Improvements in or relating to sea craft

The present invention relates to a sea craft, particularly, but not

exclusively, a sea craft for transporting and/or treating fish.

Sea craft for the transportation of fish are known. Such sea craft typically contain one or storage areas which are configured to hold a volume of water to which the fish are added. The storage areas may be configured to hold live fish, in which water may be contained in the storage area, or dead fish, in which an ice/water mixture may be contained in the storage area. These storage areas are typically formed as part of the sea craft itself. For example, these storage areas may be formed by one or more walls of the hull of the sea craft. While such sea craft are capable of transporting the fish contained therein, they are limited in that it is time consuming and labour intensive to load and off-load the fish from the sea craft.

The inventors of the present invention have appreciated the short comings of such known sea craft.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sea craft comprising:

a tank receiving and storage apparatus, the tank receiving and storage apparatus being operable to receive at least one tank at a first receiving location and transport the at least one tank to a second storage location. The term "tank" used throughout the specification is considered here to be a container that is capable of holding a volume of fluid, such as water, and which is also capable of storing and transporting fish. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the at least one tank from the second storage location to the first receiving location.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be located within the hull of the sea craft. Alternatively, or additionally, the tank receiving and storage apparatus may be located on a deck of the sea craft. The deck of the sea craft may be the main deck.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be attached to the sea craft.

The sea craft may further comprise a tank receiving aperture. The tank receiving aperture is sized to allow a tank to be received therethrough and to be located at the first receiving location of the tank receiving and storage apparatus. The tank receiving aperture may be located on the forecastle deck of the sea craft. The tank receiving aperture may be closed by a hatched door. The hatched door may be attached to the forecastle deck of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to receive and store a plurality of tanks thereon. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to receive each tank at the first receiving location. Each tank may be arranged on the tank receiving and storage apparatus such that they are side-by-side. In this arrangement the tanks are arranged substantially along the length of the sea craft. In this arrangement the tanks are arranged linearly along the length of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may have a plurality of second storage locations. Each tank may be transported from the first receiving location to its own second storage location. Each storage location may be adjacent another storage location. Each tank may be in contact directly, or indirectly via, for example, adjacent skid shoes, with an adjacent tank, such that when a tank at one end of a line of adjacent tanks is caused to move in the direction of the line of tanks, all tanks in that line also move.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank rectilinearly. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank non-rectilinearly. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank in more than one rectilinear direction.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the stern of the sea craft to a location towards the bow of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the bow of the sea craft to a location towards the stern of the sea craft.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the starboard side of the sea craft to a location towards the port side of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the port side of the sea craft to a location towards the starboard side of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may comprise at least one skid bed and at least one skid shoe. The at least one skid shoe may be mountable to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe may be moveable with respect to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid bed is configured to provide support to the at least one skid shoe.

The at least one skid shoe may be in a sliding contact with the at least one skid bed.

The at least one skid bed and the at least one skid shoe may be arranged such that the at least one skid shoe is moveable with respect to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe being moveable in a rectilinear direction and/or a non-rectilinear direction with respect to the at least one skid bed.

The at least one skid shoe may include one or more wheel members. The one or more wheel members may be arranged such that the at least one skid shoe may be wheeled relative to the at least one skid bed.

The at least one skid shoe may be in engagement with the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe and the at least one skid bed may be configured such that the at least one skid shoe may be moveable with respect to the at least one skid bed in a first direction and restricted from being moved with respect to the at least one skid bed in a second direction. The skid shoes may move within grooves or slots in the skid bed. The sea craft may further comprise one or more skid shoe moving apparatus. The one or more skid shoe moving apparatus are configured to move the at least one skid shoe relative to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe may be moved by one or more piston devices. The piston devices may be pneumatically-operated, hydraulically-operated or electrically operated. The one or more piston devices may be mountable to the at least one skid bed and may be capable of applying a force to the at least one skid shoe to move the at least one skid shoe with respect to the at least one skid bed. The one or more piston devices may be mountable to the at least one skid bed and may be capable of applying a force to a plurality of skid shoes to move the plurality of skid shoes with respect to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe may be moved by one or more winch devices. The one or more winch devices may be pneumatically-operated, hydraulically-operated or electrically operated. The one or more winch devices may be mountable to the at least one skid bed and may include a tow cable attached to the at least one skid shoe to move the at least one skid shoe with respect to the at least one skid bed. The one or more winch devices may be mountable to the at least one skid bed and may include a tow cable attached to one or more skid shoes to move one or more skid shoes with respect to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive at least one tank thereon. The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive and secure at least one tank thereon. The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive one tank thereon. The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive and secure one tank thereon. The tank may be secured to the at least one skid shoe by releasable fastening means.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may comprise one skid bed and a plurality of skid shoes. The plurality of skid shoes may be in contact directly, or indirectly via, for example, an attachment member, with an adjacent skid shoe, such that when a skid shoe at one end of a line of skid shoes is caused to move in the direction of the line of skid shoes, all skid shoes in that line also move.

The sea craft may comprise a plurality of tank receiving and storage apparatus.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of electrical power. The at least one source of electrical power may be configured to provide electrical power to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of oxygen gas. The at least one source of oxygen gas may be configured to provide oxygen gas to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of compressed air. The at least one source of compressed air may be configured to provide compressed air to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one source of treatment fluid. The sea craft may further comprise at least one source of medicine. The at least one source of medicine may be configured to provide medicine to the at least one tank. The at least one source of treatment fluid may be configured to provide medicine to the at least one tank. The treatment fluid or medicine may include hydrogen peroxide/water mixture.

The sea craft may comprise at least one apparatus for producing ice and/or an ice/water mixture. The ice/water mixture may be a slurry. The at least one apparatus for producing the ice and/or the ice water mixture may be configured to transfer the ice and/or the ice water mixture to the at least one tank. The at least one apparatus for producing the ice and/or the ice water mixture may include a conduit for transferring the ice and/or the ice water mixture to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one ice/water mixture storage tank. The storage tank may include apparatus for transferring the ice/water mixture to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of water. The water may be sea water. The water may have been treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The sea craft may include apparatus for transferring the water to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of salt water. The at least one source of salt water may include apparatus for transferring the salt water to the at least one tank. The sea craft may comprise at least one weighing apparatus. The at least one weighing apparatus may be configured to weigh the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one temperature monitoring apparatus. The at least one temperature monitoring apparatus m configured to monitor the temperature of the at least one tank. The sea craft may comprise at least one oxygen monitoring apparatus. The at least one oxygen monitoring apparatus may be configured to monitor the oxygen levels in the water in the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one data communication apparatus. The at least one data communication apparatus may be configured to transmit and receive data to and from the temperature monitoring apparatus and/or the oxygen monitoring apparatus.

The sea craft may comprise at least one data storage apparatus. The at least one data storage apparatus may be configured to store data obtained from the temperature monitoring apparatus and/or the oxygen monitoring apparatus.

The sea craft may comprise one or more tanks. The one or more tanks may be located with the tank receiving and storage apparatus. The one or more tanks may be located on the at least one skid shoe. The sea craft may further comprise at least one outgoing fluid conduit. The sea craft may further comprise one or more inlet fluid conduits. The one or more fluid conduits are connectable to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit. The one or more inlet fluid conduits may be connectable to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit via a matrix of fluid conduits.

The one or more inlet fluid conduits are configured such that they may be connectable to the at least one tank. In this arrangement, fluid can flow from the at least one tank to the outgoing fluid conduit. The sea craft may further comprise at least one flexible discharge conduit. The at least one flexible discharge conduit may be configured such that it may be connectable to the outgoing fluid conduit. The at least one tank may be configured to hold a fluid. The fluid may be water and/or sea water. The fluid may contain one or more fish. The fish may be alive or dead.

The at least one tank may be configured to hold one or more treatment fluids. The at least one tank may be configured to hold one or more medicines. The treatment fluid and the medicine may include hydrogen peroxide. The medicine may be a hydrogen peroxide/water mixture.

The at least one tank may include at least one pump device to pump fluid from the at least one tank.

The at least one tank may include at least one source of oxygen gas. The tank may be configured such that oxygen gas can be introduced therein. The tank may include one or more conduits for the introduction of the oxygen gas thereto.

The at least one tank may include at least one source of compressed air. The tank may be configured such that compressed air can be introduced thereto. The tank may include one or more conduits for the introduction of the compressed air thereto.

The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the

introduction of an ice/water mixture thereto. The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the

introduction of water thereto.

The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the

introduction of salt water thereto.

The at least one tank may include at least one temperature monitoring apparatus. The at least one temperature monitoring apparatus may be configured to monitor the temperature of the at least one tank.

The at least one tank may be configured to be connectable to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit such that fluid may be transferred from the at least one tank to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit. The at least one tank may be configured to be connectable to the one or more inlet fluid conduits.

The at least one tank may include one or more fluid inlet/outlet conduits to allow fluid flow into, and/or out of, the tank. The one or more fluid inlet/outlet conduits may be configured such that they are connectable to the matrix of fluid conduits.

The at least one tank may be capable of holding up to 50,000 litres of fluid. The at least one tank may have a volume up to 50 m ³ The at least one tank may have an approximate length of 6m, a width of 2.5m and a height of 2.5m. The at least one tank may have an

approximate length of 12, a width of 6m and a height of 6m.

The sea craft may further comprise a fish collection and storage

apparatus. The fish collection and storage apparatus may be configured to collect fish located externally from the sea craft and transfer them to the sea craft for storage thereon. The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish storage tank for storing the collected fish therein. The at least one fish storage tank may be located in the hull of the sea craft. The at least one fish storage tank may be located on the deck of the sea craft.

The fish collection and storage apparatus may include at least one water suction hose device. The at least one water suction hose device being configured to extract water and fish from a volume of water and transfer the water and fish to the sea craft for storage thereon. The transferred water and fish may be held in the at least one fish storage tank.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish dispatching apparatus. The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish sorting apparatus.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish sorting and dispatching apparatus. The at least one fish sorting apparatus may be capable of sorting the fish by size. The at least one fish sorting apparatus may be capable of sorting the fish by weight.

The at least one fish sorting apparatus and the at least one fish

dispatching apparatus are arranged such that fish may be transferred from the at least one fish sorting apparatus to the at least one fish dispatching apparatus. The sea craft may further comprise at least one conveyor apparatus to convey the dispatched fish from the at least one fish dispatching

apparatus to the at least one tank. The at least one conveyor apparatus may be configured to convey the dispatched fish to two or more tanks. The at least one conveyor apparatus may be configured to select the tank to which the dispatched fish are conveyed. The sea craft may comprise a plurality of tanks and the at least one conveyor apparatus may be configured to select one or more tanks to which the dispatched fish are conveyed.

The at least one conveyor apparatus may be located above the at least one tank.

The at least one conveyor apparatus may include one or more conveyor belts. The at least one conveyor apparatus may include two conveyor belts. The at least one tank may be located substantially between the conveyor belts.

The at least one conveyor apparatus may include one or more fish transfer chutes for transferring the dispatched fish from the at least one conveyor apparatus to the at least one tank.

The at least one conveyor apparatus may include a plurality of fish transfer chutes for transferring the dispatched fish from the at least one conveyor apparatus to the at least one tank and each transfer chute may be configured to transfer fish of a predetermined weight and/or size. The sea craft may further comprise at least one lifting apparatus. The at least one lifting apparatus may be a crane.

The at least one lifting apparatus is operable to lift the at least one tank. The at least one lifting apparatus is operable to lift the at least one tank and position the at least one tank at the first receiving location or second storage location. The at least one lifting apparatus is operable to lift the at least one tank from the first receiving location or second storage location. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of loading at least one tank to a sea craft, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a sea craft according to the first aspect of the invention; providing the at least one tank to be loaded to the sea craft;

positioning the at least one tank at the first receiving location of the tank receiving and storage apparatus; and

using the tank receiving and storage apparatus to transport the at least one tank to the second storage location. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the at least one tank from the second storage location to the first receiving location.

The method may include the further step of lifting the at least one tank to the first receiving location prior to moving the at least one tank from the first receiving location to the second storage location.

The method may include the further step of lifting the at least one tank from the first receiving location after moving the at least one tank from the second storage location to the first receiving location. This step may be performed when unloading the at least one tank from the sea craft.

The method may include the further step of locating the at least one tank externally from the sea craft after lifting the same therefrom.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be located within the hull of the sea craft. Alternatively, or additionally, the tank receiving and storage apparatus may be located on a deck of the sea craft. The deck of the sea craft may be the main deck.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be attached to the sea craft. The sea craft may further comprise a tank receiving aperture. The tank receiving aperture is sized to allow a tank to be received therethrough and to be located at the first receiving location of the tank receiving and storage apparatus. The tank receiving aperture may be located on the forecastle deck of the sea craft. The tank receiving aperture may be closed by a hatched door. The hatched door may be attached to the forecastle deck of the sea craft.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to receive and store a plurality of tanks thereon. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to receive each tank at the first receiving location. Each tank may be arranged on the tank receiving and storage apparatus such that they are side-by-side. In this arrangement the tanks are arranged substantially along the length of the sea craft. In this arrangement the tanks are arranged linearly along the length of the sea craft. Each tank may be in contact directly, or indirectly via, for example, adjacent skid shoes, with an adjacent tank, such that when a tank at one end of a line of adjacent tanks is caused to move in the direction of the line of tanks, all tanks in that line also move. The method may include the further step of providing a plurality of tanks at the first receiving location of the tank receiving and storage apparatus and using the tank receiving and storage apparatus to transport each tank to the second storage location. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank rectilinearly. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank non-rectilinearly. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank in more than one rectilinear direction.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the stern of the sea craft to a location towards the bow of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the bow of the sea craft to a location towards the stern of the sea craft.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the starboard side of the sea craft to a location towards the port side of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be operable to transport the tank from a location towards the port side of the sea craft to a location towards the starboard side of the sea craft. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may comprise at least one skid bed and at least one skid shoe. The at least one skid shoe may be mountable to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe may be moveable with respect to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid bed is configured to provide support to the at least one skid shoe.

The at least one skid shoe may be in a sliding contact with the at least one skid bed.

The at least one skid bed and the at least one skid shoe may be arranged such that the at least one skid shoe is moveable with respect to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe being moveable in a rectilinear direction and/or a non-rectilinear direction with respect to the at least one skid bed.

The at least one skid shoe may include one or more wheel members. The one or more wheel members may be arranged such that the at least one skid shoe may be wheeled relative to the at least one skid bed.

The at least one skid shoe may be in engagement with the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe and the at least one skid bed may be configured such that the at least one skid shoe may be moveable with respect to the at least one skid bed in a first direction and restricted from being moved with respect to the at least one skid bed in a second direction. The skid shoes may move within grooves or slots in the skid bed. The sea craft may further comprise one or more skid shoe moving apparatus. The one or more skid shoe moving apparatus are configured to move the at least one skid shoe relative to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe may be moved by one or more piston devices. The piston devices may be pneumatically-operated, hydraulically-operated or electrically operated. The one or more piston devices may be mountable to the at least one skid bed and may be capable of applying a force to the at least one skid shoe to move the at least one skid shoe with respect to the at least one skid bed. The one or more piston devices may be mountable to the at least one skid bed and may be capable of applying a force to a plurality of skid shoes to move the plurality of skid shoes with respect to the at least one skid bed. The at least one skid shoe may be moved by one or more winch devices. The one or more winch devices may be pneumatically-operated, hydraulically-operated or electrically operated. The one or more winch devices may be mountable to the at least one skid bed and may include a tow cable attached to the at least one skid shoe to move the at least one skid shoe with respect to the at least one skid bed.

The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive at least one tank thereon. The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive and secure at least one tank thereon. The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive one tank thereon. The at least one skid shoe may be arranged to receive and secure one tank thereon.

The at least one tank may be secured to the at least one skid shoe by releasable fastening means. The tank receiving and storage apparatus may comprise one skid bed and a plurality of skid shoes. The plurality of skid shoes may be in contact directly, or indirectly via, for example, an attachment member, with an adjacent skid shoe, such that when a skid shoe at one end of a line of skid shoes is caused to move in the direction of the line of skid shoes, all skid shoes in that line also move.

The method may comprise the further step of mounting the at least one tank to the at least one skid shoe. The step of mounting the at least one tank to the at least one skid shoe may include the step of fastening the at least one tank to the at least one skid shoe.

The sea craft may comprise a plurality of tank receiving and storage apparatus.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of electrical power. The at least one source of electrical power may be configured to provide electrical power to the at least one tank. The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one source of electrical power to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of oxygen gas. The at least one source of oxygen gas may be configured to provide oxygen gas to the at least one tank.

The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one source of oxygen gas to the at least one tank and transferring oxygen gas thereto. The sea craft may comprise at least one source of compressed air. The at least one source of compressed air may be configured to provide compressed air to the at least one tank. The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one source of compressed air to the at least one tank and transferring compressed air thereto.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one source of treatment fluid. The sea craft may further comprise at least one source of medicine. The at least one source of medicine may be configured to provide medicine to the at least one tank. The at least one source of treatment fluid may be configured to provide the treatment fluid to the at least one tank. The treatment fluid and/or medicine may include hydrogen peroxide.

The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one source of medicine to the at least one tank and transferring the medicine thereto. The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one source of treatment fluid to the at least one tank and transferring the treatment fluid thereto.

The method may comprise the further step of administering one or more medicines to the at least one tank. The method may comprise the further step of administering one or more treatment fluids to the at least one tank.

The sea craft may comprise at least one apparatus for producing ice and/or an ice/water mixture. The ice/water mixture may be a slurry. The at least one apparatus for producing the ice and/or the ice water mixture may be configured to transfer the ice and/or the ice water mixture to the at least one tank. The at least one apparatus for producing the ice and/or the ice water mixture may include a conduit for transferring the ice and/or the ice water mixture to the at least one tank.

The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one apparatus for producing ice and/or an ice/water mixture to the at least one tank and transferring the ice and/or an ice/water mixture thereto.

The sea craft may comprise at least one ice/water mixture storage tank. The storage tank may include apparatus for transferring the ice/water mixture to the at least one tank.

The method may comprise the step of transferring the ice and/or an ice/water mixture to the at least one tank. The sea craft may comprise at least one source of water. The water may be sea water. The water may have been treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The sea craft may include apparatus for transferring the water to the at least one tank. The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one source of water to the at least one tank and transferring the water thereto.

The sea craft may comprise at least one source of salt water. The at least one source of salt water may include apparatus for transferring the salt water to the at least one tank.

The method may comprise the step of connecting the at least one source of salt water to the at least one tank and transferring the salt water thereto. The sea craft may comprise at least one weighing apparatus. The at least one weighing apparatus may be configured to weigh the at least one tank.

The method may further comprise the step of weighing the at least one tank when the at least one tank is mounted to the tank receiving and storage apparatus. The at least one tank may be weighed before and/or after it has been loaded to the sea craft.

The sea craft may comprise at least one temperature monitoring apparatus. The at least one temperature monitoring apparatus may be configured to monitor the temperature of the at least one tank.

The method may further comprise the step of monitoring the temperature of the at least one tank when the at least one tank is mounted to the tank receiving and storage apparatus.

The sea craft may comprise at least one oxygen monitoring apparatus. The at least one oxygen monitoring apparatus may be configured to monitor the oxygen levels in the water in the at least one tank.

The method may further comprise the step of monitoring the oxygen content of the fluid in the at least one tank when the at least one tank is mounted to the tank receiving and storage apparatus. The sea craft may comprise at least one data communication apparatus. The at least one data communication apparatus may be configured to transmit and receive data to and from the temperature monitoring apparatus and/or the oxygen monitoring apparatus. The sea craft may comprise at least one data storage apparatus. The at least one data storage apparatus may be configured to store data obtained from the temperature monitoring apparatus and/or the oxygen monitoring apparatus.

The method may further comprise the step of obtaining and storing data from the temperature monitoring apparatus and/or the oxygen monitoring apparatus. The sea craft may comprise one or more tanks. The one or more tanks may be located with the tank receiving and storage apparatus. The one or more tanks may be located on the at least one skid shoe.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one outgoing fluid conduit. The sea craft may further comprise one or more inlet fluid conduits. The one or more fluid conduits are connectable to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit. The one or more inlet fluid conduits may be connectable to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit via a matrix of fluid conduits. The one or more inlet fluid conduits are configured such that they may be connectable to the at least one tank. In this arrangement, fluid can flow from the at least one tank to the outgoing fluid conduit.

The method may comprise the further step of transferring fluid from the at least one tank to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit. The fluid may be transferred from the at least one tank to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit via the one or more inlet fluid conduits and/or matrix of fluid conduits. The sea craft may further comprise at least one flexible discharge conduit. The at least one flexible discharge conduit may be configured such that it may be connectable to the outgoing fluid conduit. The method may comprise the further step of using the at least one flexible discharge conduit to discharge fluid from the at least one tank.

The method may comprise the further step of selectively positioning the at least one flexible discharge conduit at one or more locations external to the sea craft.

The at least one tank may be configured to hold a fluid. The fluid may be water and/or sea water. The fluid may contain one or more fish. The fish may be alive or dead.

The method may comprise the further step of transferring the fluid and fish from the sea craft. The fluid and fish may be transferred from the at least one tank via the one or more inlet fluid conduits and/or matrix of fluid conduits.

The at least one tank may be configured to hold a treatment fluid. The at least one tank may be configured to hold medicine. The treatment fluid and/or medicine may include hydrogen peroxide. The treatment fluid and/or medicine may be a hydrogen peroxide/water mixture.

The at least one tank may include at least one pump device to pump fluid from the at least one tank.

The method may comprise the further step of pumping fluid from the at least one tank. The at least one tank may include at least one source of oxygen gas. The at least one tank may be configured such that oxygen gas can be introduced therein. The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the introduction of the oxygen gas thereto.

The at least one tank may include at least one source of compressed air. The at least one tank may be configured such that compressed air can be introduced thereto. The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the introduction of the compressed air thereto.

The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the

introduction of an ice/water mixture thereto. The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the

introduction of water thereto.

The at least one tank may include one or more conduits for the

introduction of salt water thereto.

The at least one tank may include at least one temperature monitoring apparatus. The at least one temperature monitoring apparatus may be configured to monitor the temperature of the at least one tank. The at least one tank may be configured to be connectable to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit such that fluid may be transferred from the at least one tank to the at least one outgoing fluid conduit. The at least one tank may be configured to be connectable to the one or more inlet fluid conduits. The at least one tank may include one or more fluid inlet/outlet conduits to allow fluid flow into, and/or out of, the tank. The one or more fluid inlet/outlet conduits may be configured such that they are connectable to the matrix of fluid conduits.

The at least one tank may be capable of holding up to 50,000 litres of fluid. The at least one tank may have a volume up to 50 m ³

The at least one tank may have an approximate length of 6m, a width of 2.5m and a height of 2.5m. The at least one tank may have an

approximate length of 12, a width of 6m and a height of 6m.

The sea craft may further comprise a fish collection and storage

apparatus. The fish collection and storage apparatus may be configured to collect fish located externally from the sea craft and transfer them to the sea craft for storage thereon. The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish storage tank for storing the collected fish therein. The at least one fish storage tank may be located in the hull of the sea craft. The at least one fish storage tank may be located on the deck of the sea craft.

The method may further comprise the step of providing a fish collection and storage apparatus and using the fish collection and storage apparatus to collect fish located externally from the sea craft and transfer them to the sea craft for storage thereon.

The fish collection and storage apparatus may include at least one water suction hose device. The at least one water suction hose device being configured to extract water and fish from a volume of water and transfer the water and fish to sea craft for storage thereon. The transferred water and fish may be held in the at least one fish storage tank. The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish dispatching apparatus. The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish sorting apparatus.

The method may comprise the further step of using the at least one fish dispatching apparatus to dispatch fish on the sea craft. The method may comprise the further step of using the at least one fish dispatching apparatus to dispatch the sorted fish on the sea craft.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one fish sorting and dispatching apparatus.

The at least one fish sorting apparatus may be capable of sorting the fish by size. The at least one fish sorting apparatus may be capable of sorting the fish by weight.

The at least one fish sorting apparatus and the at least one fish dispatching apparatus are arranged such that fish may be transferred from the at least one fish sorting apparatus to the at least one fish dispatching apparatus.

The method may comprise the further step of transferring the fish from the at least one fish sorting apparatus to the at least one fish dispatching apparatus.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one conveyor apparatus to convey the dispatched fish from the at least one fish dispatching apparatus to the at least one tank. The method may comprise the further step of conveying the dispatched fish from the at least one fish dispatching apparatus to the at least one tank. The at least one conveyor apparatus may be configured to convey the dispatched fish to two or more tanks. The at least one conveyor apparatus may be configured to select the tank to which the dispatched fish are conveyed. The sea craft may comprise a plurality of tanks and the at least one conveyor apparatus may be configured to select one or more tanks to which the dispatched fish are conveyed.

The method may comprise the further step of selecting one of the tanks to which the dispatched fish are transported to.

The at least one conveyor apparatus may be located above the at least one tank. The at least one conveyor apparatus may include one or more conveyor belts. The at least one conveyor apparatus may include two conveyor belts. The at least one tank may be located substantially between the conveyor belts. The at least one conveyor apparatus may include one or more fish transfer chutes for transferring the dispatched fish from the at least one conveyor apparatus to the at least one tank.

The at least one conveyor apparatus may include a plurality of fish transfer chutes for transferring the dispatched fish from the at least one conveyor apparatus to the at least one tank and each transfer chute may be configured to transfer fish of a predetermined weight and/or size.

The sea craft may further comprise at least one lifting apparatus. The at least one lifting apparatus may be a crane.

The at least one lifting apparatus is operable to lift the at least one tank. The at least one lifting apparatus is operable to lift the at least one tank and position the at least one tank at the first receiving location or second storage location. The at least one lifting apparatus is operable to lift the at least one tank from the first receiving location or second storage location.

The method may comprise the further step of using the at least one lifting apparatus to position the at least one tank at the first receiving location. The method may comprise the further step of using the at least one lifting apparatus to provide support to the at least one tank while the at least one tank is being mounted to the at least one skid shoe. The at least one tank may be transferred from a position external to the sea craft to the first receiving location.

The method may comprise the further step of using the at least one lifting apparatus to provide support to the at least one tank while the at least one tank is being removed from the at least one skid shoe. The method may comprise the further step of using the at least one lifting apparatus to move the at least one tank from the first receiving location to a location which is external from the sea craft. The at least one tank to be loaded to the sea craft may contain water. The water may be fresh water, sea water or ultraviolet (UV) radiation treated sea water. The water may include salt. The water may be salt water. The at least one tank to be loaded to the sea craft may contain ice or an ice/water mixture.

The method may comprise the further step of adding water to the at least one tank before loading the tank to the sea craft.

The at least one tank to be loaded to the sea craft may contain live fish.

The method may comprise the further step of adding live fish to the at least one tank before loading the tank to the sea craft.

The method may comprise the further step of using the tank receiving and storage apparatus to add a plurality of fish-filled tanks to the sea craft.

The at least one tank to be loaded to the sea craft may contain one or more treatment fluids. The one or more treatment fluids may contain one or more medicines.

Embodiments of the second aspect of the invention may include one or more features of the first aspect of the invention or its embodiments.

Similarly, embodiments of the first aspect of the invention may include one or more features of the second aspect of the invention or its embodiments.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a sea craft according to the first aspect of the invention comprising a tank, wherein the tank is configured to be mountable to the tank receiving and storage apparatus of the sea craft.

The sea craft may comprise a plurality of tanks, wherein each tank is configured to be mountable to the tank receiving and storage apparatus of the sea craft.

Embodiments of the third aspect of the invention may include one or more features of the first and/or second aspects of the invention or its

embodiments.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a tank receiving and storage apparatus, the tank receiving and storage apparatus being operable to receive at least one tank at a first receiving location and transport the at least one tank to a second storage location.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus may be configured to be mountable to a sea craft. Embodiments of the fourth aspect of the invention may include one or more features of the first aspect of the invention or its embodiments.

Specific Description An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 a is a perspective partial view of a sea craft according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 1 b is a side view of the sea craft of figure 1 a;

Figures 1 c and 1 d are perspective partial views of the tank receiving and storage apparatus of the sea craft of figure 1 a;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional plan view of the sea craft of figure 1 b along lines l-l;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional plan view of the sea craft of figure 1 b along lines 11-11;

Figure 4 is a partial cross sectional plan view of the sea craft of figure 1 b along lines Ill-Ill; and Figure 5 is an end view of the sea craft of figure 1 b.

The sea craft 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in figures 1 to 5. The sea craft 10 has a hull 1 , a bow 2, a stern 3, a starboard side 4, a port side 5, a main deck 6 and a forecastle deck 7.

The sea craft 10 includes a tank receiving and storage apparatus 12. In the embodiment illustrated and described here the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 is located on the main deck 6 within the hull 1 of the sea craft 10.

The tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 includes a skid bed 14 and a plurality of skid shoes 16. The skid bed 14 is attached to the main deck 6.

The skid shoes 16 are configured to receive and secure a tank 18 thereon, as described below. The tanks 18 are secured to the skid shoes 16 via releasable fastening devices (not illustrated). The skid bed 14 is configured to provide support to the skid shoes 16 and tank 18 when mounted thereon. The skid shoes 16 are moveable with respect to the skid bed 14. In the embodiment illustrated and described here the skid bed 14 is an elongate member which extends a substantial part of the length of the main deck 6 and the skid shoes 16 are configured such that they may be wheeled along the skid bed 14. The skid shoes 16 thus transport the tank 18 between the bow 2 and stern 3 of the sea craft 10. In this arrangement the skid shoes 16 are moved in a rectilinear direction along the skid bed 14.

The skid shoes 16 may include one or more wheel members (not illustrated) to facilitate movement of the skid shoe 16 along the skid bed 14. It should, however, be appreciated that the skid shoes 16 may be moved relative to the skid bed 14 in any suitable manner. For example, the skid shoes 16 may simply be located on the skid bed 14 and may be in a sliding contact therewith.

Hydraulic rams or electrical winching (not illustrated) are used to move the skid shoes 16 along the skid bed 14. However, it should be appreciated that other types of shoe moving apparatus may be used to move the skid shoes 16 along the skid bed 14.

As best illustrated in figure 1 , the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 is operable to receive a tank 18 at a first receiving location 20 on the sea craft 10 and to transport the tank 18 to a second storage location 22 on the sea craft 10. A crane 24 positioned on the forecastle deck 7 is used to lift the tanks 18 from, for example, a dock to the sea craft 10. The crane 24 lowers each tank 18 through a tank receiving aperture 26 located on the forecastle deck 7 and an onto a skid shoe 16 located at the first receiving location 20 of the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12. The tanks 18 are secured to the skid shoes 16 and then the skid shoes 16 are moved along the skid bed 14 by the hydraulic rams or electrical winches described above. The skid shoes 16 are moved along the skid bed 14 until they reach the second storage location 22 where they may, or may not, be secured in position. As illustrated in figures 1 a to 1 d and 4, the tanks 18 are transported along the skid bed 14 and stored in a side-by-side arrangement thereon.

The tanks 18 are typically 6m in length, 2.5m wide and 2.5m tall, and may be configured to hold up to 30,000 litres of fluid, such as water. However, it should be appreciated that the tanks 18 may be of any suitable size. For example, the tanks 18 may be configured to hold up to 50,000 litres of fluid. The tanks 18 may have a volume up to 50 m ³

The tanks 18 are designed for the storage and transportation of fish. The fish may be alive or dead. The tanks 18 are therefore configured to allow water, which may be sea water, to be pumped therein. Each tank 18 may include its own dedicated pump (not illustrated) to allow the pumping of fluid into and out of the tank 18. The tanks 18 are also configurable to allow oxygen gas to be injected thereto. Each tank 18 may include its own source of oxygen gas, which may be one or more oxygen gas cylinders, or the like. The tanks 18 are also configurable to allow compressed air to be injected thereto. Each tank 18 may include its own source of compressed air, which may be one or more compressed air cylinders, or the like. The tanks 18 are also configurable to allow an ice/water mixture to be pumped therein. The tanks 18 are also configurable to allow a treatment fluid and/or a medicine to be pumped therein. As described below, the treatment fluid and the medicine may include hydrogen peroxide.

The tanks 18 also comprise a temperature monitoring apparatus (not illustrated) to monitor the temperature of the water contained therein.

The tanks 18 also comprise an oxygen monitoring apparatus (not illustrated) to monitor the oxygen content of the water contained therein. The tanks 18 include a number of conduits (not illustrated) for the insertion of the water, oxygen gas, compressed air, ice/water mixture, treatment fluid and medicine.

The sea craft 10 has a source of electrical power (not illustrated) which is configured to provide electrical power to the tanks 18. Additionally, or alternatively, to the tanks 18 including a dedicated pump, the sea craft 10 may include a pump (not illustrated) for pumping fluid into and out of the tanks 18. Additionally, or alternatively, to the tanks 18 including a source of oxygen gas, the sea craft 10 may include a source of oxygen gas (not illustrated) for injecting into the tanks 18. The source of oxygen gas may be one or more oxygen gas cylinders, or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, to the tanks 18 including a source of compressed air, the sea craft 10 may include a source of compressed air (not illustrated) for injecting into the tanks 18. The source of compressed air may be one or more compressed air cylinders, or the like.

The sea craft 10 also comprises a source of ice/water mixture (not illustrated) which may be pumped into the tanks 18. The ice/water mixture may be a slurry of ice and water. The ice/water mixture may be stored in a storage tank (not illustrated) on the sea craft 10. The ice/water mixture may be pumped to the tanks 18 as and when required.

The sea craft also comprises a source of treatment fluid and/or medicine (not illustrated) which may be pumped into the tanks 18. The treatment fluid may include hydrogen peroxide and/or a hydrogen peroxide/water mixture. The ice/water mixture storage tank may also include a pump apparatus for transferring the ice/water mixture to the tanks 18. The sea craft 10 also comprises a source of water (not illustrated) which may be pumped into the tanks 18. The water may be sea water and may have been pre-treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation to kill any

microorganisms therein. The water may be pumped into the tanks 18 by the sea craft pump.

The sea craft 10 also includes a weighing apparatus (not illustrated), which is used to weigh the tanks 18 on the skid bed 14.

Additionally, or alternatively, to the tanks 18 including a temperature monitoring apparatus, the sea craft 10 may include a temperature monitoring apparatus (not illustrated) for monitoring the temperature of the water in the tanks 18.

Additionally, or alternatively, to the tanks 18 including an oxygen monitoring apparatus, the sea craft 10 may include an oxygen monitoring apparatus (not illustrated) for monitoring the oxygen content of the water in the tanks 18.

The sea craft 10 also includes a data communication apparatus (not illustrated) which is configured to transmit and receive data to and from the temperature monitoring apparatus and/or the oxygen monitoring apparatus associated with the tanks 18.

The sea craft 10 also includes a data storage apparatus (not illustrated) which is configured to store data obtained from the temperature monitoring apparatus and/or the oxygen monitoring apparatus associated with the tanks 18.

The sea craft 10 includes a number of conduits (not illustrated) for the transfer of the water, oxygen gas, compressed air, ice/water mixture, treatment fluid and medicine.

The sea craft 10 also includes an outgoing fluid conduit (not illustrated). The outgoing fluid conduit includes a plurality of inlet fluid conduits (not illustrated) which are configured to be in fluidic communication with the outgoing fluid conduit. The plurality of inlet fluid conduits are connected to the outgoing fluid via a matrix of fluid conduits (not illustrated). Each tank 18 has a fluid outlet (not illustrated) which is configured to be in fluidic communication with the fluid inlets of the outgoing fluid conduit. In the embodiment described here, the fluid outlets of the tanks 18 are in fluid communication with the outgoing fluid conduit via the matrix of fluid conduits. In this arrangement each tank 18 is in fluidic communication with the outgoing fluid conduit of the sea craft 10 such that fluid in each tank 18 can flow out of the tank 18 and out of the outgoing fluid conduit.

The sea craft 10 also includes a flexible discharge conduit (not illustrated) which is in fluidic attachment to the outgoing fluid conduit. The flexible discharge conduit is used to provide directional control to the fluid exiting the outgoing fluid conduit. As best illustrated in figures 1 b and 4, the sea craft 10 also includes a fish collection and storage apparatus 28. The fish collection and storage apparatus 28 is configured to collect fish which are located externally from the sea craft 10, for example fish being stored in a sea water pen, and transfer them to a fish storage tank 30 on the sea craft 10. In the embodiment illustrated and described here, the fish storage tank 30 is located in the hull 1 of the sea craft 10.

As illustrated in figure 4, the fish collection and storage apparatus 28 includes a suction hose device 32. The suction hose device 32 is configured to suck water and fish from a volume of water, such as a sea water pen, and transport the water and fish to the fish collection and storage apparatus 28. The suction hose 32 is a flexible hose which can be manoeuvred easily by, for example, the crane 24. The suction hose device 32 may be operated by one or more pumps (not illustrated).

The sea craft 10 also includes a fish dispatching apparatus 34. The fish dispatching apparatus 34 is located on the forecastle deck 7 above the fish collection and storage apparatus 28. The fish collection and storage apparatus 28 is configured to transfer the fish in the storage tank 30 to the fish dispatching apparatus 34.

As best illustrated in figures, 1 , 2 and 5, the fish dispatching apparatus 34 includes a fish sorting apparatus 36, which is configured to sort the fish by size and/or weight. Fish entering the fish sorting apparatus 36 are sorted by size and/or weight and then dispatched by stunning and bleeding, as is known in the art.

The sea craft 10 includes a conveyor apparatus 38 which is configured to transport the dispatched fish from the fish dispatching apparatus 34 to one or more tanks 18. As illustrated in figure 1 , the conveyor apparatus 38 is positioned below the fish sorting apparatus 36 and runs from the stern 3 of the sea craft 10 towards the bow 2 of the sea craft 10. The conveyor apparatus 38 is supported by the forecastle deck 7 at a height that allows a user 1 1 to work at the conveyor.

As best illustrated in figures 2 and 3, the conveyor apparatus 38 includes two conveyor belts 38a, 38b, which run substantially parallel to one another. Dispatched fish from the fish dispatching apparatus 34 are placed on each conveyor belt 38a, 38b and transported to the tanks 18. The tanks 18 are located beneath the conveyor belts 38a, 38b.

As best illustrated in figure 3, the conveyor apparatus 38 includes a number of fish guiding devices, or kicker gates 40, and chutes 42, which are used to guide the dispatched fish into a selected tank 18. In use, the kicker gates 40 are selectively opened or closed to guide the dispatched fish into a selected tank 18. The dispatched fish are guided by the kicker gates 40 onto the chutes 42, which are connected to the tanks 18 via a carrier sleeve (not illustrated). The dispatched fish pass down through the carrier sleeve and into the tank 18.

The chutes 42 may be hinged plates which, when in a raised position and not connected to the carrier sleeve, allow a user 1 1 to walk thereon between conveyor belts 38a, 38b.

Operation of the sea craft 10 will now be described with reference to the three following examples:

Smolt Transport The following is a description of the use of the sea craft 10 and associated equipment to transport live juvenile salmon (smolts) from fresh water to salt water. This example is based on a collection from fresh water pens in a loch and transportation to the sea craft 10 and then on to further pens, where the smolts are discharged from the sea craft 10.

Lorry tractor units are used to transport a plurality of tanks 18 to locations adjacent the fresh water pens. The tanks 18 are equipped with oxygen cylinders and monitoring equipment supplied by an electrical connection from the lorry tractor unit. As described above, the tanks 18 are designed for oxygen injection and monitoring of the water therein along with recirculation while the smolts are being transported.

Once the tanks 18 are in the desired location, a predetermined amount of fresh water is pumped into the tanks 18. The required number, or volume, of smolts are then pumped into the tanks 18 with a fish pump. The oxygenation and monitoring of the tanks 18 is then started. The tanks 18 are then transported by the lorry tractor units to a harbour where the sea craft 10 is docked. The oxygen levels of the water in each tank 18 are monitored and stored in the data storage apparatus associated the tanks 18.

Once the lorry tractor units arrive at the harbour the tanks 18 are loaded onto the sea craft 10. Each tank 18 is disconnected from the oxygen supply and recirculation ability of the lorry tractor unit. A hinged hatch 26a, which closes the tank receiving aperture 26, is opened and the crane 24 is used to move each tank 18 from the lorry tractor unit to the sea craft 10. The crane 24 lowers each tank 18 through the tank receiving aperture 26 and down to the first receiving location 20 of the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12, where the skid shoes 16 are located. The crane 24 is then disconnected from the tank 18. As described above, the tanks 18 are secured to the skid shoes 16, via, for example a double cup lock, and the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 is used to move each tank 18 from the first receiving location 20 to the second storage location 22. As best illustrated in figure 1 , the first tank 18 loaded onto the sea craft 10 is moved by the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 towards the stern 3 of the sea craft 10. The tank 18 is moved as far as possible along the skid bed 14. Each subsequent tank 18 loaded onto the sea craft 10 is moved as far as possible along the skid bed 14, with the result being a "cassette" arrangement of tanks 18, i.e. each tank 18 being adjacent a neighbouring tank 18 in a side-by-side arrangement.

When each tank 18 is in position, an electrical and oxygen connection from the sea craft 10 is made to the tank 18 to allow the oxygenation and recirculation to again take place.

The sea craft 10 is then sailed to its destination harbour. The oxygen levels in the water of each tank 18 and the temperature are monitored and stored during the sail using the equipment described above.

When the sea craft 10 reaches its destination, which may, for example, be fresh water or sea water pens, the smolts are discharged into the pens. As described above, each tank 18 has a fluid outlet which is connected to the outgoing fluid conduit of the sea craft 10 via the fluid inlets and matrix of fluid conduits. Using the flexible discharge conduit, the smolts in each tank 18 are discharged therefrom to a selected pen. The fish are discharged through gravity, i.e. the fish and water in the tank 18 flows out through the outlet conduits when the control valves (not illustrated) of each inlet are opened. The flexible discharge conduit may be operated by the crane 24. After the smolts in each tank 18 have been discharged, each tank 18 is offloaded from the sea craft 10 for hygienic cleaning. The tanks 18 are offloaded from the sea craft 10 in the reverse manner described above. That is, each tank 18 is moved from the second storage location 22 to the first receiving location 20 by the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12. The skid shoes 16 are then decoupled from the tank 18 and the crane 24 is used to lift the tank 18 off the skid bed 14 and out of the sea craft 10. Cleaning of the tanks 18 takes place at an on shore location and each tank 18 is certified for re-use thereafter.

All data logged during the transport of the smolts is also downloaded and stored for later retrieval.

Medicine Treatments

The following is an example of the use of the sea craft 10 to transport and administer treatment fluids and/or medicines from a dock to fish held in, for example, sea water pens. This example is based on administering hydrogen peroxide to sea water salmons in a loch.

The sea craft 10 may be loaded with specially designed tanks 18 containing hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is considered as a treatment fluid, or a medicine. In the embodiment described here, the hydrogen peroxide is included as part of a hydrogen peroxide/water mixture.

The tanks 18 are filled with the hydrogen peroxide/water mixture and then loaded to the sea craft 10 in the manner described above. It should be appreciated that the tanks 18 could be loaded to the sea craft 10 before being filled with the hydrogen peroxide/water mixture. However, filling the tanks 18 before loading is preferable. When the sea craft 10 is loaded with the required number of tanks 18, the sea craft 10 is sailed to the desired location. Once the sea craft 10 reaches the desired location the hydrogen peroxide/water mixture contained in the tanks 18 is pumped into the pens. The hydrogen peroxide/water mixture is used to prevent and/or treat diseases that spread to the salmon in the pen. Such diseases may include gill disease. The hydrogen peroxide/water mixture is also used to kill microorganisms, such as sea lice.

Once the required amount of hydrogen peroxide/water mixture is added to the pen, the sea craft 10 sails to another pen and administer further treatment. The sea craft 10 is therefore capable of administering treatment to a number of pens. Once the tanks 18 are empty, the sea craft 10 can sail back to harbour for refilling. Dead Haul

The following is a description of the use of the sea craft 10 and associated equipment to gather, dispatch and transport salmon from sea water pens to an on-shore processing facility. This example is based on the gathering of salmon from a sea water pen in a loch, dispatching the salmon on the sea craft 10 and transporting the dispatched salmon to the on-shore processing facility.

Lorry tractor units are used to transport a plurality of tanks 18 from the on- shore facility to the harbour where the sea craft 10 is docked. However, it should be appreciated that the sea craft 10 may be sailed to the dock with the tanks 18 pre-loaded thereon.

The tanks 18 may be transported with an ice/water mixture therein, or may be filled with an ice/water mixture once they arrive at the harbour.

The tanks 18 are loaded onto the sea craft 10 in the same manner as described above. The weight of the tanks before being loaded to the sea craft 10, or once loaded to the sea craft 10, is taken and recorded. This is before the dispatched fish are added and may or may not be before the ice/water mixture is added.

The electrical power source of the sea craft 10 is then connected to a recirculation pump (not illustrated) in each tank 18 to recirculate the ice/water mixture therein. The compressed air source of the sea craft 10 is also connected to the tank 18 to aerate the ice/water mixture therein.

As described above, the ice/water mixture may be provided by the sea craft 10. This avoids the need to transport the tanks 18 with the ice/water mixture contained therein.

The sea craft 10 is then sailed to the location of the sea water pens. Prior to the sea craft 10 arriving at the sea water pens, the fish to be gathered will have been confined in a net, or the like. On arrival at the sea water pen the inlets to the tanks 18 are opened and the carrier sleeves of the conveyor apparatus 38 are connected between the chutes and the tanks 18. The kicker gates 40 are also arranged for the selected tank 18 to be filled first. When all the tanks 18 are connected to the conveyor apparatus 38 and are filled to the required level with ice/water mixture and recirculating correctly, the suction hose device 32 is lowered by the crane 24 into the pen where the salmon are confined. The suction hose 32 sucks the sea water and salmon onto the sea craft 10 and to the fish collection and storage apparatus 28, as described above.

The salmon are transferred to from the fish storage tank 30 to the fish dispatching apparatus 34 and sorting apparatus 36. The sorting apparatus 36 sorts the salmon by a predetermined criteria, which may, for example, be size. The fish dispatching apparatus 34 dispatches the sorted salmon humanely by stunning and bleeding, as is known in the art.

Once the salmon have been stunned and bled they are transferred to a "bleed out" inspection point on the conveyor apparatus 38. The salmon are inspected here by a user 1 1 as they travel along the conveyor belts 38a, 38b. The salmon continue along the conveyor belts 38a, 38b until they are guided by the kicker gates 40 into a pre-selected tank 18. The salmon are transferred to the pre-selected tank 18 via the chutes 42 and carrier sleeve, as described above.

The weight and temperature of the tanks 18 may be continuously monitored as they are being filled. Once the gathering and sorting of the salmon is completed, salt water treated with ultraviolet (UV) radiation is inserted into the tanks 18. The fluid inlet, valves, hatches etc., are then closed off and the sea craft 10 is prepared for sailing back to the harbour beside the on-shore facility. The conveyor apparatus 38 and all other areas in contact with the fish are hygienically cleaned. This can be done before the sea craft 10 set sails, or during sailing. The "wash down" water is monitored and controlled to meet legislation prior to discharge from the sea craft 10.

Upon arrival of the sea craft 10 at the harbour beside the on-shore processing facility, each tank 18 is off-loaded from the sea craft 10 in the manner described above. Each tank 18 with dispatched salmon therein is then loaded onto lorry tractor units and driven to the on-shore processing facility. The sea craft 10 of the present invention allows for a number of tanks 18 to be loaded and off-loaded to the sea craft 10 in a manner which is easy and less time consuming than known sea crafts. The ability for the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 to receive a tank 18 at the first receiving location 20 and to move the tank 18 along the skid bed 14 to the second storage location 22, such that the tanks 18 are arranged in a side- by-side cassette, or cartridge, type arrangement, means that the tanks 18 can be loaded and off-loaded at a single point from the sea craft 10. This allows the speed of loading and off-loading of the tanks 18 to and from the sea craft 10 to be increased.

Providing a sea craft 10 which is capable of having a number of separate tanks 18 loaded thereto offers a number of advantages. For example, each tank 18 may contain an individual load therein. For example, each tank 18 may include live fish (e.g. smolts), dispatched fish, or treatment fluid/medicine. Where the tanks 18 are used to contain fish, they fish may be separated by weight, size, type etc. into individual tanks 18. The tanks 18 may also be used to store treatment fluid/medicine therein. Since the tanks 18 are capable of being off-loaded from the sea craft 10, the treatment fluid/medicine may be transported from the sea craft 10 to a desired location. Also, another advantage of the sea craft 10 being capable of storing a number of tanks 18 thereon is that the sea craft 10 can be used to carry out a number of tasks simultaneously. Whereas with known sea craft either a separate sea craft was necessary, or multiple trips with one sea craft were required. For example, with the sea craft 10 of the present invention the tanks 18 may be used for a different purpose. That is, some tanks 18 could be used to store smolts, some tanks 18 could be used to store dispatched fish and some tanks 18 could be used to store treatment fluid/medicine. The sea craft 10 of the present invention therefore allows a number of different tasks to be carried out without the need for a number of sea crafts or repeated trips by a single sea craft. Also, due to the modularity of the tanks 18 on the sea craft 10, the sea craft 10 can be used to carry out a number of tasks which would otherwise require two or more separate sea crafts to perform. For example, the sea craft 10 of the present invention may operate to transport live fish, as described above. The sea craft 10 may operate to gather, dispatch and transport fish. The sea craft 10 may also be used to transport treatment fluid/medicine to a number of required locations. In this regard, having the ability to store a number of tanks 18 on the sea craft 10 means that a number of different types of treatment fluids/medicines may be transported by the sea craft 10.

Another important advantage of the sea craft 10 of the present invention is that the ability to store a number of tanks 18 allows the sea craft 10 to operate in a number of configurations. The sea craft 10 may operate to transport live fish; to store and transport treatment fluid/medicine; and to gather, dispatch and transport dispatched fish, or any combination of these. It should, however, be appreciated that it is intended that the sea craft 10 will operate in one of these modes at a time. However, it is the ability of the sea craft 10 to store the plurality of tanks 18 in a "cartridge" form which allows the sea craft 10 to operate in these different modes. This has the advantage that it allows the sea craft 10 to operate in a number of modes and perform a number of different tasks, which would normally require two, or three sea crafts to perform. Allowing the tanks 18 to be loaded and off-loaded allows for easier transport of the fish and/or treatment fluid/medicine. Ensuring that the water in the tanks is kept at the correct temperature, recirculated and aerated maintains the quality of the fish during transport. Modifications and improvements may be made to the above without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, although the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 has been illustrated and described above as being capable of moving the tanks 18 in a rectilinear direction between the bow 2 and stern 3 of the sea craft 10, it should be appreciated that the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 may be operable to transport the tanks non-rectilinearly. The tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 may also be operable to move the tanks 18 in more than one rectilinear direction. Alternatively, or in addition, to the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 being operable to move the tanks 18 between the bow 2 and stern 3 of the sea craft 10, it should be

appreciated that the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 may be also be operable to move the tanks 18 between the starboard side 4 and port side 5 of the sea craft 10. In this arrangement the skid shoes 16 are capable of moving in a rectilinear and/or a non-rectilinear direction with respect to the skid bed 14.

Furthermore, although the skid shoes 16 have been described above as being moved on the skid bed 14 by hydraulic rams or electrical winches, it should be appreciated that the skid shoes 16 may be moved on the skid bed 14 by any suitable means. The winches may include one or more tow cables attached between the skid shoes 16 and the winch for moving the skid shoe 16 with respect to the skid bed 14.

Also, although the sea craft 10 has been illustrated and described above as comprising a single tank receiving and storage apparatus 12, it should be appreciated that the sea craft 10 may comprise a plurality of tank receiving and storage apparatus 12.

Furthermore, although the skid shoes 16 have been illustrated and described above as being configured to hold one tank 18 thereon, it should be appreciated that the skid shoes 16 may be configured to hold more than one tank 18 thereon.

Also, although the tanks 18 have been illustrated and described above as being loaded onto the tank receiving and storage apparatus 12 at a single tank receiving location 20, it should be appreciated that the sea craft 10 may include more than one tank receiving location. It should also be appreciated that the position of the tank receiving location relative to the sea craft 10 may be at any suitable position thereon.

Furthermore, although a suction hose device 32 has been illustrated and described above for gathering of the fish and transporting them to the sea craft 10, it should be appreciated that other suitable methods may be used to gather the fish and transport them to the sea craft 10. It should also be appreciated that other types of fish dispatching systems than the stun and bleed system described above may be used.