You can view several styles of end connectors . Stiffeners Tow bars The most important characteristic of a boom is its oil containment or deflection capability, determined by its behavior in relation to water movement. It should be flexible to conform to wave motion yet sufficiently rigid to retain as much oil as possible. No boom is capable of containing oil against water velocities much in excess of 1 knot acting at right angles to it. The illustration below compares the performance of booms with a rigid skirt with booms with a flexible skirt in waves.
Flexible boom has better wave following characteristics.
Usually one end of this boom is anchored on the dry shore. The boom stretches from the shore out across the surface of the water and floats on the water. As the tide goes out and the water level drops this boom sits on the exposed bottom. When the tide comes in the boom once again floats. Thus oil on the water cannot get around the shoreline end of this boom as the water surges in and out.