A floating containment boom for containment and isolation of waterborne pollutants, such as oil, silt, medical waste, bacteria, debris, and suspended particulates. The containment boom is comprised of a floatation unit, a ballast, a continuous curtain of at least one sheet of a flexible geosynthetic fabric, and at least two tow cords. The curtain has an upper sleeve containing the flotation unit and may have a lower sleeve containing the ballast. The geosynthetic fabric is water-pervious and may be oil-absorbing. The fabric allows water to pass through while containing the waterborne pollutants. The boom of the invention may also be used as a seining device, to define a swim area, and as a littoral flow trap.