The presence of flammable substances nearby hot surfaces in the engine rooms pose a fire hazard. Therefore the quick and effective removal of oil spills from these areas is of utmost importance. The simplest way is to use sorbent materials having the capacity to absorb oil substances. Oil sorbents comprise of a wide range of organic, inorganic and synthetic products. The choice of form and type of sorbent material depends on the intended application: type of spill, its size and location. The article describes the results of studies aimed to compare the absorbency of selected natural and synthetic sorbents in the context of their application in case of an oil spill in the engine room. Although the natural sorbents should not be used in water, because they absorb it and can in addition contaminate the seabed, they can be used to remove oil spills on the ship. After used they can be disposed on the ship by burning.