an oil containment system aboard a vessel which includes a pneumatic system to provide power to a winch and reel assembly containing boom whereby the pneumatic supply is capable of simultaneously powering the winch - reel assembly for boom deployment through inflatable gas fed to a pneumatic motor while also inflating the boom . the inflation of the boom is accomplished by diverting , all or any portion thereof , the inflatable gas from a pneumatic supply through a hose that runs concurrently on the outside of the boom wherein appropriate rates of inflatable gas pressure are allowed to flow through the hose to feed through a valve and hose assembly that connects the inflatable gas supply of the hose to the inflatable gas containment system of the boom . the pneumatic supply originates from a single pneumatic system powering both the winch and reel assembly as well as associated brake and feeding inflatable gas pressure to the inflation hose running concurrently with the boom . the system may be manufactured in a form such that it is compact enough to be installed in , or rapidly transported to , any area or place or vessel where there is likelihood of a discharge of floating material , such as hydrocarbons , floating on a liquid surface . the present invention may also be operated through the use of pneumatic control without the benefit of electric power making it particularly useful for applications in remote areas or during a disaster when electrical power is not readily available .