Marine vessel fuel spill prevention device

A method of containing, collecting and removing hydrocarbon backflow and overflow at the fuel intake port of the fuel tank of a vessel being fueled before the hydrocarbons spill onto the surface of the water proximate a marine fueling facility dock area, comprising the steps of:

• providing a spill containment device formed as a pillow having an outer envelope layer of textile material, a plurality of chambers formed in stratification therein by internal layers of textile material with a polymer material disposed with the chambers of the device having a property of acting to absorb and solidify liquid hydrocarbon substances coming into contact with the device and migrating to its interior, a plurality of quilting seams formed in the device to define hydrocarbon absorption consolidation points within the device and establish the chambers as distinct hydrocarbon absorption units within the device, and a plurality of folding wicking segments at the center of the device;
• placing the spill containment device on the hull or deck of the vessel with the wicking segments at the center of the device centered over the opened fuel intake port;
• and
• inserting a fuel filling nozzle through the wicking segments at the center of the device, folding the wicking segments into the fuel intake port with the fuel filling nozzle to allow fuel forced out of the fuel intake port to come in contact with the containment device.