A device for separating interconnected transport boats that are movable in a first plane in an intended direction of motion includes a substantially oval, non-circular separation disk aligned parallel to the first plane and connected to a rotary drive and a lifting device via a drive shaft. The separation disk is movable by means of the lifting device in the direction of the transport boats to be separated in order to engage with a corresponding total recess in the transport boats to be separated. In addition, the separation disk is rotatably movable in, and/or parallel to, the first plane by means of the rotary drive in order to separate the transport boats to be separated from each other by rotating the separation disk.