Water distribution methods and systems for livestock shipping containers on a shipping vessel

A water delivery system for supplying drinking water to multiple shipping containers on a shipping vessel comprising:

• a. at least two shipping containers, each shipping container adapted for transporting livestock, wherein the interior of each shipping container comprises a substantially vertical sidewall space in the interior of the shipping container and a substantially horizontal overhead space in the interior of the shipping container, and wherein at least one boundary of the substantially vertical sidewall space is formed from a vertical partition that comprises a series of vertical spaced members spaced to provide livestock access to at least one water bowl in the substantially vertical sidewall space, and wherein each shipping container further comprises a horizontal catwalk mounted on the vertical spaced members above the at least one water bowl in the substantially vertical sidewall space;
• b. a ballast tank in the shipping vessel having drinking water stored therein;
• c. a ballast pump in communication with the ballast tank;
• d. an intermediate water storage tank which receives drinking water pumped from the ballast tank by the ballast pump;
• e. at least one delivery line providing communication between each shipping container and the intermediate water tank for continuously supplying water to the at least one water bowl in each shipping container;
• f. a circulation pump for continuously circulating drinking water through the at least one delivery line;
• and
• g. a return line for returning circulated water from the shipping containers to the intermediate tank.