Abstract: This system provides a method by which oil slicks are contained, removed and recovered from a water surface by providing a layer of sorbent material, such as foam, under the oil slick and above the oil slick to sandwich the oil. A foam spreading apparatus is provided which includes a floating boom attached to a towing vessel, the boom having spreader units disposed above and below the oil slick to discharge the foam forming a sandwich for the oil slick. The apparatus includes a harvesting vessel for cutting and shredding the foam sandwich and a recovery vessel for separating the oil from the strips.