Anchor systems keep deployed boom in place for optimum oil containment. When anchoring booms or barriers it is important to consider the primary goal is to maintain containment. By using a mooring buoy as a sacrificial element in an anchor system you reduce the risk of submerging the booms flotation under heavy loads. It is not recommended that booms be anchored from their bottom or ballast. There are many variables to consider when deploying boom anchoring systems. Knowledge of the current flow, prevailing winds, bottom composition and depth of water can help to focus the design of a proper anchoring system. In situations where the boom or barriers are to be deployed in navigable waters, the Coast Guard or local governing authority must be consulted.
