Abstract: A pollutant collector retrofit for a marine vessel or the like for collecting and removing pollutants from the surface of a body of water, and in particular a modular skimmer system configured to be mounted to the hull of a conventional marine vessel, to facilitate same for use in oil spill skimming operations or the like. The present invention also includes a method for converting a marine vessel for use in skimming operations, utilizing a unique skimmer system configured for mounting to one or both outer sides of a marine vessel, along its hull.

Abstract: An oil skimmer system on a marine vessel. The preferred embodiment contemplates a pickup wing pivotally mounted between two hulls in the forward section of the marine vessel, which is formed to collect and direct the oil to the pickup wing. The pickup wing is dynamically repositionable, the pickup wing mount having provided a mechanism for vertically positioning the unit in real time such that the front of the pickup wing is situated just below the water surface, to provide maximum collection of contaminants (in this case, hydrocarbons) floating thereupon. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pickup wing has a “teardrop” cross sectional profile, and is configured such that fluid motion over the its forward section, either from vessel motion or fluid current, provides a skimming action, so as to urge the surface contaminants over the wing and into a recovery area, where it is separated from the water and pumped into a collection tank.