disastrous oil spill.

The substance, called elastol, can make oil rubbery and easier to skim off the surface of the sea. Once treated with it, oil is said to be less likely to stick to boats and coral or to sink into sand.

Details of the substance, claimed to be environmentally safe, were revealed at a marine pollution conference yesterday.

US oil spill expert Mr. Steve Kaufmann, whose Connecticut firm developed elastol, said it makes oil stick to itself, rather than spread out and mix with water.

Mr. Kaufmann's firm Sunshine Technology has helped Bermuda tackle spills, and has pledged to stand by in case of other incidents.

He told the conference an oil slick sprayed with elastol becomes like a blanket, which can be pulled into a special skimming machine.

The process leaves clear water without an oily sheen, he said, and the recovered oil can even be re-used.

Plus, about $75 would buy a quart of elastol liquid -- enough elastol to treat 1,000 gallons of oil.

Mr. Kaufmann was speaking at a meeting held by Government's marine pollution contingency committee, designed to update the Island's plans for dealing with spills.

Government departments, Police, the Fire service, the Regiment, the US Navy, oil companies, shipping agents and the Biological Station were involved. Mr.

Kaufmann said booms placed on the sea are not very good at holding oil in place. They are limited to one knot currents and ten knot winds.

But they could be used to help deflect an incoming slick from a sensitive stretch of coastline, although this might mean "sacrificing'' a less important area.

The expert, who was involved in the first 48 hours of the giant Alaskan oil spill disaster, said he tried to persuade the oil company executive in charge of the clean-up to use elastol. But he was told the time was not right to "experiment'', he said.

Permission had not yet been granted to use the substance on a major spill. "I wish you have no major spills,'' he told the meeting. "But if you do, we're only a matter of a few hours away and the technology is available.'' Dr. James Burnett-Herkes, Permanent Secretary at the Environment Ministry and co-ordinator of the conference, told The Royal Gazette Mr. Kaufmann's company had supplied Bermuda with equipment for many years, along with other firms.

He said Bermuda's booms are important for keeping oil away from mangroves or small harbours - few of which have bad currents. Booms tend to keep oil around a ship, he said, and were used after a spill last year in St. George's harbour.

The Island has supplies of elastol, said Dr. Burnett-Herkes, but in an early powder form which was difficult to spread on a slick.

He said he was interested to hear Mr. Kaufmann's description of a new technique that made the powder into a slurry which could be hosed onto a spill.

And he was pleased to hear of new skimming machines that collected oil with little water mixed in.

Bermuda's skimmers, which collected a large percentage of water, needed replacing.

"Following this conference we will be looking at the new technology and hopefully updating our equipment.'' In the past Bermuda had found natural materials like casuarina branches and seaweed could be used.