Since the 19th century, doomed ships have been taking at least part of their oily cargoes or the contents of their bunkers to the bottom, trapping large amounts of potentially valuable product and leaving a long-term pollution threat. Salvage operations are often tricky due to the need to either access the fuel without disturbing the wreck, for example by locating existing handling equipment, or by taking the risk of cutting into the hull without losing control of the contents. Now, Miko Marine AS, based in Oslo, Norway, has announced a product it calls the Moskito, which aims to greatly simplify oil removal when employed by a diver or remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The company was founded in 1996 with the concept of using a magnetic patch for stopping seawater leaking into a floating vessel - or to stop oil leaking from the vessel into the sea. The resulting product was called the Miko Plaster. Miko uses the same magnetic technology to fix the Moskito onto the hull, where it functions as an automated tool kit for cutting precise holes and installing a valve.
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