A cleaning device that passively self-adjusts to improve biofoul removal across curved, non-uniform, or irregular underwater surfaces. The cleaning device includes a motor, one or more shafts coupled to the motor and coupled to one another via at least one universal joint, and a cleaning mechanism for removing biofoul from the target surface. The cleaning device includes an alignment mechanism that restricts the cleaning mechanism's movement to improve biofoul removal. The alignment mechanism can include bearings, spring components, dampening material, adhesion components, floatation objects, or a combination thereof.

A vessel has a compartment (34) for containing water, which compartment (34) has at least one opening (31) in a wall (30) thereof for allowing water to pass therethrough. The compartment (34) comprises an assembly (1) of a grating (10) and at least one anti-biofouling source (20), the grating (10) being positioned in the opening (31) for blocking items from passing through the opening (31) along with the water, and comprising a number of elements and spaces between the elements, and the anti-biofouling source (20) being configured to emit ultraviolet light during operation thereof for realizing anti-biofouling of at least a portion of the grating (10). At least one of the elements of the grating (10) is at least partially transparent to the ultraviolet light, enabling a design of the assembly (1) in which anti-biofouling of the entire grating (10) may be guaranteed.

The invention relates to an apparatus and related method for cleaning vessel hulls and other subsea structures at sea. In an embodiment, a hull cleaning system comprises a housing defining an interior void; a multifunction bar; a propulsion system; a power system; a positioning system; a water pump operatively connected to the power system; a high flow manifold operatively in fluid communication with the water pump; a hull cleaner; and a suction device configured to selectively adhere the hull cleaning system to a hull. In a further embodiment, a remotely operated work class vehicle, which is typically able to be deployed from any platform outfitted to accept its launch, recovery and support equipment and which may further be innately unstable when not adhered to an underwater structure such as when flying through open water, comprises a frame; an inspection sensor; a hydraulically powered, high pressure water jet pump; a predetermined tooling set connected to the housing; and a propulsion system, which includes a suction device, configured to propel the remotely operated work class vehicle about a surface.

The invention relates to an apparatus and related method for cleaning vessel hulls and other subsea structures at sea. In an embodiment, a hull cleaning system comprises a housing defining an interior void; a multifunction bar; a propulsion system; a power system; a positioning system; a water pump operatively connected to the power system; a high flow manifold operatively in fluid communication with the water pump; a hull cleaner; and a suction device configured to selectively adhere the hull cleaning system to a hull. In a further embodiment, a remotely operated work class vehicle, which is typically able to be deployed from any platform outfitted to accept its launch, recovery and support equipment and which may further be innately unstable when not adhered to an underwater structure such as when flying through open water, comprises a frame; an inspection sensor; a hydraulically powered, high pressure water jet pump; a predetermined tooling set connected to the housing; and a propulsion system, which includes a suction device, configured to propel the remotely operated work class vehicle about a surface.

A vessel has a compartment (34) for containing water, which compartment (34) has at least one opening (31) in a wall (30) thereof for allowing water to pass therethrough. The compartment (34) comprises an assembly (1) of a grating (10) and at least one anti-biofouling source (20), the grating (10) being positioned in the opening (31) for blocking items from passing through the opening (31) along with the water, and comprising a number of elements and spaces between the elements, and the anti-biofouling source (20) being configured to emit ultraviolet light during operation thereof for realizing anti-biofouling of at least a portion of the grating (10). At least one of the elements of the grating (10) is at least partially transparent to the ultraviolet light, enabling a design of the assembly (1) in which anti-biofouling of the entire grating (10) may be guaranteed.

A computer implemented method of dynamically monitoring the cleanliness of a hull of a vessel during a journey of said vessel. The method is performed on a computing device and comprises: retrieving environmental data from memory of the computing device, the environmental data associated with environment conditions of the vessel; determining a fouling protection value defining a tolerance to fouling associated with a surface of the vessel; and identifying a level of risk of fouling on the surface of the vessel based on the fouling protection value and the environment conditions.

A computer implemented method of dynamically monitoring the cleanliness of a hull of a vessel during a journey of said vessel. The method is performed on a computing device and comprises: retrieving environmental data from memory of the computing device, the environmental data associated with environment conditions of the vessel; determining a fouling protection value defining a tolerance to fouling associated with a surface of the vessel; and identifying a level of risk of fouling on the surface of the vessel based on the fouling protection value and the environment conditions.

A computer implemented method of monitoring the cleanliness of an underwater surface of a stationary object. The method is performed on a computing device and comprises: retrieving environmental data from memory of the computing device, the environmental data associated with environment conditions of the stationary object; determining a fouling value indicative of a level of fouling that the surface is exposed to based on at least the environmental data; determining a fouling protection value defining a tolerance to fouling associated with a surface of the stationary object; and identifying a level of risk of fouling on the surface of the stationary object by determining a fouling risk value using the fouling protection value and the fouling value.

A computer implemented method of monitoring the cleanliness of an underwater surface of a stationary object. The method is performed on a computing device and comprises: retrieving environmental data from memory of the computing device, the environmental data associated with environment conditions of the stationary object; determining a fouling value indicative of a level of fouling that the surface is exposed to based on at least the environmental data; determining a fouling protection value defining a tolerance to fouling associated with a surface of the stationary object; and identifying a level of risk of fouling on the surface of the stationary object by determining a fouling risk value using the fouling protection value and the fouling value.

A cleaning head for a marine cleaning system used for cleaning a liquid submerged surface includes a body configured to be disposed adjacent to and moved relative to the submerged surface during use. The body defines at least one suction aperture being in fluid communication with a suction region adjacent the body. At least one support arm extends from the body, which support arm in turn supports a respective cleaning element including a scraping blade that is configured to cause material on the submerged surface to separate from the submerged surface and become suspended in the suction region during use. The material separated from the submerged surface is drawn away from the suction region through the at least one suction aperture. Each support arm extends flexibly from a respective junction with the body so that the cleaning element is supported in a spaced relation laterally away from the junction with the junction being disposed in an operatively forward direction of the cleaning element during use.