During a recent visit to the USA, I was given some samples of a revolutionary marine bilge cleaning device to test, the BioSok. It is based on pollution control material for industrial use, but it is also available for boat owners. Oily water in the bilges is one of those inevitable things that can, to steal a quote, be lumped in with death and taxes. It’s an unglamorous subject and is usually dealt with using some form of absorbent material – the cheapest being a disposable nappy (diapers to our American friends). The problem with this approach is that you are literally moving the problem from one place to another. Oil and fuel in the bilge water go into traditional absorbent mats where they continue to smell and then have to be disposed of as hazardous material somehow.
BioSok products are different. Instead of just absorbing the contaminants, bugs actually eat the oil and fuel, leaving nothing to be disposed of except water. The secret is hinted at by their logo – the contents of the BioSok are small grains covered in a derivative from beeswax, which stimulates the resident bacteria to feed. The oily pollutants go, and so does the contents of the BioSok so there’s nothing but the skin of the BioSok to dispose of. This is totally the opposite of traditional absorbent methods.
I’m trialling a BioSok in my own bilge this season, and so far results look very promising. The products were originally launched in the UK several years ago, but availability is limited. The manufacturers are actively looking for additional UK representation and distribution, so if you are interested in a commercial arrangement contact us for details.
BioSok is manufactured by Uniremtech www.uniremtech.com