This paper summarizes the results of the investigations performed by the authors for a number of years on the performance of oil fences in currents and waves. The leakage inception velocity of currents, the wave-exciting motion of fences and the deformation of the fence skirt due to currents are investigated. The results show that improvement of the fence performance is necessary in order to utilize the oil fences as an effective containing device for spilt oils in ocean environments. As an approach toward improving the fence effectiveness, tandem fences in currents are investigated. It was found that an appropriate deployment of tandem fences of identical configuration could significantly improve the oil containment capability.