An apparatus or system for containing oil spills or the like floating on the surface of a body of water, comprising a relatively elongated groove defined by two laterally defined surfaces (3, 4), said The two surfaces diverge from each other from a narrow inner end to a wider opening, the trench is movable, for example towed by one or more tugs, the device is made of non-rigid material. The device or system includes a tapered channel portion (1) between two laterally defined surfaces (3, 4), a wedge-shaped structure (7) and a collection device or separator (2), wherein The tapered groove part (1), the wedge-shaped structure (7) and the separator (2) are arranged one after another to connect with each other or form an integral unit, thus forming a continuous "shell" with freeboard (12) and a tight Longitudinal traction devices (5, 6) fixed on the units (1, 7, 2), said traction devices (5, 6) and the traction force they generate are at the rear end of the wedge-shaped structure (7) shown in the traction direction Areas intersect.