Water-surface cleansing ship

Claim 2

A water-surface cleansing ship comprising a. a hull, b. said hull having a longitudinal channel extending from an opening at the bow of the ship to an opening at the stern of the ship, through which channel at least surface water to be cleansed can be caused to flow when the ship is floating in the water, c. means for removing and recovering contaminants from the water when flowing through said channel, said means including d. a coarse mesh grill portably mounted in said channel near the bow opening and operative to remove large solid contaminants from the water passing therethrough, e. a fIrst conveyor belt located aft of said grill, and drive means for said first conveyor belt, said first belt projecting into said channel to pick up and remove from water in the channel contaminants inclusive of oily tarry residues which have passed through said coarse mesh grill, f. a second conveyor belt located aft of the first conveyor belt, and drive means for said second conveyor belt, said second belt projecting into said channel to pick up and remove oil from water in the channel, g. and flow inducing means for causing water to flow through the channel including a paddle wheel mounted to project into the water in the channel, said paddle wheel being arranged with respect to the channel between the second conveyor and the stern opening.

Claim 3

A ship according to claim 1 including means for dispersing residual traces of contaminants in water in the channel comprising pipes for spraying detergent over water in the channel, said pipes being located with respect to the channel between the second conveyor belt and the paddle wheel.

Claim 4

A ship according to claim 1 wherein said first conveyor belt includes a covering of netting of plastic material mounted on cross rods which interconnect chains at the sides of the conveyor belt, said first conveyor belt further including projections to engage and retain oily/tarry residue contaminants.

Claim 5

A ship according to claim 3 wherein said second conveyor belt comprises chains connected to trays carrying sponges made of plastic material, the arrangement being such that in operation of the ship, light fractions of oil will cling to the sponges which allow water to drain away.

Claim 6

A ship according to claim 4 wherein said means for removing and recovering contaminants includes first and second residue tanks for containing solvent and/or washing medium through which said first and second conveyor belts are respectively arranged to pass so that contaminants carried by the conveyor belts are removed therefrom by the solvent and/or washing medium and retained in the respective residue tanks.

Claim 7

A water-surface cleansing ship comprising a. a hull b. said hull having a longitudinal channel extending from an opening at the bow of the ship to an opening at the stern of the ship, through which channel at least surface water to be cleansed can be caused to flow when the ship is floating in the water, c. means for removing and recovering contaminants from the water when flowing through said channel, said means including d. a coarse mesh grill portably mounted in said channel near the bow opening and operative to remove large solid contaminants from the water passing therethrough, e. a first conveyor belt located aft of said grill and drive means for said first conveyor belt, said first belt projecting into said channel to pick up and remove from water in the channel contaminants inclusive of oily tarry residues which have passed through said coarse mesh grill, f. a second conveyor belt located aft of the first conveyor belt, and drive means for said second belt, said second belt projecting into said channel to pick up and remove oil from water in the channel, g. flow inducing means for causing water to flow through the channel including a paddle wheel mounted to project into the water in the channel, said paddle wheel being arranged with respect to the channel between the second conveyor and the stern opening, h. said hull further comprising self propulsion means, and i. flap means on said hull for cooperation with said bow and stern openings to open and close said channel.

Claim 8

A water-surface cleansing ship comprising a. a hull b. said hull having a longitudinal channel extending from an opening at the bow of the ship to an opening at the stern of the ship, through which channel at least surface water to be cleansed can be caused to flow when the ship is floating in the water, c. means for removing and recovering contaminants from the water when flowing through said channel, said means including d. a coarse mesh grill portably mounted in said channel near the bow opening and operative to remove large solid contaminants from the water passing therethrough, e. a first conveyor belt located aft of said grill and drive means for said first conveyor belt, said first belt projecting into said channel to pick up and remove from water in the channel contaminants inclusive of oily tarry residues which have passed through said coarse mesh grill, f. a second conveyor belt located aft of the first conveyor belt, and drive means for said second belt, said second belt projecting into said channel to pick up and remove oil from water in the channel, g. flow inducing means for causing water to flow through the channel including a paddle wheel mounted to project into the water in the channel, said paddle wheel being arranged with respect to the channel between the second conveyor and the stern opening, h. said hull further comprising self propulsion means, and i. flap means on said hull for cooperation with said bow and stern openings to open and close said channel.

Claim 9

A ship according to claim 6 including ballast means for varying the draft of the ship to vary the height of the channel and the bow and stern openings relative to the water level.

Claim 10

A ship according to claim 6, wherein the longitudinally extending channel at the bow opening extends substantially the full width of the ship, said channel reducing to a constant width over the main part of the length of the hulL, the depth of the channel along the portion of constant width being greater than the depth of the channel at the bow opening.

Claim 11

A ship according to claim 6 including dredging equipment, fire-fighting equipment, a helicopter landing platform, salvage equipment, ship waste receiving and processing tanks, and/or oil/gas drilling rig servicing and fire-extinguishing equipment.

Claim 12

A ship according to claim 8 including a well constructed in the channel to enable divers, dredging equipment, and other equipment to be lowered from the interior of the ship into water when the ship is floating in the latter.