The use of this practice for the emergency joining of booms will not guarantee the effective performance of the joined boom sections, since each boom design and the environmental conditions of each incident govern the overall performance.

Historically, different types of end connectors have been produced. This practice addresses the operational need to connect different types, during spill incidents. (Warning-Use of this practice with similar or different sizes of boom may cause the transmission of unwanted loading such as, tension loading and bending moments on certain boom parts resulting in possible premature failure of the containment system.)

There are a wide range of boom connector configurations presently in use. These connectors were based upon some or all of the following design criteria:

3.3.1 Connect and transfer tensile loads between boom sections,

3.3.2 Minimize oil leakage between boom sections,

3.3.3 Be easily connectable in the presence of dirt, oil or ice, or a combination thereof,

3.3.4 Be quickly and easily connected and disconnected, in and out of the water,

3.3.5 Maintain boom performance (freeboard, heave response, conformance, stability, and so forth),

3.3.6 Be unaffected by temperature extremes,

3.3.7 Have no protruding parts that could snag, injure, or puncture,

3.3.8 Be light weight and buoyant,

3.3.9 Be operatively symmetrical,

3.3.10 Require no special tools for installation or removal,

3.3.11 Require no loose parts for connection,

3.3.12 Extend to the full height and draft of the boom,

3.3.13 Resist distortion (that is, winding boom on a reel), and

3.3.14 Be inherently safe to personnel.