An innovative oil/water separator (TURBYLEC) has been developed in the frame of the HOVERSPILLTM European project (Fast Air Cushion platform for Oil Spill Remediation), partly funded by the European Commission's 7th Framework Program. Conventional separation solutions are not appropriate to the remediation scenarios targeted by the HOVERSPILLTM project, mainly because low weight and compactness are absolutely required for transportation on a hovercraft. Namely, high separation efficiency, imposed to satisfy environmental legislation for water release, is particularly difficult to achieve with a compact separator when skimmed flow rate, oil content and density contrast are submitted to large variations. This paper describes the development of a customized patented centrifuge separator devoted to the specific needs of the HOVERSPILLTM project. Conceptual studies, prototype manufacturing and experimental validation are described. The TURBYLEC prototype tested at CEDRE's facilities has a bulk (size and weight) compatible with its integration on the HOVERSPILLTM platform. Tests results show that TURBYLEC matches with expected use (i.e. downstream of a non-selective skimmer). In this configuration, TURBYLEC separator shows very good oil / water separation performances for inlet oil contents up to 25%. In this range of operating conditions its cut diameter has been evaluated to 60 μm. In order to achieve the same separation performances as with TURBYLEC, which weighs only 70 kg (with liquids), it would be necessary to install an 8 m3 gravity separator. TURBYLEC separator has been developed for a very specific duty (i.e. for integration on an Hovercraft for Oil Spill remediation). Nevertheless, its proven performances render it particularly attractive, as a standalone system, for many other specific tasks in the field of oil spill remediation. It could also interest various other water treatment applications.