifugal transfer pumps, and two inflatable 28,000 gallon recovery barges.
The VOSS equipment is available to Coast Guard On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), the lead federal official in spill response in the coastal zone, as either a system or as individual components to augment overburdened commercial resources during a large spill in consultation with the First District in Boston. Use of the propositioned VOSS is coordinated through First District Response Advisory Team.
The First District has coordinated (VOSS) or assisted with (SORS) the following training events for the two on-water skimming systems:
| Vessel of Opportunity Skimming System (VOSS) and Spilled Oil Recovery System (SORS) Training Events: 1998 to Present | |
| 2007 | |
| CGC IDA LEWIS | 10-13 Apr. |
| CGC KATHERINE WALKER | 27-28 Jun. |
| CGC JUNIPER | 20-22 Aug. |
| 2006 | |
| CGC ABBIE BURGESS (VOSS) | 6-8 Sept. |
| CGC MARCUS HANNA (VOSS) | 3-5 Oct. |
| USNS KEOKUK (YTB 771) (VOSS) | 3-5 Oct. |
| 2005 | |
| CGC MORRO BAY | 16-18 Aug. |
| CGC WILLOW (SORS) | 16-18 Aug. |
| CGC JUNIPER (SORS) | 16-18 Aug. |
| CGC ABBIE BURGESS (VOSS) | 14-16 June |
| 2002 | |
| CGC IDA LEWIS (VOSS) | May |
| USNS KEOKUK (YTB 771) (VOSS) | May |
| CGC ABBIE BURGESS, CGC THUNDER BAY, CGC KATHERINE WALKER, CGC PENOBSCOT BAY, CGC STURGEON BAY (VOSS), CGC WILLOW (SORS), and CGC JUNIPER (SORS) | Scheduled but postponed due to operational committments |
| 2001 | |
| CGC WILLOW (SORS) | 07-10 Aug. |
| CGC JUNIPER (SORS) | 05-07 Sept. |
| 2000 | |
| CGC ABBIE BURGESS (VOSS) | 30 May-02 June |
| CGC IDA LEWIS (VOSS) | 19-22 June |
| CGC KATHERINE WALKER (VOSS) | 25-28 July |
| CGC MARUS HANNA (VOSS) | 29-31 Aug. |
| CGC JUNIPER (SORS) | 11-13 Sept. |
| 1999 | |
| CGC PENOBSCOT/STURGEON BAY (VOSS) | 27-30 April |
| CGC STURGEON BAY (VOSS) | 03-06 May |
| CGC THUNDER BAY (VOSS) | 10-13 Aug. |
| CGC WILLOW (SORS) | 22-24 April |
| CGC JUNIPER (SORS) | 18-20 Aug. |
| 1998 | |
| CGC MARCUS HANNA (VOSS) | 31 March to 02 April |
| CGC KATHERINE WALKER (VOSS) | 04-06 May, |
| CGC KATHERINE WALKER (VOSS) | 22-23 Sept. (PREP) |
| CGC KATHERINE WALKER (VOSS) | 22-23 Oct. |
| CGC ABIGAIL BURGESS (VOSS) | 02-04 June |
| CGC IDA LEWIS (VOSS) | 13-17 July |
| CGC JUNIPER (SORS) | 15-16 Dec |
Updated: 12/17/2007