Two Dutch organisations – Deltares, an expertise centre for delta technology located in Delft and Rotterdam-based dredging company Van Oord – have together come up with an innovative concept to combat the oil spill threatening the US’s southern coast.

Their proposals consist of a set of radical measures that will do more to limit the environmental impact of the spill than has been assumed until now. Not only must the offshore slick be cleaned up, but the oil must also be kept away from vulnerable wildlife areas. Deltares and Van Oord have the required knowledge, experience and capacity to design and execute the sweeping measures required.