Patent ID: 8137031

Claim:
A containment boom for deployment around a structure, the boom comprising: an elongate inner side member; an elongate flotation portion disposed at a distance from the inner side member, the flotation portion supporting a skirt portion depending downwardly from the flotation portion; and a plurality of compression members, each compression member having an inward end attached to the inner side member and an outward end attached to the flotation portion, the inward ends being spaced apart from each other along the inner side member, the outward ends being spaced apart from each other along the flotation portion; and wherein the plurality of compression members is movable from a first, collapsed orientation in which the compression members are arranged at first angles relative to the inner side member when the inner side member is placed in tension such that the distance between inner side member and the flotation portion is less than a desired minimum standoff distance, to a second, deployed orientation in which the compression members are arranged at second angles relative to the inner side member when the inner side member is placed in tension, the second angles being greater than the first angles such that that the distance between inner side member and the flotation portion is greater than or substantially equal to the desired standoff distance.