An apparatus for continually skimming off a top layer of a body of liquid, comprising: a self adjusting container for collecting a top layer, the container being adapted to seek an effective balanced position dependent on the liquid level for collecting the top layer, and a discharge conduit for discharging the top layer collected by the container, wherein the container is tiltably coupled to a discharge conduit. A feeding inlet is provided through which the top layer is collected. A bearing made of friction reducing material is provided between the container wall and discharge conduit, with a clearance to minimize frictional contact and to allow leakage flow from the body of liquid into the container.