In this paper, the full-scale test performance of an innovative boom system is analyzed. The boom system consisted of a ramp boom, which is inclined 15degrees with respect to the water surface, followed by three conventional booms with different draft lengths. According to the test results, the boom system is observed to have a better collection efficiency than simple conventional booms. The efficiency of simple booms is known to be very low at oil-water relative velocities greater than 1 knot. A high of 86.5% collection efficiency was achieved by the new boom system at a tow speed of 1.5 knots. The new boom system was found to have a critical tow speed of 1.89 knots, beyond which the collection efficiency decreases rapidly. This tow speed of 1.89 knots corresponds to a critical Froude number of 0.36. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.