The SEVERE Rapid Refloater™ works by violent agitation and strong aeration causing an efficient refloatation of suspended particles which form a coherent layer of oil on the surface of the water. Oil is then easy to contain using conventional boom and recover using the ERE ADIP™ skimmer.

In the video, SEVERE's Rapid Refloater™ was successfully tested at Environment Canada facility (Ottawa, Canada). The tests demonstrated that spilled bitumen can be rapidly refloated and that the mechanically refloated bitumen has properties that keep it buoyant for the duration of the succeeding recovery operation.