Giant skimmer ‘A Whale’ gets another test in oil-tainted Gulf, but official doubts capability

Giant skimmer gets another test, but faces doubt

NEW ORLEANS — The giant Taiwanese oil skimmer known as ‘A Whale’ is getting another chance to prove its value in the Gulf of Mexico.

But the leader of the federal response, Thad Allen, doubts the effectiveness of the “A Whale.”

The ship is supposed to suck up to 21 million gallons of oily water per day.

Allen said Thursday it seems more useful in a huge pool of oil than in thousands of smaller slicks.

Bob Grantham, spokesman for TMT Shipping, says the U.S. Coast Guard has approved another week of testing.

Grantham says the vessel has already made changes, including a new system for directing oily water from the ship’s intake vents to its storage tanks.