Oil spill recovery shuttle barge system

An oil spill recovery shuttle barge system comprising:

• a first barge comprising at least first and second substantially identical non-self propelled pontoons detachably joined-in side by side relationship, each of the first and second pontoons including a storage tank, a means for joining the respective pontoon to another pontoon, a means for mounting a thrust unit on the respective pontoon, and a means for mounting a crane on the respective pontoon;
• a second barge comprising at least third and fourth substantially identical non-self propelled pontoons detachably joined in side by side relationship, each of the third and fourth pontoons including a storage tank, a means for joining the respective pontoon to another pontoon, a means for mounting a thrust unit on the respective pontoon, and a means for mounting a crane on the respective pontoon, the third and fourth pontoons being substantially identical to the first and second pontoons, respectively, and the thrust unit mounting means and crane mounting means on the third and fourth pontoons being substantially identical to the thrust unit mounting means and crane mounting means on the first and second pontoons, respectively;
• a detachable thrust unit mountable to one of the respective thrust unit mounting means on one of the first and second barges, said thrust unit including a propulsion means for propelling the respective barge;
• a detachable crane mountable to one of the respective crane mounting means on the first and second barges;
• and
• at least one detachable hose for connecting a storage tank on one barge to a storage tank on the other barge.