Vessel sea chest

A sea chest comprising:

• a first end wall spaced apart from a second end wall by opposing side walls, each said end wall and said opposing side wall having a bottom edge formed integral with a vessel hull and a top edge of each said end wall and said opposing side wall positioned above a vessel waterline forming an access opening wherein an inner surface of said end walls and said opposing side walls and an inner surface of said vessel hull form a chamber;
• a thru-hull opening having an intake formed in bottom of said chamber, said intake having a proximal end fluidly coupled to an open distal end formed on an outer surface of said vessel hull, wherein said thru-hull opening allowing water to fill said chamber up to said vessel waterline;
• a supply inlet formed in one of said end walls or said opposing side walls, said supply inlet fluidly coupled to a supply manifold having a plurality of outlets for supply water from said chamber to vessel machinery;
• a standpipe releasably secured to said proximal end of said intake, said standpipe having a length extending from said proximal end to a position above said vessel waterline;
• and
• a watertight hatch releasably secured to said access opening;
• wherein said chamber provides an inlet for water drawn into said supply manifold, whereby securing said standpipe to said proximal end prohibits flow of water from entering said supply inlet.