阅读说明：本技术 用于船舶的浮动且可操纵的船体清洗和清洁设备 (Floating and manoeuvrable hull washing and cleaning device for a marine vessel ) 是由 圭多·巴德利 于 2018-04-03 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于船舶的浮动且可操纵的船体清洗和清洁设备(22),其包括：清洁和清洗装置(5),其浸没在水平面(L)之下并且抵靠船体工作；推进构件(13、14),其用于移动沿设备的长度抵靠船体而接合并清洗的设备；构件,其用于利用对浸入水平的控制来控制和改变设备的浮力位移；该设备的结构还包括具有侧壁(3)的盆部(2),在该盆部(2)内定位有清洁和清洗装置；并且,该设备具有：清洁和清洗装置(5),其布置在所述盆部中,在清洁期间与船体(22)接触,同时对设备浮动进行控制以及对清洁和清洗装置的支承构件(8、9)相对于盆部自身的位置进行控制；引导构件(16),其用于在处理过程中使船舶接合和定位；清洁和清洗装置随着盆部的移位沿着正在被处理的船体移动；清洁和清洗装置在船体的由侧壁(3)的长度覆盖的部段上同时工作；该盆部(2)在侧壁的长度的头部和尾部处具有更延伸出(23)的船坞底板(4),以容纳浮动设备(1)自身的位移控制构件。(A floating and manoeuvrable hull washing and cleaning apparatus (22) for a marine vessel, comprising: a cleaning and washing device (5) submerged below the water level (L) and working against the hull; propulsion means (13, 14) for moving the apparatus engaged and cleaned against the hull along the length of the apparatus; means for controlling and varying the buoyant displacement of the apparatus with control of the level of immersion; the structure of the device also comprises a basin (2) with a side wall (3), inside which basin (2) cleaning and washing means are positioned; and, the apparatus has: a cleaning and washing device (5) arranged in said basin, in contact with the hull (22) during cleaning, while controlling the equipment floating and the position of the supporting members (8, 9) of the cleaning and washing device with respect to the basin itself; a guide member (16) for engaging and positioning the vessel during processing; the cleaning and rinsing device moves along the hull being treated with displacement of the basin; the cleaning and washing devices work simultaneously on the section of the hull covered by the length of the side wall (3); the basin (2) has dock floors (4) more extended (23) at the head and tail of the length of the side walls to accommodate displacement control members of the floatation device (1) itself.)

1. A floating and manoeuvrable hull washing and cleaning apparatus (22) for a marine vessel, comprising: a cleaning and washing device (5) submerged below the water level (L) and operating against the hull; propulsion means (13, 14) for moving the apparatus engaged against the hull over the length of the hull and cleaning; means for controlling and varying the buoyancy displacement of the apparatus with control of the level of immersion; the structure of the apparatus also comprises a basin (2) having a side wall (3), inside which basin (2) the cleaning and rinsing device is positioned; characterized in that the device has: -said cleaning and washing device (5), arranged in the basin, in contact with the hull (22) during cleaning, while controlling the floating of the equipment and the position of the supporting members (8, 9) of the cleaning and washing device with respect to the basin itself; a guide member (16) for engaging and positioning the vessel during processing; the cleaning and rinsing device moves along the hull being treated with displacement of the basin; the cleaning and washing devices operate simultaneously on the sections of the hull covered by the length of the side walls (3); the tub portion (2) has further extended (23) dock floors (4) at the head and tail of the length of the side walls to accommodate the floating displacement control members of the apparatus (1) itself.

2. A floating installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the cleaning and washing device (5) is associated with a water suction member (29) to collect the waste water from washing and the dirt removed from the ship hull, the water suction member (29) being arranged in the side walls and in the floor of the dock between these walls.

3. A floating device according to claim 2, characterized in that the suction member (29) is connected to a filtering device before the purified water is emptied; the filtered material is periodically emptied from the apparatus in an ecologically controlled manner.

4. A floating installation according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that at the end of the side wall (3) a flexible and expandable diaphragm (25) is made in the upper edge (26) to adhere to the hull (22) during the treatment.

5. A floating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the flexible and expandable diaphragm (25) has an upper expandable edge (26) equipped with rollers for sliding the flexible and expandable diaphragm when in contact with the hull (22) of the vessel being treated.

6. A floating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the propulsion means (13, 14) for manoeuvring the floating device (1) are positioned on the most extended part (23) of the dock's floor (4) at the head and tail.

7. A floating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cleaning and washing means (5) comprise a rotating brush (6, 27), the rotating brush (6, 27) having a horizontal axis longitudinal to the axis of the floating device (1).

8. A floating installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the washing and rinsing device (5) comprises a plurality of belts (7), the belts (7) making use of pressurized water jets directed towards the surface of the hull (22) being treated.

9. A floating installation according to claim 1, characterised in that the propulsion, pumping and moving and maintenance members of the part of the installation that floats are driven by an electric transmission provided with electric power by hybrid power, from a battery carried by the floating installation (1), and by a generator backed up and/or charged by a battery.

10. A floating installation according to claim 9, characterised in that the landing of one or more floating installations (1) is carried out on a quay (37) of an anchor or sea area (38) on the shallow sea floor, which anchor or sea area (38) is adapted for the hull cleaning and washing process of a vessel (21), and where the power supply for charging the batteries comes from an onshore or offshore power plant.

11. A floating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning member comprises a lateral pusher (17), which lateral pusher (17) protrudes towards the centre of the basin (2) and is provided with an arm provided with a drum (19) which, during the treatment, is in contact with the side wall (20) of the engaged vessel.

12. A floating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the guiding means for engagement with the vessel comprise lateral supports (16) for guiding the frame at the level, which lateral supports are aligned to converge with the longitudinal axis (a) of the device (1).

13. The floating installation (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the command and control processes for the floating and manoeuvrable installation (1) are carried out for displacing the installation and its continuous control; -engaging and disengaging the hull of the vessel (21) by means of an approach (30) and alignment maneuver with continuous control of the hull (22) centering; -carrying out a cleaning treatment operation (31) of the hull with continuous command and control of the cleaning and washing device (5), including adjustment of the position of the device itself in the treatment basin (2), between the side walls (3) and on the dock floor (4); storing the hull cleaning and washing service data in the control of the motion of the apparatus and the internal components of the apparatus; a database is formed for each hull of the vessel being processed, allowing semi-automatic or automatic processing operations with repeated cleaning and rinsing services over time.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a floating and manoeuvrable hull washing and cleaning apparatus for a vessel, i.e. an apparatus located near the port of mooring of the vessel, which apparatus comprises means for intervening in the underwater hull of the vessel to be treated, which means are positioned to manoeuvre the apparatus so as to surround the hull of the vessel to be treated, and to perform the cleaning process in a fast, semi-automatic or automatic and economical manner to remove dirt, plants or "dirt" that spontaneously grows in the underwater part of the hull of the vessel.

Prior Art

Disclosure of Invention

According to the invention, this problem is solved by a floating and manoeuvrable hull washing and cleaning apparatus for a marine vessel, comprising: a cleaning and washing device submerged below water level and operating against the hull; a propulsion member for moving equipment engaged and cleaned against the hull over its length; means for controlling and varying the buoyancy displacement of the apparatus with control of the level of immersion; the structure of the apparatus also includes a basin having a sidewall within which is positioned a cleaning and rinsing device; characterized in that the device has: a cleaning and washing device arranged in said basin, in contact with the hull during cleaning, controlling the floating of the equipment and the position of the support member of the cleaning and washing device with respect to the basin itself; a guide member for engaging and positioning the vessel during processing; the cleaning and rinsing device is moved along the hull being treated with displacement of the basin; the cleaning and washing devices operate simultaneously on the section of the hull covered by the length of the side wall; the basin has dock floors extending further out at the head and tail of the length of the side walls to accommodate the displacement control members of the floatation device itself.

Furthermore, in a modified form: the cleaning and washing device is associated with a water suction member arranged in the side walls and in the floor of the dock between these walls to collect the waste water from washing and the dirt removed from the ship hull.

Even, in particular variations: connecting the suction member to the filtering device before evacuating the purified water; the filtered material is periodically emptied from the apparatus in an ecologically controlled manner.

Furthermore, in another variation: at the ends of the side walls, flexible and inflatable partitions are made in the upper edge in order to adhere to the hull during treatment, and furthermore the flexible and inflatable (inflated) partitions have an upper inflatable edge equipped with rollers for sliding the flexible and inflatable partitions when in contact with the hull of the vessel being treated.

Even, in further applications: the cleaning and rinsing device comprises a rotating brush having a horizontal axis longitudinal to the axis of the floating device.

Furthermore, in another variation: the washing and rinsing device comprises a plurality of belts which utilize pressurized water jets directed towards the surface of the hull being treated.

Even, in particular variations: the propulsion, pumping and moving and maintenance components of the portion of the floating plant are driven by an electric transmission powered by the hybrid, electric power from a battery carried by the floating plant, and a generator backed up and/or charged by a battery.

Furthermore, in a modified form: the positioning member comprises a lateral pusher projecting towards the centre of the basin and with an arm provided with a roller which comes into contact with the side wall of the engaged vessel during treatment.

Even, in a further constructive form: the guiding means for engagement with the vessel comprise lateral supports for guiding the frame at a horizontal plane, the lateral supports being aligned to converge with the longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

Finally, in a specific and preferred constructive variant: performing operations of shifting the device and its continuous control by command and control processing of the floating and steerable device; with continuous control hull centering, the hull of the vessel is engaged and disengaged by approach and alignment maneuvers; performing a cleaning process operation of the hull with continuous command and control of the cleaning and rinsing device, including adjustment of the position of the device itself in the treatment basin, between the sidewalls and on the dock floor; control of the movement of the apparatus and cleaning and washing service (maintenance) data of the hull in the internal components of the apparatus; thus, a database is formed for each hull of the vessel being processed, allowing semi-automatic or automatic processing operations with repeated cleaning and rinsing services over time.

The features and advantages of the invention are mentioned in the following description of some exemplary application examples, with reference to the eight drawings, which realize a floating and manoeuvrable hull washing and cleaning device for a vessel.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a floating hull washing and cleaning apparatus for a marine vessel according to the invention, here showing the surface position of the washing and cleaning device, wherein the rotating brushes have an axis longitudinal to the hull of the marine vessel;

fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a floating hull washing and cleaning device for a ship similar to fig. 1, wherein the means for washing and cleaning the ship hull are shown here embodied as a nozzle strip which sprays high-pressure water jets onto the hull during the cleaning process.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view in longitudinal section of the apparatus of fig. 1 or 2, where the means for washing and cleaning the hull engaged for treatment are not shown, but where the means for centering the hull and housing the frame are shown in the engagement and treatment phase.

Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of a typical vessel engaged with the floating installation of the previous figures, showing the vessel engaged with a centring datum of the hull for engagement and support on a mechanical spacer between the installation for cleaning processes and the vessel itself;

fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, in which the washing and cleaning device is schematically shown consisting only of a rotating brush having an axis longitudinal to the hull of fig. 1;

fig. 6 shows a schematic plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, in which the hybrid washing and cleaning device is shown in outline, i.e. the device consists on the one hand of the short rotating brush of fig. 1 with a longitudinal axis and, for the remaining length of the apparatus, of a belt with nozzles that spray pressurized water;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, wherein the washing and cleaning device of FIG. 2 is schematically shown, consisting only of a belt with nozzles for spraying pressurized water;

figure 8 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus of figure 1, here submerged, during a washing and cleaning phase of the hull of the vessel in general as shown;

figure 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the apparatus of figure 2, here submerged, during a washing and cleaning phase of the hull of the vessel in general as shown;

furthermore, fig. 10 shows a partly schematic front view of the floating installation of the previous figures during treatment of a specific section of the hull of a vessel, wherein a flexible and expandable diaphragm is provided, here shown in a lowered state and ready to be raised against the hull of the floating vessel to be treated;

figure 11 shows a partially schematic front view of the floating installation according to the invention according to the previous figures, in which the flexible and expandable bulkheads shown here rise against the hull to be treated; in this position, the upper edges of the inflatable and flexible bulkheads are provided with sliding rollers for the bulkheads, which operate continuously on the hull to be treated, allowing slow sliding;

figure 12 shows an enlarged schematic view of detail XII of previous figures 10 and 11 to schematically illustrate the configuration of the sliding rollers against the upper edge of the flexible and inflatable membrane of the surface of the vessel hull being processed;

figure 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the floating installation of the previous figures, schematically illustrating the water intakes used, which surround the surface of the hull being cleaned, which intakes are operated during the cleaning process for subsequent filtering and separation of sludge and removed plant matter for subsequent controlled disposal;

FIG. 14 shows a schematic plan view of the floating facility of the previous figures, during engagement of the vessel for processing, the vessel being suitably anchored in an anchorage or other shallow sea bed in a calm sea area;

fig. 15 shows a schematic plan view of the apparatus according to the invention, when carrying out the washing and cleaning process of the ship hull after the joining of fig. 14: when the vessel is anchored, the relative motion of the cleaning process can occur in both directions;

fig. 16 is a schematic plan view of the floating installation of fig. 15 at the end of the treatment of the hull of the vessel: the vessel remains anchored and the floating facility is disconnected from the vessel;

figure 17 shows a schematic plan view of a series of docking points for the floating hull washing and cleaning apparatus of a vessel, here of different dimensions, for operation on vessels having frames of different widths; furthermore, the floating device is an electric version, and wherein the power generated by the combustion diesel engine is used only on the floating device as an auxiliary and/or battery charge; further, charging is typically provided by a single power source for the equipment in the dock at the docking point.

Detailed Description

Figures 1 to 4 show a floating installation 1, which floating installation 1 comprises a basin 2, the basin 2 being formed between a side wall 3 and a floor 4 of the dock for joining these walls, cleaning and washing means 5 being positioned within the basin 2; the cleaning and washing device 5 consists of rotating brushes 6, these rotating brushes 6 having an axis longitudinal to the hull of the vessel, or even consisting of a plurality of belts 7 with nozzles that spray pressurized water onto the hull; both the rotating brush 6 and the plurality of straps 7 are supported with a vertical movable support member 8 and/or a horizontal movable support member 9 relative to the walls and floor of the dock; in the walls and floor of the dock there is a floating chamber 10 and a technical compartment 11, where the chamber 10 is used for computer control of the displacement of the apparatus, and the compartment 11 is used for housing the moving members of the washing and cleaning device, as well as for moving (such as a hydraulic system for operating the movable support that positions the brush 6 and the plurality of straps 7) and operating (such as a washing and filtering water thrust pump), or for rotating operation of the rotating brush 6; furthermore, in the thickness of the bottom plate of the dock, longitudinal propulsion members 13 and transverse propulsion members 14 are housed therein to perform the manoeuvring of the floating device 1 when engaged with the hull of a watercraft and the movement along said hull for forward movement in the cleaning and washing process thereof.

The engagement of the hull of the vessel is carried out by means of the members of the wheeled mechanical spacer 15 having a hull axis of the longitudinal axis a of the apparatus 1; also during the hull treatment phase, the extension of these components is controlled by the dock's floor 4 to detect the mutual position between the hull and the apparatus 1, and to continuously control the displacement of the apparatus and the position of the cleaning and washing device 5; the equipment is engaged with the hull by centering it with lateral supports 16 at the level L, the lateral supports 16 guiding the frame, advantageously aligned to converge with the longitudinal axis a, and comprising strong large idlers with vertical axis and rubber coating; after engagement, the centring of the vessel with the equipment is maintained with a lateral thruster 17, which lateral thruster 17 projects from the top 18 of the side wall 3 towards the centre of the basin 2: the ends of the pusher arms carry drums 19, the drums 19 being designed to come into contact with the side walls 20 of the engaged vessel 21 during processing; in the case of both semi-automatic operations, the supervisor operator checks from the dashboard P the engagement and handling operations of the apparatus 1 on the hull 22 of the vessel 21, and whether the engagement direction, the displacement of the apparatus and the handling phase are automatically controlled by an onboard computer which controls the floating, maneuvering and handling operations of the floating and steerable apparatus according to the invention.

The structure of the floating device of the invention is characterized by the fact that, although the device 1 is perfectly symmetrical in length and can work indifferently in two opposite directions, it has extensions 23 at the head and tail; these extensions of the dock's floor 4 serve to contain the distribution of the flotation chambers 10, thereby enabling control of the thrust for equipment displacement in an easier and more efficient manner; in addition, these extensions of the dock's floor 4 position the longitudinal propulsion members 13 and the lateral propulsion members 14 to achieve greater efficiency in steering the apparatus during maneuvering.

On the end of the extension 23 of the dock floor 4 there is an exposed post E, which, also in the submerged state of the dock floor, highlights the space occupied by the equipment in the sea during the transfer and joining manoeuvres and during the washing process of the joined vessel with an end profile marker light.

The side wall 3 is completed by making the rear deck area C correspond to both left and right sides of the tub 2; on the rear deck area C there are also some auxiliary components, such as a service crane G and an antenna N for a light warning signal as equipment for the ship, and the signal is transmitted over the air. In addition, there are flexible baffles 25 with inflatable edges 26 near the head and tail of the side walls 3, the flexible baffles 25 adjusting the flotation or lowering of the level, allowing engagement and/or disengagement of the hull 22.

Further, fig. 5-9 show: the position of the cleaning and rinsing devices 5 in the basin 2 and their positioning during the treatment phase; and the position of the guiding means of the apparatus in a planar arrangement (distribution on the dock floor 4) and during engagement of the hulls 22 when approaching and touching during the cleaning and washing process. Figure 6 shows a hybrid cleaning device 5, i.e. comprising a short rotating brush 27 and a series of multiple belts 7 on the hull, the short rotating brush 27 having a horizontal axis and a longitudinal direction with respect to the hull, while the multiple belts 7 operate on the hull in the same basin 2 of the floating installation of the figure.

Figures 10-12 schematically show the sliding rollers 28 of the flexible baffles 25 projecting towards the surface of the hull 22 to be treated, which can slide on the hull 22 as the apparatus 1 is moved forward along the hull to treat it. Obviously, the seal is not airtight, but most of the turbid water and the residual dirt and "dirt" remain inside the two flexible partitions at the ends of the tub 2 and are contained between the side walls 3. The bulkheads of fig. 3 are similar to those shown, but if they are made without sliding rollers 28, they require the inflatable edge to be detached from the hull 22, even a short distance, in order for the floating device 1 to move forward during the process, so that the process can be carried out at several sections of the hull.

Furthermore, fig. 13 schematically shows the distribution in the bottom plate 4 of the dock only in the region between the side walls and in the inner part of the side walls 3 surrounding the water intake 29 of the cleaning and washing device 5.

In fig. 14-16 the floating installation 1 is shown in the stages of engagement of the vessel 21 in general, cleaning and rinsing of the hull 22, and disengagement from a clean vessel. The reference numerals are the same as those in the previous figures, the direction of approach 30 and the indication 31 of the feed movement in the cleaning and washing process of the hull may be in both directions to and from the head of the schematically shown vessel 21, the direction of approach 30 may not be perfectly aligned with the hull frame. Once this process is completed, the floating device 1 is disengaged from the vessel following the outlet direction 32, which outlet direction 32 may also not be perfectly aligned with the vessel itself. During these phases, the vessel is advantageously held at the anchor 33, facilitating the engagement phase of the floating installation 1 to the vessel.

In another constructive form, shown in fig. 17, the floating device 1 is realized by means of electric propulsion, i.e. by means of electric means (not shown), such as an electric motor and associated batteries of sufficient capacity, which are used for propulsion in the propulsion members 13 and 14, and also for propulsion in the movement and displacement and control operations of the cleaning and washing means 5, whatever the way they are carried out. On the floating device is mounted a thermal energy generator, advantageously a diesel engine, for providing assistance in the event of depletion of the charge stored in the battery.

Figure 17 shows some floating devices 1 with different acceptable frame sizes. They are both electrically driven and hybrid, i.e. of the type mainly supplied with electricity, charged as described above by means of batteries using an electrical connection 35, which electrical connection 35 is located at each stop 36 in the quay 37. The dock is located in an anchorage or other suitable area 38 near the destination port of the vessel 21 for performing the cleaning and washing process of the hull. The power required to recharge the battery is provided by both conventional and land-mounted production facilities, photovoltaic or wind power. The most advantageous production is achieved by receiving energy from an offshore renewable energy production plant, which as is well known may be implemented as a wind or photovoltaic energy plant.

The operation of the floating and manoeuvrable hull washing and cleaning apparatus for a marine vessel as described above is carried out as described herein.

The floatation device is normally maintained in a fully floated position, i.e., above the water level L, by the dock's floor 4 and the dock's floor extension 23. This allows for proper equipment handling by an operator who can visually direct the equipment during the transfer from a docking station, such as the quay 37, towards the sea area where the joining and handling operations of the associated vessel 21 will take place. Obviously, navigation in this fully floating state is facilitated because the resistance to water flow provided by the apparatus construction itself is small. Furthermore, in this position, all the ancillary operations that can be performed at the above-mentioned docking heads, as well as scheduled or occasional or ad hoc maintenance, can be performed.

The treatment of the hull 22 of the vessel 21 is carried out by the engagement of the apparatus 1 with the vessel itself (figure 14). The equipment is displaced at the junction level of the hull; the floating level in relation to the draught of the hull is obviously known and regulated. In the position of fig. 14, the vessel 21 is already at the anchor 33 and the equipment in engagement motion in direction 30 is maintained at the above-mentioned engagement height. During engagement, the operator, by means of the GPS coordinate detection device and the associated watercraft, and before the stern of the watercraft 21 comes into physical contact against the lateral support 16 for guiding the frame 20 during engagement, visually controls the approach with the lamp E of the extension of the dock's floor 4. The vessel in engagement operation does not perform any activity, the operator controls and manoeuvres in all directions, obviously with weighted manoeuvres, the alignment of the hull axis of the vessel with the equipment axis a, first verifying the front contact and then verifying the rear contact, and correcting the alignment between said axes with the mechanical centring members 15 once the engagement alignment is made, the lateral thrusters 17 with rollers 19 in contact with the outer wall of the frame 20 are positioned from the top 18 of the wall, the position of the rollers 19 against the side wall 20 of the vessel being continuously recorded with mechanical, advantageously hydraulic, servo-actuation. Once engagement has been completed, the mechanical centring member 15 regulates the displacement of the apparatus to correctly position the cleaning and washing device 5 against the hull 22; therefore, the following processing can be realized.

The cleaning and washing treatment of the surface of the hull is carried out by a combined and simultaneous action of the cleaning and washing device 5 on the hull itself. The adjustment of the height at which the cleaning and washing devices 5 are located, which refers to the actual position of the centre of the hull, i.e. the position of maximum draught, is performed by means of the detection of the position of the mechanical centring elements 15, to the onboard computer of the apparatus, which adjusts the position of said devices, whether these have rotating brushes 6 with horizontal and longitudinal axes, or a plurality of belts 7 with pressurized water jets.

The treatment operation of fig. 15 may be performed in a continuous or discontinuous manner as needed to control the dispersion of the turbid water and wastewater obtained from the treatment. There is no particular need for such control, and the treatment can be carried out continuously without the need to hold, pump and thus treat the wastewater for waste disposal. Furthermore, in the presence of strict regulations for containment of wastewater and dirt or "dirt" removed from the hull, a flexible baffle 25 having an inflatable edge 26 may be used, which immediately after inflation adheres to the surface of the treated hull, preventing the exchange of turbid water with externally clean water. In this case, it is advisable to filter the turbid water by sucking it into the device through the mouth 29; the treatment operation is then carried out in a discontinuous manner, i.e. each time the apparatus 1 is positioned under the hull 22, one section of the hull is cleaned; in practice it is convenient to remove the flexible baffles 25 with the inflatable edges 26 from the hull, removing the flexible baffles 25 to move the apparatus 1 forward, thus treating the next section of the hull; the process can collect waste water and dirt to the maximum extent.

By using a flexible bulkhead 25 with inflatable edges 26 and rollers 28, treatment operations can be carried out continuously along the hull without the need to separate the rollers 28 from the surface of the hull itself. As mentioned above, the sealing of the drum 28 against the hull is not airtight, but the high suction and treatment capacity of the sewage determines a very low acceptable pollution residual, which allows a continuous process even in certain ports or berthing areas at the anchoring of ships where the most stringent anti-pollution standards are adopted.

The mode of operation of the rotating brushes 6, 27 with a horizontal axis longitudinal to the hull is known in the art and need not be further explained here. Moreover, even a plurality of belts 7 using pressurized water jets are known in the prior art, and therefore no further description is provided. Furthermore, the use of the rotating brushes 6, 27 and of the plurality of belts 7 in the basin 2, under control of the displacement of the control device 1 and of the pressure of the cleaning and washing means 5 against the hull, also allows to adjust the maximum efficiency obtainable for the two cleaning means, with hulls 22 having widely different transverse widths and/or drafts, allowing to limit the number of different sizes of the device 1, since the devices 1 can each operate with very different hull sizes.

Once the process is completed, the apparatus 1 moves to the next step, fig. 16, to disengage in a movement and motion that is opposite in displacement to the engagement phase described above.

Furthermore, in the operation of the form of electric hybrid structure of fig. 17, the most interesting combination is between power plants from renewable energy sources (whether offshore or onshore), since it makes independent the floating and manoeuvrable cleaning and washing vessel hull and can also be located far from shore in order to avoid cluttering up the harbour area, obtaining the production and use of power on site.

The advantages in the above described application of the constructive form of the floating hull cleaning and washing device of a ship can be summarized as having the greatest practicality and versatility in carrying out the ship hull cleaning and washing services. In fact, this type of floating and manoeuvrable equipment can be easily transported or towed to other suitable ports or suitable processing areas, thereby virtually expanding the service area or coverage in providing service. Furthermore, with floating and manoeuvrable cleaning and washing equipment, ships entering the port area can be cleaned preventively or, where the sea climate conditions permit, at an anchor or near shore or also on the transit passage of the ship.

Another advantage is that ships entering ports in certain countries, which require strict control of berthing and transit ships to avoid pollution and damage to the marine ecosystem, i.e. to protect it from non-native species transported by "bio-pollution" attached to the frame, can be cleaned and washed.

Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific or conditional requirements, may make numerous modifications to the floating and manoeuvrable hull washing installation for ships as described above, all of which are however comprised within the scope of protection of the present invention, as defined by the following claims. Thus, where certain parts are claimed, the propulsion members 13, 14 may be made only in the central position of the float bowl and not in the extension 23 of the dock floor 4. Even the positioning members of the frame equidistant from the side walls 3 can be made of an anthropomorphic mechanical device which positions between the side walls the rollers 19 designed to rotate against the side walls 20 of the vessel 21, to engage the side walls of the vessel both horizontally and vertically between the side walls 3, so as to correctly position said rollers 19 on the side walls 20 of the vessel 21.