« -The Blue Seals marine Conservation was set up in the early spring this year to confront issues involving the conservation of our planet’s oceans with the aim to become a rapid response organization. »
« -We are to be the eyes in the sky of the Ocean conservation movement. »
« -We were in our infancy, looking to purchase an Albatross sea plane when we got kicked into action by the Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
Our very first mission using a leased aircraft was to have been a joint mission cooperating with local groups to document the impact of the spill but also helping bring in some vitally needed skimmer boats to the Gulf all the way from France.
« -If our documenting mission was a success, albeit a port engine problem, we were however unable to bring the first the Ecoceane boats to the gulf ourselves. »
« -Yet, we may have succeeded in making enough publicity around them for a Florida based clean up firm to purchase outright all available boats.
« -Although we would have liked and had organized for veterans to be involved in building 100′s such boats in the gulf area, we had to pull out of that project when Eric Vial, Ecoceane’s boss proved to be just another money grabbing opportunist who had come to the gulf to sale his boats not help with a catastrophe. »`
For Peter Brown an all time activist, this was a slap in the face to all the people of good will, activists and Congressman alike, who had volunteered their time to get a solution going, to help in a disaster where man is racing against time to protect and clean up what can be rescued.
« -We wasted precious weeks trying to get the boats shipped to the Gulf, while Eric Vial was sitting tight waiting for BP to call him back. »
According to Eric Vial, the President of Ecoceane: »-The Blue Seals played a major part in making our products known to the Public. However we never seriously considered running boats in The Gulf under our ownership as it would have been under our responsibility. We are however studying the possibilities of a partnership with Blue Seals, but I remind you that we sale boats.
-If Blue Seals want to buys boats there is no problem I will sell them boats. »
Ecoceane may have been desperate for cash.
Eric Vial sold all of his stock including a prototype to the first buyer willing to pay up front. He even rented their only ocean rated demonstration vessel leaving themselves with nothing but videos to show other potential clients.
Only time will tell if this was a wise choice when communities all around the gulf are desperate for such potentially environment saving products.
Ash Britt who has various clean up contracts with Gulf Parishes but also Gulf States, Mississippi and Florida, has thus far refused to communicate with us about the location where the boats have been deployed.
According to Mark Berge « -it is the company’s Policy not to communicate any operating details ».
« -I think they too got screwed » says Peter who has not been unable to locate any signs, any pictures of those boats at work in the gulf.
-Also we tried very hard, in the end our non profit organization just could not compete with the like of Ash Britt a private company which spends hundred of thousands of dollars supporting politicians, while receiving government contracts worth billions. »
©2010-Marc Clériot