- 3
Leak Stop Gun: no more ships lost due to hull breach!
A German entrepreneur has invented an easy-to-use leak-plugging gun capable of sealing any type of breach.
Leak Stop Gun
© Leak Stop Gun GmbH
One of a sailor’s worst nightmares is a hull breach, which sometimes has to be plugged in a matter of seconds. Countless ships have been lost this way; according to UNESCO, three million shipwrecks have been recorded. However, this figure decreased during the 19th century. According to the insurance group Allianz, only 26 vessels were lost worldwide in 2023 (compared to 41 in 2022).
Whatever the exact figures, Bernd-Josef Wenning has invented a rapid and effective solution, which he has named the “Leak Stop Gun”. The German entrepreneur originally ran an agricultural company involved in biomethane production. One day, he found himself helpless against a leak of two million litres of liquid manure. Neither the fire brigade nor specialised emergency services could contain it.
This experience prompted Wenning to design a leak-plugging gun which he describes as acting “immediately, reliably, and without complex preparation or additional tools.”
Emergency sealing in less than 10 seconds
The concept is straightforward: “The kit includes a lance, a sealing balloon, a liquid CO₂ cartridge, a release hook or lever, an earthing cable and a transport bag.” The operator inserts the lance into the breach. A sealing balloon projected by the CO₂ expands within the opening, adapting to the shape of the breach to restrict or stop the flow. A flexible tube assists with insertion in areas that are difficult to access.
A single operator can handle leaks involving liquids (such as water or oil), gases, or certain chemicals. “For chemical products, compatibility depends on factors such as the fluid, pressure, temperature and exposure duration, and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.”
The device is designed to achieve an emergency seal in under 10 seconds, depending on conditions. It can be used on tanks, piping, pipelines and both pressurised and non-pressurised containers, depending on the configuration of the leak. The balloon adapts to the edges, including angles.
In the military and naval sectors, the Leak Stop Gun can be utilised for damage management, sealing hull breaches, preserving vessels and ensuring crew safety. Furthermore, the manufacturer emphasises the invention’s utility “in maintaining a vessel’s operational capability after a leak.”
The bladder’s inner layer is made of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), a durable synthetic rubber with high elongation capacity that retains its flexibility across various temperatures. The technical documentation for the Leak Stop Gun indicates an operating range from -15°C to approximately +95/+100°C, depending on conditions. Its outer layer consists of polypropylene (PP). The balloon can remain in position for 4 to 6 hours.
From firefighters to sailors and the oil industry
For each new breach, the gun must be reloaded with a new balloon and the CO₂ cartridge must be replaced. The manufacturer offers three different sizes: the compact and flexible LSG S, the versatile LSG 150, and the LSG 400, which is designed for large breaches up to 350mm. The LSG S and LSG 150 models have been tested at depths of up to 20m, providing submerged intervention capabilities for naval operations.
Depending on the model and immersion conditions, the Leak Stop Gun can be used underwater. It is currently utilised by fire brigades, civil protection agencies, the cruise industry, the German merchant navy, as well as the chemical and petroleum industries. During tests conducted by firefighters, the balloon withstood a pressure of 12 bar and a flow rate of 950 litres of water per minute. These results correspond to specific test conditions and do not guarantee performance under all conditions.
Designed by the German company Leak Stop Gun GmbH, based in Rhede, and primarily assembled in the Netherlands, the Leak Stop Gun is distributed in France by EMA-TECH, a French company specialising in the distribution and integration of tactical and strategic solutions for the defence, security, maritime and underwater sectors.
EMA-TECH supports French naval and defence sectors in accessing this emergency sealing technology, helping to enhance crew safety and damage management.
- Aude Leroy
