A granular litter cleaning apparatus comprises a separation system having a separation tank adapted to receive a mixture of granules and plastic litter, and water therein, the separation tank having a top opening, and a closeable bottom outlet, and at least one water inlet for feeding water to the separation tank. A collect subsystem is for conveying a mixture of granules and plastic litter to the separation tank. A pump system is in fluid communication with the water inlet. The pump system is operated to raise a level of water in the separation tank to skim water with plastic litter out through the top opening of the separation tank. The closeable bottom outlet is openable to empty the separation tank from granules decanted in a bottom of the separation tank. A process for separating plastic litter from granules is also provided.

A skimming and separation device comprising an outer casing (1) provided with constructions to directly or indirectly fasten all parts, defining a compartment (2), and a floater (3) configured to create the skimming function of the device, the floater is attached at its lower side to an essentially vertically arranged bellow (4) allowing the floater to adapt flow into a substantially circus volume and allowing the floater to move from an upper position with essentially no flow into the compartment (2) to a lower position allowing flow of water and debris follow the contours of the floater (3) in a downward direction into the device. A power device (8) is provided and includes a propeller to achieve in-flow and outflow of the device. The device further comprises a central tube (c) arranged along a vertical center axis of the compartment and configured to receive said flow of water and debris, and at least one central rotation member being structured to generate a downward directed and central rotating flow of said water and debris within said central tube (c).

In one embodiment, an ice management system is provided for removing an amount of oil from a surface of a body of water. The ice management system includes an ice frame having an ice fence coupled with an ice cage, an oil skimmer device disposed within the ice frame, and an ice deflection assembly coupled with the ice frame. The ice deflection assembly includes an auger coupled with a motor. The auger includes a drum and a deflection mechanism, and the motor is configured to rotate the auger. The deflection mechanism includes a spiral flight or a series of tabs arranged in a corkscrew pattern about the drum. The ice fence includes a plurality of curved vanes. The curved vanes have a bent rectangular plate shape.

A device having a funnel structure (connected to a separating arrangement by a base pipe is disclosed. The base pipe is horizontal and arranged between the funnel structure and the base pipe. The base pipe is also a vertical suction pipe. The device includes a pressure pipe which is parallel to the base pipe. The funnel structure is slightly below the water surface. In operation, water and floating waste pass over the edges of the funnel structure and swirl into the suction pipe. A jet of water may be injected through the pressure pipe to the base pipe. A flow gradient may then be formed in the base pipe and the differently sized waste objects may separate. If the water contains liquid waste, the speed of the water jet may be adjusted in such a way that the liquid waste and water do not form an emulsion.

A system for removing contaminants from a body of water, may include a vessel, having contaminant cleanup and recovery equipment that may have at least one intake port capable of removing floating contaminants from the body of water to be transported to the recovery vessel. The system may further include a first towboat and a second towboat. The system may also include a first containment boom capable of being connected to the first tow boat and to a starboard side of a vessel. The system may also include a second containment boom capable of being connected to the second tow boat and a port side of the vessel, such that during operation the first and second towboats extend out from the vessel such that the first and second containment booms gather the floating contaminants from the body of water and channel them to the at least one intake port.

A marine debris collection device includes a first debris collector to remove non-minute debris contained in debris floating on water by allowing the debris to flow thereinto together with the water, and a second debris collector to remove minute debris by adsorbing the minute debris onto a microbubble generated when the water flows into the second debris collector from the first debris collector via a connection pipe.

A floating liquid intake for a liquid suction removal system, the liquid intake comprising housing defining an internal cavity. The housing has a hollow and buoyant annular body, an upper cover and a lower cover. The internal cavity is formed between the upper and lower covers. A substantially annular inlet is formed in the annular body for ingress of liquid into the cavity. The annular body has a buoyancy sufficient for the liquid intake to float in a liquid with the annular inlet submerged below the surface of the liquid in which the liquid intake is floating. A pipe extends into the cavity and the pipe includes an inlet that in use is open below the surface of the liquid within the cavity. The pipe extends outside of the cavity for connection to a liquid suction removal system.

Systems for removing debris from a water reservoir include a moveable floating skimmer device positioned within the water reservoir and configured to receive floating debris, the skimmer device comprising an adjustable weir for capturing the debris and a receptacle for containing the debris; a discharge pipe connected to the skimmer device, the discharge pipe configured to receive the debris and a first portion of water from the receptacle in the skimmer device; a debris separator fluidly connected to the discharge pipe and configured to receive the debris and the first portion of water from the discharge pipe, the debris separator further configured to separate the debris from the first portion of water; a pump positioned between the discharge pipe and the debris separator and configured to transport the debris and the first portion of water in the discharge pipe to the debris separator via a pump outlet; and a recycle line connected to the debris separator and configured to return a second portion of water that exits the debris separator back to the water reservoir.

An exemplary system and method for collecting and processing floating solid debris from a body of water on a vessel includes a debris recovery conveyor extending off the vessel and which receives floating solid debris from the body of water and delivers it to a first debris processor which fragments at least some of the debris received into smaller debris pieces.

A submergible marine barrier protecting marine installations in a protected zone against intrusion and providing a containment barrier against spread of floating spills or bodies. The body of the barrier is supported above water by a main body thus preventing intrusion and containing floating spillage. A weight in main body keeps the barrier upright, and a rigid floatation chamber in the main body keeps it afloat when full of air. A skimming pipe collects floating pollution. Flooding the floatation chambers causes the barrier to submerge allowing access to the protected zone and protecting the barrier from storms. Body, main body, and floatation chambers are made of extruded material with flotation properties (e.g. plastic pipes). Floatation chambers are connected by air hoses and have air venting tubes at their bottom. Sensors detect approaching intruders and pollution, while spikes, barbed-wire and diver-net or any known barrier are used to stop them.