Well and service vessel for transport and storage of aquatic organisms

An arrangement for a well boat- and service vessel (1) for transporting or storing fish or other aquatic organisms, the well boat- and service vessel (1) comprising:

• a self-floating, exchangeable well unit (2) for transporting live fish and other live aquatic organisms, the fish and aquatic organisms being transferred live from a first location to a second location, where the well unit comprises a ballast system for raising and lowering the propulsion unit in the water;
• and
• a propulsion unit (3),
• wherein the propulsion unit comprises propulsion means (4), steering and positioning means, a dock (5) for the well unit, positioning and attachment means for positioning and securing the well unit (2) in the dock (5) while the well unit is filled with water and live fish.

A system for a well boat- and service vessel (1) for transporting or storing fish or other aquatic organisms, the well boat- and service vessel (1) comprising:

• a plurality of self-floating, exchangeable well units for transporting live fish and other live aquatic organisms, the fish and aquatic organisms being transferred live from a first location to a second location;
• and
• a propulsion unit (3),
• wherein the propulsion unit comprises propulsion means (4), steering and positioning means, a dock (5) for at least one of the well units, positioning and attachment means for positioning and securing at least one of the well units in the dock (5), and
• wherein each well unit includes a fish feeding system.

A method for the use of a well boat- and service vessel (1) for transporting or storing fish or other aquatic organisms, where the well boat- and service vessel comprises i) a self-floating, exchangeable well unit (2) for transporting live fish and other live aquatic organisms, the fish being transferred live from a first location to a second location and ii) a propulsion unit (3), where the propulsion unit comprises propulsion means (4), steering and positioning means, a dock (5) for the well unit, positioning and attachment means for positioning and securing the well unit (2) in the dock (5), and a ballast system for raising and lowering the propulsion unit in the water, the method comprising the steps of:

• maneuvering the propulsion unit (3) to the well unit (2),
• lowering the propulsion unit (3) down into the water by means of the ballast system so that the propulsion unit (3) is able to drive in under the well unit (2),
• positioning and attaching the well unit (2) onto a surface of the dock (5) on the propulsion unit (3), wherein this operation comprises the act of raising the propulsion unit (3), during said positioning and attaching step, the well unit containing live fish, and
• transporting the well unit (2) and the live fish therein with the aid of the propulsion means (4) on the propulsion unit to a destination at the second location,
• wherein the live fish is live farmed fish and the destination is a fish processing location.

A method for the use of a well boat- and service vessel (1) for transporting or storing fish or other aquatic organisms, where the well boat- and service vessel comprises i) a self-floating, exchangeable well unit (2) for transporting live fish and other live aquatic organisms, the fish and aquatic organisms being transferred live from a first location to a second location and ii) a propulsion unit (3), where the propulsion unit (3) comprises propulsion means (4), steering and positioning means, a dock (5) for the well unit (2), positioning and attachment means for positioning and securing the well unit (2) in the dock (5), and wherein the well unit (2) comprises a ballast system for raising and lowering the well unit in the water, the method comprising the steps of:

• maneuvering the propulsion unit (3) to the well unit (2),
• raising the well unit (2) up in the water by means of the ballast system, so that the propulsion unit (3) is able to drive in under the well unit (2),
• positioning and securing the well unit (2) onto a surface of the dock (5) on the propulsion unit (3), wherein this operation comprises the act of lowering the well unit (2) during said positioning and securing step, the well unit containing live fish, and
• transporting the well unit (2) and the live fish therein with the aid of the propulsion means (4) on the propulsion unit (3) to a destination at the second location.