The article considers the problem of improving and providing the ability to regulate motion of the parts of a ship power plant (underwater apparatus) used to eliminate the emergency spills of oil and petroleum products. The problem of emergency spills of oil and their elimination is urgent today. At all stages of oil use, from oil exploration and production to waste disposal, the environment is polluted due to oil spills, emissions of harmful substances into the atmosphere, water and onshore. As the oil product manufacturing develops, the volumes of accidental spills also increase. Emergency spills of oil and oil products lead to irreversible consequences and large resources are allocated for their elimination. Using the underwater apparatus of the ship power plant for elimination of emergency spills of oil and oil products allows sorbent spraying in broken and solid ice. There has been developed a pilot model with a ballasting device under water at a constant depth, which creates difficulties when maneuvering and moving it under thick ice, as well as in broken ice pieces of a large size. Calculations help choose the most optimal engines and propellers to regulate the depth of the apparatus’s lifting and submersing during its operation. It has been recommended to introduce a new technical device for liquidation of emergency spills of oil and oil products, which has no analogues in the world.