A method and vessel for carbon sequestration

The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the vessel is approximately shaped as a wing.

The vessel of any preceding claim, the vessel comprising one or more solar panels for providing electrical power to the vessel.

The vessel of any preceding claim, the vessel comprising one or more propellers or drive motors for self-propulsion.

The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the vessel includes at least one buoyancy chamber and the vessel is configured to fill the at least one buoyancy chamber with water or gas to control the buoyancy of the vessel.

The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the transition depth is more than 100 m, optionally more than 150 m, and optionally more than 200 m.

The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprises an imaging system to obtain imaging of the discharge and sinking of a batch of seaweed from the vessel.

The vessel of any preceding claim, wherein the vessel has a width of 10 m and a length of 4 m, both measurements being ±50%, and/or wherein the mass of seaweed for each batch is 40 tonnes ±50%.

A vessel for use in water, wherein the vessel is approximately shaped as a wing, the length of the wing in the direction of intended forward travel of the vessel being greater than the height of the wing defined in the vertical direction, and less than the width of the wing-span, the wing comprising upper and lower surfaces which define a cavity therebetween for collecting seaweed.

A method for operating a vessel to sequester carbon, the vessel defining a cavity associated with a first opening and a second opening, the method comprising:

• in a first mode of operation, collecting seaweed into the cavity by moving the vessel across the sea surface, such that water and floating seaweed pass into the cavity via the first opening, wherein the second opening is provided with a filter, such that seawater is able to exit the cavity via the filter, but the seaweed is retained by the filter in the cavity;
• and
• in a second mode of operation, discharging the seaweed collected in the cavity by submerging the vessel to at least a transition depth at which the collected seaweed is compressed by water pressure to have a density greater than the sea density, and releasing the collected seaweed from the cavity to sink to the seabed for sequestration.