The world's largest oil skimmer, a Taiwanese-flagged ex-tanker named 'A Whale,' is at an anchorage at Bootheville, Louisiana, as Coast Guard and federal officials study the vessel.

摘要

The ship is 10 stories tall and the length of 3.5 football fields and, according to its owners, can process up to 21 million gallons of oil-tainted water per day. The water is sucked in through 12 vents on either side of the bow and inside, the oil is separated from the seawater which is discharged. Critics have said there is still some trace of oil in the discharged water. Because of that, the EPA will have to give final approval for use of the vessel.