If bigger is better, this 1100′ tanker turned skimmer will be enormously effective. EPA discharge and Jones Act issues?
The ship looks like a typical tanker, but it takes in contaminated water through 12 vents on either side of the bow. The oil is then supposed to be separated from the water and transferred to another vessel. The water is channeled back into the sea.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 
I worked in Norway on the blowout known as 2/4B-14 in the Norwegian sector. It blew about 25,000 b/d for a week at which time it was capped by Red Adair & Boots and Coots.
The Norwegian government brought in anything they thought might work and sent the company (Phillips Norway) the bill. They didn’t worry about what flag it sailed under, etc.
We’ll see if our government will allow this one to try . . .
Thanks Ron. Common sense is a wonderful thing! Bud