A method and system for collecting objects floating on or suspended near a surface of water. A collecting system is employed comprising a floating barrier. The collecting system is unanchored to or on the seabed such that the collecting system is free to move along the surface of the water. A submerged portion and non-submerged portion is provided connected to the floating barrier, such that a velocity of the floating barrier along the surface of the water differs from a surface velocity of the water at the location of the floating barrier. Collected plastic objects can be recycled. Further, the ocean currents are followed while being able to collect plastic.

Embodiments disclosed here include a containment system and methods of containment which may include a segmented buoyant rim. Certain embodiments also include an inflatable rim with at least one inflation/deflation valve in the rim segments and ballast in the rim segments. Additionally, certain embodiments include material connected to the rim segments, to enclose a void created in the rim and to hang below the buoyant rim.

Systems, apparatus and methods useful for collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel having at least one cargo compartment and at least a first pump fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment and configured to concurrently draw water and debris from the body of water into, and remove water from, the cargo compartment(s) include at least a second pump, distinct from the first pump and configured to remove debris from at least one cargo compartment.

Provided herein are oil herding agents, for example, a biocompatible non-ionic functionalized polysaccharide konjac glucomannan radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan. Also provided is a method for containing the spread of an oil spill on a water surface at a low water temperature utilizing the oil herding agent. In addition there is provided a method for preparing an oil herder, a radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan prepared by the method and a method for increasing a slick thickness ratio of an oil slick on a water surface utilizing the prepared oil herder.

Provided herein are oil herding agents, for example, a biocompatible non-ionic functionalized polysaccharide konjac glucomannan radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan. Also provided is a method for containing the spread of an oil spill on a water surface at a low water temperature utilizing the oil herding agent. In addition there is provided a method for preparing an oil herder, a radiation-induced degraded konjac glucomannan prepared by the method and a method for increasing a slick thickness ratio of an oil slick on a water surface utilizing the prepared oil herder.

A system for cleaning rivers and waterways in general includes one or more floating modules, each having a floating body and a rotating body provided with projecting elements configured to be positioned on the water surface, so that, when the rotating body rotates due to the thrusting action of the water current, the projecting elements move floating debris in a direction determined by its rotation direction towards an accumulation or recovery area.

A system for cleaning rivers and waterways in general includes one or more floating modules, each having a floating body and a rotating body provided with projecting elements configured to be positioned on the water surface, so that, when the rotating body rotates due to the thrusting action of the water current, the projecting elements move floating debris in a direction determined by its rotation direction towards an accumulation or recovery area.

An apparatus for collecting spilled liquid hydrocarbons includes a support beam coupled to an oil rig, the support beam positioned below a flare boom, and a spill pan coupled to an end of the support beam, the spill pan positioned below a burner nozzle of the flare boom. A method includes coupling an oil spill collector to an offshore rig below a flare boom, the oil spill collector including a support beam coupled to the offshore rig and a collection device coupled to an end of the support beam, positioning the collection device below a burner nozzle of the flare boom such that the collection device is horizontally aligned with the burner nozzle, and collecting spilled liquid hydrocarbons in the collection device from the flare boom.

Some embodiments relate to a boom for containing floating material spilled in water comprising: an elongate sheet comprising a plurality of spaced apart units, each unit configured to self-expand from a folded state upon deployment; each unit comprising: a plurality of plates forming an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion and the lower portion defined along a vertical axis of the boom unit; and a plurality of stiffening elongate rods, each of the plurality of elongate rods interconnecting at least two plates.

An oil containment system aboard a vessel includes a pneumatic system to provide power to a winch and reel assembly containing boom whereby the pneumatic supply is capable of simultaneously powering the winch-reel assembly for boom deployment through inflatable gas fed to a pneumatic motor while also inflating the boom. The inflation of the boom is accomplished by diverting, all or any portion thereof, the inflatable gas from a pneumatic supply through a hose that runs concurrently on the outside of the boom. The pneumatic supply originates from a single pneumatic system powering both the winch and reel assembly as well as associated brake and feeding inflatable gas pressure to the inflation hose running concurrently with the boom. The system can be utilized to confine a discharge of a floating material such as hydrocarbons floating on the surface from a vessel or structure.