Abstract: A floating vessel is provided with an oil-receiving tank, the front of which has a horizontal sill near the top of the tank. The tank is provided with a chamber for water ballast, to which water is added or from which it is withdrawn to submerge the vessel far enough for the sill to be at oil-skimming level. Attached to opposite sides of the front of the vessel are the rear ends of forwardly diverging floating booms, the front ends of which are connected to boats that pull the booms and vessel through the water to gather oil between the booms and direct it over the sill into the tank, from which oil is pumped to a holding receptacle.