Marine apparatus for collecting hydrocarbons

Abstract

A marine apparatus includes a self-propelled vessel; a skimmer configured to actively remove hydrocarbons from a water surface when energized and to store the removed hydrocarbons in a retention tank of the skimmer; a holding tank; and a pump configured to pump hydrocarbons removed from the retention tank into the holding tank when energized.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marine apparatus, comprising:
 a self-propelled vessel;   a skimmer configured to actively remove hydrocarbons from a water surface when energized and to store the removed hydrocarbons in a retention tank of the skimmer;   a holding tank; and   a pump configured to pump hydrocarbons removed from the retention tank into the holding tank when energized.   
     
     
         2 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pump is supported by the skimmer. 
     
     
         3 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a floating platform supporting the holding tank. 
     
     
         4 . The marine apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the pump is supported by the floating platform. 
     
     
         5 . The marine apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a first power supply disposed on the vessel to power the vessel, a second power supply disposed on the floating platform to power the floating platform, and a wired power connection between the second power supply and the skimmer to power the skimmer. 
     
     
         6 . The marine apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the skimmer is disposed on front end of the vessel so as to be guided thereby and the floating platform is disposed on a rear end of the self-propelled vessel so as to be towed thereby. 
     
     
         7 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a holding tank sensor configured to sense a fluid level in the holding tank, wherein the marine apparatus is configured such that the pump is de-energized when the fluid level in the holding tank sensed by the holding tank sensor reaches or exceeds a predetermined level. 
     
     
         8 . The marine apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the marine apparatus is configured such that the motor is de-energized when the fluid level in the holding tank sensed by the holding tank sensor reaches or exceeds the predetermined level. 
     
     
         9 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a skimmer sensor configured to sense a fluid level in the retention tank, wherein the marine apparatus is configured such that the pump is energized when the fluid level in the retention tank sensed by the skimmer sensor reaches or exceeds a predetermined level. 
     
     
         10 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first transceiver disposed on the vessel and configured for remote control operation of the vessel. 
     
     
         11 . The marine apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the first transceiver is a radio transceiver. 
     
     
         12 . The marine apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a floating platform supporting the holding tank;   a second transceiver disposed on the vessel; and   a third transceiver disposed on the floating platform,   wherein commands received at the vessel by the first transceiver are transmitted to the floating vessel through the second transceiver and the third transceiver.   
     
     
         13 . The marine apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the second and third transceivers both comprise Bluetooth transceivers. 
     
     
         14 . The marine apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a wired data connection between the floating platform and the skimmer, wherein commands received at the floating platform by the third transceiver are transmitted to the skimmer through the wired connection. 
     
     
         15 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skimmer is rotatably supported by the vessel such that when the level in the retention tank increases, the skimmer rotates in a direction such that pumping of fluid out of the retention tank is assisted by gravity. 
     
     
         16 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the skimmer comprises a drum configured to rotate about a horizontal axis when a motor connected to the drum is energized, and a scraper configured to bear against a surface of the drum to cause hydrocarbons on the surface of the drum to flow into the retention tank. 
     
     
         17 . The marine apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second pump configured to empty the holding tank into an external tank. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating the marine apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 sending command signals to the marine apparatus to propel the vessel and selectively energize the skimmer and the pump.   
     
     
         19 . A marine apparatus, comprising:
 a self-propelled vessel; and   a skimmer configured to actively remove hydrocarbons from a water surface when energized and to store the removed hydrocarbons in a retention tank of the skimmer.   
     
     
         20 . The marine apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a sensor configured to sense a fluid level in the retention tank.