the containment area adverse conditions are buffered by the weight of the boom sections and their flexibility while fluids attempting to pass over the boom pass into the boom sections and are collected the present apparatus as a spill recovery system enhances the collection ofa spill by incorporating the floating automatic skimmers in the boom sections which act as buffers to reduce wind wave and current effects this increases skimmer surface contact and efficiency by containing a controlled spill fluid build up is now a positive factor when the build up of the spill reaches a sufficient depth up to six inches depending on sea conditions the skimmers will be activated this allows a95 to 100 spill to water rate of recovery further advantages of the present system include compressed air operation for safe non explosive power boom construction from non porous oil resistant flexible reinforced polymeric materials and high recovery rates at high efficiency the system provides a virtually unlimited oil spill storage capacity when the system is completely assembled the flexible oil storage bladders 30 are connected to the discharge lines 37 from the pumps32 each bladder is protected at its connection by pneumatic check valves which only open when air pressure is applied in operation the storage bladders may be removed when full and additional bladders can be mounted in place the compressed air to operate the pump motors 33 is delivered from the vessel 106 through an on board manifold air lines then extend from the manifold to the boom sections 22 pump motors 33 and pumps 32 the systems20 or 20a may be deployed rapidly from a vessel by lowering it into the water centering over an oil leak turning on the air to.