Abstract: Apparatus for pumping oil-water mixture from the collection vessel of a floating oil collector into settling tanks comprises at least one oil receiving means for collecting oil-water mixture, arranged below the level of the liquid in the collection vessel and connected through a conduit to the upper part of one of the settling tanks. Besides, the apparatus includes means providing for vertical displacement of the oil receiving means and a pump for pumping water from the lower part of one of the settling tank outboard of the floating oil collector and an aspirating air-water jet ejector for maintaining substantially permanent vacuum in each settling tank. The ejector has the air line thereof connected to the upper part of each settling tank and the jet thereof connected to the delivery side of the pump. The lower part of one of the settling tanks is connected to the upper part of that settling tank from the lower part of which this pump draws water.