Marine vessel for collecting floating debris

A marine vessel used for collecting floating debris from surrounding water and which vessel includes a hull having a tapered bow, port and starboard bow sections moveable laterally between bow open and bow closed positions, an apron located between said bow sections, a debris collection area aft of said apron, a debris dumping area midships and aft of said debris collection area, ballast means for selectively locating said apron between positions above and below said surrounding water, means for causing said surrounding water to flow over said apron and through said debris collection area when said apron is below said surrounding water, a debris collection bucket having water passageways extending therethrough, means for moving said bucket between a first position for the collection of debris, when said bucket is located in said open chamber and a second position for the purpose of discharging debris from said bucket midships of the vessel when said bucket is located rearward of said debris collection area, said vessel being further characterized by:

• a primary boom which extends centrally and longitudinally of said vessel with one of the boom ends being pivotally connected to said vessel rearward of said debris dumping area and the other of said ends being pivotally connected to said bucket and wherein the boom is telescopically and vertically movable between said debris collection area and said debris dumping area.

A marine vessel used for collecting floating debris from surrounding water and which vessel includes a hull having a tapered bow, port and starboard bow sections moveable laterally between bow open and bow closed positions, an apron located between said bow sections, a debris collection area aft of said apron, a debris dumping area midships and aft of said debris collection area, ballast means for selectively locating said apron between positions above and below said surrounding water, means for causing said surrounding water to flow over said apron and through said debris collection area when said apron is below said surrounding water, said vessel being further characterized by:

• (a) an open chamber located below said apron and which has defining walls which include water passageways therethrough;
• (b) a debris collection bucket having water passageways extending therethrough;
• (c) means for moving said bucket between a first position when said bucket is located in said open chamber and a second position when said bucket is located at said debris dumping area;
• (d) gate means on said apron which gate means cooperates with said bucket, said gate means being moveable between a gate open position when said bucket is located in said open chamber to thereby permit debris to enter into the debris collection area, and a gate closed position above said apron to impede entry of debris into said debris collection area as said bucket is moved from said first position to said second position;
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• (e) a primary boom which extends centrally and longitudinally of said vessel with one of the boom ends being pivotally connected to said vessel rearward of said debris dumping area and the other of said ends being pivotally connected to said bucket and wherein the boom is telescopically and vertically movable between said debris collection area and said debris dumping area.