Cart transport vessel

A cart transport vessel comprising:

• a fixed platform configured to hold at least one cart;
• a fixed ramp located adjacent to the fixed platform;
• and
• a foldable ramp extension that is rotatably coupled to a front end of the fixed ramp, wherein in an opened configuration a first side of the foldable ramp extension faces upwardly and is in planar alignment with a planar top surface of the fixed ramp and an opposing second side of the foldable extension faces downwardly and wherein in a closed configuration the foldable ramp extension is rotated so that the first side of the foldable ramp extension faces downwardly and is in contact with the planar top surface of the ramp section and the opposing second side of the foldable ramp extension faces upwardly to provide a flat operator workspace area that is configured to be stood on by an operator.

A method of transporting carts in a warehouse comprises:

• loading at least one cart onto a cart transport vessel in an opened configuration by rolling the cart over a first side of a foldable extension, rolling the cart over a planar top surface of a fixed ramp and placing the cart on a planar top surface of a fixed platform, wherein the foldable extension is rotatably coupled to a front end of the fixed ramp and the fixed platform is coupled to a back end of the fixed ramp;
• placing the cart transport vessel into a closed configuration by rotating the foldable extension so that the first side is in contact with the planar top surface of the fixed ramp and an opposing second side of the foldable extension faces upwardly to provide a flat operator workspace area that is configured to be stood on by an operator;
• and
• inserting at least one fork of a work machine into at least one forklift receiving slot located below the fixed ramp and the fixed platform of the cart transport vessel to move the cart transport vessel and therefore the at least one cart.