Floating Oil Spill Containment Boom
Texas Boom Company supplies a complete line of oil spill containment booms from our facility in Houston, Texas. Whether you are responding to an active hydrocarbon spill, protecting a sensitive shoreline, or maintaining a long-term barrier around your facility, we supply the boom for the job.
Our floating containment booms are designed for deployment across a wide range of water environments and conditions, from calm inland waterways to fast-moving rivers and coastal areas. Every boom we manufacture is built with industrial-strength materials, and with multiple boom types available in a range of sizes, we have a solution ready for your specific application.
What Is a Floating Containment Boom and How Does It Work?
A floating containment boom is a temporary barrier deployed on the water surface to contain oil and other hydrocarbons, prevent their spread to shorelines and sensitive waterways, and concentrate the spill into a thicker layer for easier recovery. Each boom section consists of four main components: a float (freeboard) element that keeps the boom at the surface, a skirt (draft) that hangs below the waterline to limit subsurface escape, a ballast chain that holds the skirt in position, and end connectors that link sections together into a continuous barrier.
Foam-Filled Containment Booms We Manufacture
Our foam-filled floating containment booms are manufactured in Houston, Texas, and are available in typical sizes, with custom sizes available on request, ranging from the compact TXB-6 for still water applications to the TXB-36-TTC for rough offshore conditions.
Each model is defined by its overall height, freeboard, and skirt draft, and selecting the right one comes down to the conditions at your deployment site. Factors like water current, wave action, tidal fluctuation, and wind all play a role in determining which boom will perform best. A boom undersized for the conditions risks oil escaping beneath the skirt, while an oversized boom can be harder to deploy and recover.
The table below provides a quick reference. Explore each product page for full specifications.
| Product Number | Overall Height | Float Freeboard | Skirt Draft | Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TXB-6 | 6" | 2" | 4" | Still Waters |
| TXB-10 | 10” | 4” | 6” | Calm Waters |
| TXB-18-TTC | 18” | 6” | 12” | Moderate Waters |
| TXB-24-TTC | 24” | 8” | 16” | Fast Waters/Choppy |
| TXB-30-TTC | 30” | 10” | 20” | Rough Waters/Offshore |
| TXB-36-TTC | 36” | 12” | 24” | Rough Waters/Offshore |
Boom Materials and Construction
Every oil spill containment boom we manufacture is built to perform under real deployment conditions, not just controlled settings. We use encapsulated closed-cell foam flotation that maintains buoyancy even if the outer fabric is punctured, paired with galvanized chain ballast to keep the skirt positioned correctly below the waterline.
Where applicable, our booms include coated or sleeved stainless steel top tension cable for added structural integrity under load. All sections connect using industry-standard ASTM aluminum end connectors, and every boom includes anchor points at 50-foot intervals. Our welds are stronger than the fabric itself, meaning the material will give before the seam does.
Beyond Oil Spills: Other Applications for Our Containment Booms
Floating containment booms are not limited to hydrocarbon spill response. The same barrier principle that contains oil on the water surface applies to a range of other floating materials. Explore other boom applications below:
- Seaweed Boom: These booms are designed for seaweed and sargassum control at resort and recreational beaches
- Cranberry Boom: These lightweight booms are strung around floating cranberries, allowing them to be pulled towards the shore and concentrated at the preferred extraction point
- Fish Farm Boom: These booms provide fish feed containment in aquaculture ponds to keep feed concentrated and off the shoreline
- Permanent Boom: These heavy-duty booms are designed for long-term deployment and serve the dual purpose of containing floating debris and oil spills in open water, harbors, and high-exposure environments
- Trash Boom: These booms are deployed across rivers, canals, and stormwater channels to intercept and collect floating trash and debris before it spreads downstream or reaches sensitive waterways
Get a Quote on Our Floating Containment Booms
If you know which boom you need, or if you are still working through the selection process, we are ready to help. Fill out our request for quote form, and a member of our team will follow up with pricing, availability, and any technical guidance you need to make the right call for your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which oil spill containment boom is right for my application?
The right boom depends on the conditions at your deployment site. Current speed, wave height, tidal range, and wind exposure all factor into the selection. As a general rule, the greater the water energy, the more freeboard and skirt draft you need. Our TXB-6 and TXB-10 are suited for calm and still water, while the TXB-30-TTC and TXB-36-TTC are built for rough water and offshore environments. If you are unsure, contact us, and we can help you work through the selection.
Can a floating containment boom be used in rivers or high-current environments?
Foam-filled conventional boom is best suited for calm to moderate water conditions. For fast-moving rivers or high-current environments, our river boom is the more appropriate choice, as it is specifically engineered to withstand strong currents and remain stable under those conditions. Using an undersized or wrong-type boom in high-current water risks oil escaping beneath the skirt and the boom losing its containment line.
