WO2018146654A1

WO2018146654A1 - Plant for washing and cleaning hull of ships

Info

Publication number: WO2018146654A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/050870
Authority: WO
Inventors: Guido BARDELLI
Original assignee: Bardelli Guido
Priority date: 2017-02-13
Filing date: 2018-02-13
Publication date: 2018-08-16

Abstract

An improved hull (22) washing and cleaning plant for ships (2, 18), comprising cleaning and washing means submerged below the water level (L) and operating on the hull (22); members for moving the washing means on the hull in its length; members for controlling and changing the movement of the plant with control of the immersion level; the structure of the plant also includes a basin (5, 31) with walls (7, 8, 33) for the engagement of the ship and within which the cleaning and washing means are positioned and presents the cleaning and washing means arranged on at least one washing assembly (4, 44) housed in said basin and brought into contact with the hull (22) during the cleaning with the control of plant floating and of the position of the support means of the cleaning and washing means; the washing assembly (4, 44) is moved along the treated hull while remaining in the basin (5, 31, 65); the washing assembly has the washing means operating simultaneously on the section of the hull covered by the length of the single washing assembly (4, 44); the washing assembly has a closed structure (S) in the sides (F) and in the bottom (P) thereof; the washing means are associated with suction members (A, R) for the water, placed in the washing assembly (4, 44), with the washing effluents and the dirt removed from the hull; at the ends of each washing assembly (4, 44) flexible and inflatable bulkheads (16) are made in the upper edge (42), to adhere to the hull (22) during washing.

Description

PLANT FOR WASHING AND CLEANING HULL OF SHIPS

Field of application

The present invention relates to an improved hull washing and cleaning plant for ships, that is to say a combination of a plant, located near the mooring ports of the ships, and of means for intervention on the hull, even submerged, of the ships to be treated, which are positioned on the plant and/or on the mooring dock in the port and act quickly and economically in performing the cleaning treatment to remove dirt, vegetation or "fouling" that grows spontaneously on the submerged part of the hull of a ship.

Background art

The state of the art comprises various types of hull cleaning plants for ships which can be divided into two types, with a semi-floating basin or with a plant fixed to the seabed in the port to operate the means for washing and cleaning the hull of the ship being treated, while the ship stays in the plant area.

In the art there are known constructive forms of hull washing and cleaning plants for ships wherein the washing water is collected immediately after operating on the hull for the removal of vegetation; water is collected in a filtration device and returned to the port purified from dirt, vegetation or "fouling".

In fact, from the prior document US 3.709.184 A, a plant for the cleaning of a hull portion of a boat, while it floats, is known, which includes a cyclically operated flexible cleaning strip brush, and a support assembly for pushing the cleaning strip to follow the shape of the hull with various adjustment pushes. Although not mentioned, means are necessary for towing the boat through the cleaning system so as to present the hull portions to the cleaning assembly while the hull moves beyond the flexible cleaning strip brush.

In this plant, the washing water is dispersed in the port even if the structure of the support assembly of the flexible cleaning strip brush has a light and easy to construct conformation. Current regulations, in some states and in consideration of the use of anti-vegetative paints on the ship's framework, no longer allow the use of systems and plants for washing and cleaning the hulls of ships that do not collect and purify the washing water.

From document FR 219931 1 a hull washing device for ships is known comprising: a semi-floating basin having a U-shape and adapted to be engaged transversely under the framework; the basin being designed to be moved along the longitudinal axis of the ship being guided by it, during its movement with respect to said framework; there are control means for moving said basin along the hull and there are cleaning means mounted on the basin and suitable for exerting a mechanical sliding action on the framework. The basin is used with the ship, generally large, anchored in a port, and the cleaning treatment of the hull takes place during the unloading and loading phases of the same.

Also this plant does not provide for the collection of the washing water and its purification and the means described and used cannot therefore respond to a compliant use of the current legislation in some states.

Moreover, from the document EP 1060983 A1 a cleaning plant consisting of water-jet nozzles, roller-shaped rotating brushes and other cleaning devices is known. The washing area is built into the internal space of a floating basin with opening and closing of the space. Some supports block the body of the boat in the washing area and the washing and cleaning means are slidable inside the floating basin to act on the whole surface of the framework. The compartment inside the floating basin is closed at both ends by two movable bulkheads to retain the washing water and perform its purification.

Although this plant already provides for the treatment and filtration of the washing water, it is not suitable to operate on vessels of various kinds, small or large, since the cleaning means are moved on separate carts inside the floating basin and the washing and cleaning operation, taking place with the floating vessel, involves a large amount of water to be purified. The cost of such a floating basin plant is therefore high if conceived for medium or large ships.

The state of the art also includes the document WO 9702983 A1 wherein a floating basin is described, suitable for cleaning ship hulls, and a method of cleaning ship hulls, employing the floating basin that is ballasted and made independent by its own engine. The floating basin, comprising means for receiving a ship's framework, is substantially U-shaped and can be, at least partially submerged, so that a base part, including the cleaning means, can be placed under the ship's framework. The side cleaning means are present on at least one inner side of the ship's framework, just as the receiving means can be adjusted according to the shape of the hull, to come into contact on one side of the ship's framework. Means are provided for adjusting the position of the side cleaning means to allow them to substantially follow the contour of the sides of the ship's framework. Means can also be provided to collect debris removed during the cleaning operation with the subsequent discharge at a remote site.

From document US 4.784.078 A a two-passage basin is known, semi- floating but anchored to the seabed of the port, where a vessel enters and is led in the passage by wheeled pushing mechanisms on the side of the vessel. In the basin there are cleaning means that remove the vegetation or fouling from the hull mechanically, with brushes or water jets. The removed material is sucked by openings in the bottom of the basin on each passage and filtered, and the water returned to the basin. At the entrance and exit of each passage there are flexible bulkheads, kept vertical and flexible with respect to the passage, to allow the entry and exit of the vessel, separating the internal waters of the basin from the outside.

.Moreover, in the state-of-the-art document FR 2810010 A1 a plant for the cleaning of a hull portion of a boat while it floats is known, which includes a cleaning strip flexible belt with pressurized water jets, and a towing assembly for towing the boat within the side plant at a pier. The cleaning strip is pushed to follow the shape of the hull while the same is dragged inside the plant. The plant is equipped with a lower basin for collecting the washing water and dirt detached from the hull. At its bottom, said basin has a suction duct for water and dirt accumulated by falling from the operating point of the washing belt with pressurized water jets. The water thus collected and filtered is released into the port.

In this plant, the washing water is dispersed in the port even if filtered. Moreover, the collection point of the water to be filtered is made in the bottom of the basin and therefore the amount of collected and purified water is remarkable, since dirt or fouling must go down to the level of the collection basin to be collected. In fact, even if the plant has a passage-type structure, the amount of water involved in the dispersion is considerable.

Even in these plants the collection of the washing water and its purification are envisaged, but the technical means for collecting, purifying and releasing the purified water must be pre-arranged to the size of the hull to be treated; what is described can be applicable to small boats and certainly not to ships with larger frameworks or hulls. Furthermore, the organization for the automatic cleaning of the hull, including the movement of the hull inside the basin, effectively makes the solutions proposed for boats, preferably pleasure boats or small yachts, useless; i.e .ships of small, medium or large size are not suitable to be treated in similar hull cleaning and washing plants.

Moreover, the aforementioned plants of the prior art do not allow the construction of a plant that has a practical use for cleaning the hulls of both small and medium-sized vessels or large vessels from fouling and marine vegetation in a quick, cheap and effective way, retaining and purifying the discharge of effluents, where and when required, with the washing water and dirt in the port where the hull washing and cleaning plant for ship hulls is located and operates.

In the art there are also known systems for cleaning the hull of ships wherein one or more devices adhering to the immersed part of the hull are used and which cover a fairly small surface thereof; they are moved automatically in the various areas of the hull in succession so as to perform the cleaning on a large part of the hull of the ship. The device comprises adhesion means to the hull, generally magnetic, and mechanical cleaning means of the part of the hull included in the compartment covered by the device. The device is connected to the necessary pipes for washing and removing water mixed with the dirt thus detached that is conveyed and collected for subsequent filtration and controlled disposal.

Moreover, the operation of such devices is slow, in relation to the needs of the stopping times of the ship in the port, also taking several hours to properly clean a hull of a large transport ship.

Therefore, the aforementioned hull cleaning and washing plants for ships are insufficient and do not allow to provide the necessary continuous cleaning from dirt, marine vegetation or "fouling" that is continuously formed on the hull of a ship: more while stopping in the ports of docking and in a minor way, due to the continuous slipping into the water, during travel. In fact, the ships that mostly require the cleaning and washing of the hulls are also subject to an intense use for the transport of goods, for example container-carriers, ships for liquid product transport, such as oil tankers, or even passenger ships, so they do not have adequately long stopping times, precisely needed for the careful cleaning of the hull. Finally, these plants must comply with local anti-pollution regulations, which can allow the discharge of adequately purified wastewater, only if coming from hulls not covered by specific and poisonous anti-vegetative paints.

This state of the art lends itself to considerable improvements with regard to the possibility of realizing an improved hull washing and cleaning plant for ships which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and allows the optimization of the plant size according to the requirements of the type of medium or large or smaller vessels, while still achieving a considerable reduction in processing times and costs related to construction, management and operation, for the cleaning and the possible collection and controlled disposal of the dirt detached from the hull of ships. Therefore, the technical problem that underlies the present invention is to create a hull washing and cleaning plant for ships which achieves a concrete ability to improve the performance times of the washing and cleaning of the hull of a ship and is economically convenient in terms of construction and operation costs, and, still maintaining said advantages, realizes wastewater collection in an effective way both for the sizing of the means and for the suction action, as well as for the operating cost.

A further but not last object of the present invention is to allow the realization of a hull cleaning and washing plant for ships that operates concurrently with the docking of the ship to the pier for the respective unloading and loading time of the transported products or passengers.

Still further, another object addressed in the present invention is to provide a constitution of means of a hull cleaning and washing plant for ships that can be made in various dimensional conformations both for use with hulls of small ships or vessels, with hulls of ships of medium dimensions and which can be also made for the cleaning and washing of hulls of large ships, which are notoriously those whose owners are the most sensitive to in terms of hull cleaning to contain the costs of fuel and of the costs of unproductive stops of ships, creating a more continuous use in navigation and moreover, as an advantageous consequence, also limiting the pollution produced by fuel consumption.

In addition, a corollary to the above purposes is the realization of hull cleaning and washing plants for ships operating with the submerged hull and which are versatile for all types of hulls, including hulls that have submerged framework appendages.

Even more, a further aspect of the tackled technical problem involves the conformation of the plant with fixed means on the port pier where the hull cleaning and washing plant for ships is operated, with the need to make it versatile and allow its use in the ship berthing points provided throughout the port.

Finally, a further part of the technical problem described above is that of realizing hull cleaning and washing plants for ships, even in those ports where the port authority does not allow the plants to operate with fixed installations, even only partially fixed, to the dock they manage.

Summary of the invention

This problem is solved, according to the present invention, by an improved hull washing and cleaning plant for ships, comprising cleaning and washing means submerged below the water level and operating on the hull; members for moving the washing means on the hull in its length; members for controlling and changing the movement of the plant with control of the immersion level; the structure of the plant also includes a basin with walls for the engagement of the ship and within which the cleaning and washing means are positioned; characterized in that it presents the cleaning and washing means arranged on at least one washing assembly housed in said basin and brought into contact with the hull during the cleaning with the control of plant buoyancy and of the position of the support means of the cleaning and washing means; the washing assembly is moved along the treated hull while remaining in the basin; the washing assembly has the washing means operating simultaneously on the section of the hull covered by the length of the single washing assembly; the washing assembly has a closed structure in the sides and in the bottom thereof; the washing means are associated with water suction members, placed in the washing assembly, with the washing effluents and the dirt removed from the hull; at the ends of each washing assembly flexible and inflatable bulkheads are made in the upper edge, to adhere to the hull during washing.

Even more, in a specific variant: the suction members are positioned on the washing means, both with rotating brushes and with high pressure water washing nozzles placed on belts to wrap the hull, and are connected to a filtration apparatus before the evacuation of the purified water; the filtered material is periodically evacuated from the plant in an ecologically controlled manner.

Furthermore, in a further variant: the flexible and inflatable bulkheads have the upper inflatable edge equipped with rollers for sliding the flexible and inflatable bulkhead when placed in contact with the treated hull of the ship.

Moreover, in a further variant: the washing assembly is positioned in an open semi-floating basin, and is made movable along the hull of the treated ship by sliding the same open basin along runways associated with the ship's berthing dock; the open basin has an external wall, an internal wall and a connection structure of the walls; the outer wall and the connection structure being made vertically movable on the inside wall, by means of a vertical cart, to control the displacement of the semi-floating open basin; the internal side wall is in turn slidingly connected on said runways; the washing assembly being made movable and transversely displaceable to the open basin to keep the axis of the treated hull aligned with the cleaning and washing means.

Even more, in a specific variant: the semi-floating open basin is made separable from the runways and made transferable in buoyancy in another dock equipped with identically positioned runways.

Moreover, in an improved form: the semi-floating open basin is made slidable on runways supported by a semi-floating wall which in turn is kept berthed, parallel or transverse to the dock, by means of usual bollards on the pier and so-called submerged "mooring post" on the seabed of the dock; the semi- floating wall, if necessary, is made to float together with the open basin for a possible transfer of the whole plant.

Even more, in a further application: the washing assembly being made movable and displaceable transversely to the open basin to keep the axis of the treated hull aligned with the cleaning and washing means.

Furthermore, in a specific constructive form: the semi-floating open basin is made sliding on runways supported by a pair of equidistant semi-floating walls joined together at a lower position to the open basin; the pair of walls is kept berthed at the dock by means of usual bollards on the pier and so-called submerged "mooring post" on the seabed in front of the dock; the couple of semi- floating walls, if necessary, is transferred with the open basin for a possible transfer of the whole plant.

Even more, in a specific application: the cleaning assembly is made movable and transversely displaceable to the open basin to keep the axis of the treated hull aligned with the cleaning and washing means.

Moreover, in a further form, the union of the semi-floating walls takes place by means of lower box-shaped cross-pieces which make ballast/floating chambers, similar to the floating chambers of the open basin, and which have a limited distribution in the length of the cleaning and washing plant.

Even more, in a further constructive form: the washing assembly, housed in a floating basin plant, is made movable along the hull of the treated ship, by sliding the washing assembly itself along guides present on the floor of a dry dock constituting the floating plant itself.

Finally, in a specific constructive variant: the improved cleaning and washing plant is berthed to moorings in the roadsted, bays along ship routes, bays or wet docks and specifically to berthing pillars, to perform the hull washing and cleaning operations of ships without cluttering docks or piers in the port. Further features and advantages of the present invention, in the realization of an improved hull washing and cleaning plant for ships, are mentioned in the following description of some schematic application examples, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the nine attached drawing tables.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a hull cleaning and washing plant for ships, according to the invention, approached to a dock equipped to receive the plant and wherein a medium-sized ship is berthed for cleaning and contemporary unloading and loading of the ship; hull cleaning means of the rotary brush type are shown with an axis which is meanly parallel to the hull;

; Figure 2 shows a schematic plan view of a hull cleaning and washing plant for ships, approached to the dock and wherein a medium-sized ship is berthed and depicted during cleaning and a smaller-sized ship is also berthed to the same pier equipped to accommodate the plant and are treated with a cleaning plant made for a smaller hull size, the two plants are operating separately on the same equipped pier; the hull cleaning means are shown of the mixed type with rotating brushes with an axis which is on average parallel to the hull, generally used for cleaning the hull's appendages; moreover, the plant is equipped with high pressure water washing nozzles supported by multiple belts disposed transversely to the hull; during the treatment, these high pressure nozzle belts are displaced from one end to another of the hull washing area and are shown herein in double series in the plant to reduce the treatment time;

Figure 3 shows a schematic front view of the plant of Figure 1 , shown here with the connection of its parts in a fixed manner to the port dock and the rotating brushes with an axis which is on average parallel in contact with the surface of the hull for the cleaning treatment;

Figure 4 shows a schematic front view of the plant of Figure 2, shown here with its fixed parts removably supported, if necessary, by the port dock, on a semi-floating wall berthed to the dock and high pressure washing nozzles in multiple belts in contact with the surface of the hull for the cleaning treatment;

Figure 5 shows a schematic front view of the plant according to the invention, in this case of the type with runways referring to the ship's berthing dock, wherein flexible and inflatable bulkheads are provided during the treatment of a specific section of the ship's hull; here one is shown lowered, but ready to be raised against the hull to be treated;

Figure 6 is a schematic front view of the plant according to the invention, similar to Figure 5, wherein the flexible and inflatable bulkhead is shown raised against the hull to be treated;

Figure 7 shows a schematic plan view of the plant of previous Figures, shown here with the hull cleaning means made with high pressure washing nozzles in multiple belts in contact with the surface of the hull, for the cleaning treatment and shown during the treatment of the hull of the ship; a second ship, shown here as smaller, but which can also be medium or large, based on the size of the depicted cleaning plant, is also moored to the pier and being cleaned; furthermore, Figure 7a shows a different arrangement of the multiple belts with high pressure washing nozzles, here limited to a single set of belts;

Figure 8 shows a schematic plan view of a hull cleaning and washing plant for ships, according to a further constructive form of the invention, comprising a floating open basin approached to a pier and wherein a medium-sized ship is berthed for cleaning and the contemporary unloading and loading of the ship; the hull cleaning means are depicted with a rotating brush-type washing assembly with an axis meanly parallel to the hull, positioned on a sliding cart on runways on the basin's floor; to reduce the length of the basin, a flexible bulkhead is arranged that avoids the exchange of dirty water with treatment residues towards the open end of the basin; flexible and inflatable bulkheads are arranged to contain water with the cleaning effluents at the ends of the aforementioned washing cart;

Figure 9 is a schematic plan view of a cleaning and washing plant with a floating open basin, similar to the basin of Figure 8, wherein mixed cleaning means are used with rotating brushes with an axis which is generally parallel to the hull and with multiple belts of high pressure washing nozzles;

Figure 10, moreover, represents a schematic plan view of an installation similar to the preceding Figure but equipped with high pressure washing nozzles in multiple strips disposed transversely to the hull; the wash basin shown is positioned in the roadsted, in a shallow point, in a variant embodiment of the invention, berthed to pillars and wherein the ship to be treated is engaged for cleaning without approaching docks in the port, avoiding engaging docks and piers in the port if not strictly necessary for cleaning simultaneously with the unloading and loading of goods or the transshipment of passengers;

Figure 1 1 shows a schematic plan view of a plant similar to the previous Figure but of the type with a semi-floating wall berthed in the roadsted, in a shallow point, in a variant embodiment of the invention, berthed to pillars and wherein the ship to be treated is engaged for cleaning;

Figure 12 shows a schematic plan view of a dock with two piers equipped with the hull cleaning and washing plant for ships according to the invention of previous figures, in this case represented with more ships unloading and loading the transported products, and wherein two plants with washing assembly are positioned to perform the treatment to corresponding ship hulls; said plants being able to operate on the same dock of the wet dock or on different docks, but always equipped for connecting and guiding the washing assemblies operating therein;

Figure 13 shows a schematic front view of the plant of Figure 9, approached to the port dock, as in the previous Figure, provided with multiple belts with high pressure washing nozzles in contact with the surface of the hull for the cleaning treatment;

Figure 14 shows a schematic front view of the floating basin plant of

Figures 8 to 10 wherein, during the treatment of a specific section of the ship's hull, flexible and inflatable bulkheads are provided, of which one is represented in the lowered state, but ready to be raised against the hull to be treated;

Figure 15 represents a schematic front view of the plant according to the invention of the previous Figure, wherein the flexible and inflatable bulkhead is shown here raised against the hull to be treated; in this position, the upper edge of the inflatable and flexible bulkhead is provided with sliding rollers for the use of these bulkheads also with washing assemblies which operate continuously on the hull to be treated; the feed allows to use washing assemblies of limited length, but which run on continuously operating runways;

Figure 16 shows a schematic plan view of a semi-floating wall of the plant of Figure 4, shown here with its fixed parts removably supported, if necessary, from the port dock, on a semi-floating wall berthed to the dock in a transversal direction with respect to the dock itself and presents an arrangement of the hull washing means of mixed type composed of high pressure washing nozzles in multiple belts in contact with the surface of the hull and a series of rotating brushes with an axis meanly parallel to the hull; the semi-floating wall is positioned on the seabed with submerged mooring posts;

Figure 17 shows a schematic plan view of an installation similar to Figure 16 that can be removed, if necessary, from the port dock, on a pair of semi- floating walls maintained equidistant from each other; the plant is berthed at the dock with a direction transverse to the dock itself and has the hull washing means of mixed type such as the plant of Figure 16; the semi-floating walls are positioned on the seabed with submerged mooring posts as well as moored to bollards on the pier; the plant's cart slides longitudinally with respect to the equipped walls on runways;

Figures 18 and 19 are front schematic sections of the plant of Figure 17 wherein different hull cleaning means are shown, similarly to what is shown in Figures 3 and 4 above, in this case with the cart movable on runways on both equipped semi-floating walls. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

Figure 1 shows an improved hull washing and cleaning plant 1 for ships made on the pier B of a dock M to which a ship 2 is berthed for the cleaning treatment; the ship can perform the unloading and loading of its products transported during treatment, possibly also by means of a bridge crane 3, remaining floating in the water L. The plant 1 comprises a washing assembly 4 housed in a semi-floating open basin 5 plant structure which is made to slide, for driving parallel to the dock M, on rails or runways 6 which are fixed to the dock M; the open basin has an outer wall 7 connected to the structure and an inner wall 8, towards the dock M, i.e. equipped with sliding members on said runways 6. The washing assembly 4 has a structure S closed on the sides F and on the bottom P.

In Figures 2 to 7, different conformations of this constructive solution are shown. In particular, the semi-floating open basin has floating chambers 9 which join the outer wall 7, to constitute the structure of the open basin 5 and, by means of a vertical cart 10, sliding vertically, they are connected to the internal wall 8 and allow its displacement for the controlled buoyancy on the runways 6 fixed on the dock M, or compensation to keep the open basin 5 immersed at the appropriate height for the engagement/exit operations with a hull of ship to be cleaned and during the cleaning operation of the hull. Said floating chambers 9 are suitably controlled by an electronic process processor and provide compensation for the floating of the open basin 5 avoiding generating vertical thrusts on the rails or runways 6, both in the presence and in the absence of a ship engaged in the plant or even during the cleaning treatment. Moreover, during the berthing and the cleaning treatment of the hull, the same can present a hull line X not always parallel to the dock M, so a horizontal cart N is provided for the structure S of the washing assembly 4 for transverse adaptation to the hull line for checking the correct distance and action of the used cleaning and washing means.

In the variant of Figure 4 the rails and runways 6 are fixed indirectly to the dock M, in fact, a semi-floating wall 1 1 is vertically approached to the dock M and the rails or runways 6 are fixed thereto. This wall is berthed to the dock M and pier B in the usual manner of ships, i.e. to the bollards 12 on the quay and to the submerged bollards, or mooring posts 13 with direction parallel to the dock itself. In fact, the realization of a movable semi-floating wall, on which the rails or runways 6 are fixed, is very useful in the non-fixed positioning to a dock M, i.e. the plant thus constituted allows to be moved on a different dock if necessary.

In Figure 1 , moreover, the washing assembly 4 of the type with rotating brushes 14 is shown with an axis which is meanly parallel to the hull; the plant also has accessory compartments 15 for the movable housing of the machine parts such as pumps for washing water, filters for purifying the water sucked for washing and purification, for purifying the washing from the dirt detached from the hull and collected; the closed structure S of the washing assembly 4 facilitates the containment of water with the effluents removed from the treatment and the aspiration thereof for the evacuation or filtration. In order to guarantee water suction with the washing effluents, flexible bulkheads 16 which can be inflated when needed, arranged inside the washing assembly 4, in order to be lifted in the hull section in treatment until reaching the interested hull and pressing on it to avoid exchange of water externally to the hull section that is treated with the positioning. The arrangement and operation of the aforesaid flexible bulkheads 16 is shown in Figures 5 and 6 and L indicates the water level at which the plant operates. Moreover, water suction is performed within the washing assembly 4 directly in the vicinity of said brushes or other cleaning members, so as to keep the bottom of the washing assembly clean from the deposited effluents; in the bottom or floor P of the washing assembly 4 there is at least one suction mouth A for water with effluents and an evacuation pipe T allows suction from the pumps in the accessory compartments 15 for the intended treatment.

In Figure 2 the multiple plant 17, also shown in two different dimensions, for a medium-sized ship 2 and for a smaller vessel 18, has the washing assembly 44 made with differentiated means: a series of short brushes 19 rotating with a meanly horizontal axis and one or more series of multiple belts 20 and 21 with high pressure water washing nozzles: the water, after the mechanical action on the hull, is sucked in proximity to the nozzles, for immediate collection; these belts are juxtaposed and pressed on the hull 22 of the ship 2 or vessel 18 and run over it to remove the dirt, vegetation or "fouling"; said multiple belts of washing nozzles can slide inside the washing assembly or with the washing assembly 44 if the same is made to slide with the open basin 5 structure. The number of multiple belts depends on the size of the assembly 4 and on the hull surface to be treated: by placing multiple belts 20, 21 of nozzles, instead of a single set of multiple belts 20, the treatment time of the affected hull section is decreased. Moreover, using only one belt 20, it must travel along the entire length of the washing assembly 44, as visible in Figure 7a, i.e. passing from one end to the other of the washing assembly; this treatment is possible if it is compatible with the expected treatment times, but certainly with a lower plant cost and treatment cost. Also the washing assembly 44, equipped with nozzle belts, with or without brushes combined therein, has a closed conformation with the sides F and the bottom P to contain effluent dispersion; the sides and bottom of the washing assembly are equipped with suction slots R just for effluent evacuation or even for suction and conveyance towards the filtration of water from mud and debris, "fouling", detached from the hull 22 , by means of the evacuation pipe T towards the accessory compartments 15 with the suction pumps.

The plant 1 or 17 is completed by the berthing means 23 of the ship 2 or the vessel 18, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, made with connecting arms 24 between the pier B, on which they are made to slide on guides 25 for positioning to the wall 26 of the ship 2 or vessel 18, and the pier itself. The connection between the respective connecting arm 24 and the hull of the ship or vessel occurs by activation of an electromagnet 27 which, by leaning against the sheet metal wall, holds it securely in the correct position with respect to the open basin 5 during the cleaning and washing treatment steps. The action of the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet 27, given the support between it and the wall 26, although strong, remains circumscribed between the wall and the electromagnet, not affecting the surrounding environment. By using a plant with a semi-floating wall 1 1 , the guides 25 for sliding the berthing means 23, are made in the upper part of the semi-floating wall 1 1 and not on the pier B: in this way, the constructive form with a semi-floating wall it is entirely movable in berthing to another dock in the port or elsewhere.

In the case of treatment of ships with walls not made of magnetic metal, it is possible to use additional berthing systems, for example, with suction cups and pumps to generate a high vacuum, of sufficient power to hold the ship 2 or vessel 18 in position. Otherwise it is also possible to use the arms 24 as simple fixed-measure stops or abutments useful to determine the correct position of the ship which will then be moored and stopped not resting on the pier but supported by the stops of the arms 24.

For the control and command of the operation phases of the plant on the pier B a dashboard 28 is arranged, comprising the movement command and control members such as the process processor, which by means of the buoyancy sensors of the plant, the dimensional sensors of the hull of the ship or vessel, the type of washing assembly 4 or 44 present in the plant activates the displacement commands of the open basin 5 and, possibly, also of the semi-floating wall 1 1 , allowing at all times the correct operation of the cleaning means and the correct positioning between the ship 2 or vessel 18, the open basin 5 plant, any semi- floating wall 1 1 and the dock M to which the plant is berthed during treatment. The aforementioned dashboard 28, in the presence of a semi-floating wall 1 1 , can be conveniently housed on a support plane of the semi-floating wall prominently on the platform B or also supported on the outer wall 7 of the open basin 5 as shown in Figure 4.

In Figures 7 and 7a an improved hull washing and cleaning plant 29 for ships is made similar to the plants 1 and 17 is hereby made with a washing assembly 44 in which there are only washing means with one or more multiple belts 20 and 21 with high pressure washing nozzles. In fact, the multiple belts are juxtaposed against the hull and made to slide during treatment based on the length of the hull they must cover. In other words, in Figure 7a, as there is a single multiple belt 20, it is shown at one end of the cleaning stroke performed or to be performed, i.e. covering the length of the open basin 5 and washing assembly 4 maintained resting on the hull of the vessel 18. Moreover, shown in Figure 7, the same vessel 18 is subjected to treatment with a pair of equidistant multiple belts 20 and 21 , each performing the cleaning in the treatment of a hull portion of the vessel 18, and dividing in half the time used to clean the entire hull section covered by the length of the washing assembly.

In a further embodiment, a floating hull washing and cleaning plant 30 is made, in Figures 8-10, 13, 14 and 15, in the form of a dry dock 31 which is made floating and approached to a dock M from which a ship 2 can be simultaneously subjected to product unloading and loading, with conventional bridge cranes 3, during the cleaning treatment time of the hull. The basin 31 can be constructed closed at one end 32, or open; in the latter case, it is not possible to retain the washing waters of the hull for purification, while with the closed end 32 a flexible and movable bulkhead 34 is placed in position on the walls 33 of the basin to reduce the amount of water that gets dirty in the cleaning treatment and which must be filtered to avoid the release of water containing the dirt, vegetation or "fouling" residues detached during the treatment.

The basin 31 of a hull cleaning floating plant 30, Figure 8, is provided with washing assemblies 4, having a similar construction compared to the washing assemblies of the previous constructive form, which slide within guides 36 in the floor 35 of the basin. The hull washing and cleaning means are similar to those already described and comprise: rotating brushes 14 with an axis which is meanly parallel to the hull, short rotating brushes 19 with a meanly horizontal axis and one or more multiple belts 20 and 21 with high pressure washing nozzles; they are juxtaposed and pressed on the hull 22 of the ship 2 and run over it to remove dirt, vegetation or "fouling". The number of multiple belts depends on the size of the assembly 4 and on the hull surface to be treated: by arranging multiple nozzle belts, the treatment time of the affected hull section decreases, as already indicated for the same cleaning means used in combination to the first constructive form of the plant 1 or 17.

The constructive form of the floating plant 30 with the dry dock 31 instead of being berthed to a dock M in Figure 10 is shown berthed to pillars 37 in a stretch of sea, wet dock or calm sea with a shallow depth, thus detached from dry land. A ship 2 can engage the floating plant 30 by simply crossing it, possibly with the aid of port pilots, i.e. entering from one of the free ends 38 and, after the necessary stop in it for cleaning operations, resume navigation for the next destination of the trip. The floating plant of Figure 10 is completed by a support vessel 39, also anchored to the pillars 37 on which the services necessary for the operation of the plant are grouped, such as the dashboard 28 for controlling the dry dock 31 .

The floating installation 30 is also completed by the docking means 40, as shown in Figure 13, of the ship 2 made with connecting arms 41 between the respective wall 33 of the dry dock 31 , on which they are connected in a modular way, to set the positioning on the side of the basin with respect to the necessary correct position on the side 26 of the ship 2. The connection between the respective connecting arm 41 and the hull 22 of the ship or vessel occurs by activation of an electromagnet 27 which, by leaning against the sheet metal wall, holds it securely in the correct position with respect to the dry dock 31 during the cleaning and washing treatment steps; the electromagnet can be replaced by another berthing means as previously described.

In Figures 14 and 15, in the floating plant 30, the inflatable flexible bulkheads 16 are used, actuated upwards, against the hull 22, or in detachment therefrom by an inflatable upper edge 42 which pushes against the hull 22 so the bulkheads, placed within the washing assembly 4, separate the treatment effluent from the water surrounding the washing assembly. The sealing of the flexible and inflatable bulkheads 16 separates only the external clean waters from the water to be filtered before the re-entry into the marine environment where the plant operates, being able to be used even just to operate safely and to avoid the loss of polluting fluids from the washing assembly members, such as the hydraulic fluid that controls and drives its parts. In Figures 14 and 15, the upper edge 42 is provided with a series of rollers 43 which, if pressed against the hull 22, allow the flexible and inflatable bulkhead to slide during the treatment, as a consequence of the displacement of the washing assembly 4 within the dry dock 31 . Said bulkheads allow a good yet imperfect separation of the wastewater as mentioned, the re-entry of the treated water, filtered for fouling removal takes place however and advantageously inside the washing assembly so as to maintain the balance of water limited by the walls F, by the bottom P and by flexible and inflatable bulkheads 16 in the washing assembly 4, 44, which also operates for the buoyancy of the hull.

In Figure 12, in a wet dock 50, some ships 2 and three hull cleaning and washing plants 1 for ships according to the invention are positioned in the first embodiment with a 5 semi-floating open basin. It is noted that the engagement of the docks M is limited since the runways 6 can be arranged along the whole length of a dock and the operating part of the plant, the open basin 5, being easily positioned only near the vessel that needs hull cleaning and washing; moreover, as can be seen in the embodiment with the semi-floating open basin 5, it is possible to detach the open basin 51 and transfer it by tow or by displacement by means of its own propulsion means at another point of the plant with runways 6, supported at the dock M, or with the semi-floating wall 1 1 construction variant in which the runways 6 follow the open basin 5.

In the variant of Figure 16, the rails and runways 6 are fixed indirectly to the dock M, similarly to Figure 4, the semi-floating wall 1 1 is approached transversely to the dock M. This wall is berthed to the dock M and pier B in the usual manner of the stern or bow ships or vessels, i.e. to the bollards 12 on the pier and to the submerged bollards 13 or mooring posts; also the ship 2 is moored to the bollards 12 on the dock of the stern Figure. In fact, the realization of a movable semi-floating wall, on which the rails or runways 6 are fixed, is very useful in the non-fixed positioning to a dock M, i.e. the plant thus constituted allows to be moved on a different dock if necessary.

By using a plant with a semi-floating wall 1 1 , the guides 25 for sliding the berthing means 23, are made in the upper part of the semi-floating wall 1 1 : in this way, the constructive form with a semi-floating wall it is entirely movable in berthing to another pier in the port or elsewhere, similarly to the berthing to pillars 37 of Figure 1 1 . The ship 2 remains positioned with respect to the dock and to the plant with the berthings to the dock pier and with said berthing means 23 which reciprocally position the ship and the semi-floating wall 1 1 of the plant.

For the control and command of the operation phases of the plant on the pier B a dashboard 28 is arranged, similarly to Figure 4, comprising the movement command and control members such as the process processor, which by means of the buoyancy sensors of the plant, the dimensional sensor of the hull of the ship or vessel, the type of washing assembly 4 or 44 present in the plant activates the displacement commands of the open basin 5 and, possibly, also of the semi-floating wall 1 1 , allowing at all times the correct operation of the cleaning means and the correct positioning between the ship 2 or vessel 18, the open basin 5 plant, any semi-floating wall 1 1 and the dock M to which the plant is berthed during treatment. The aforementioned dashboard 28, in the presence of a semi- floating wall 1 1 , can be conveniently housed on a support plane of the semi- floating wall prominently on the platform B or also supported on the inner wall 8 or the outer wall 7 of the open basin 5, similarly to Figure 4.

In the further constructive form of Figures 17-19, a hull washing and cleaning plant 60 for ships 2 consists of a pair 62 of semi-floating walls 61 , similarly constituted by the semi-floating wall 1 1 , which support, by appropriate rails or runways 66, an open basin 65 on both sides. The plant is anchored in a position transverse to the dock M to the bollards 12 on the pier B, moreover, it is anchored with submerged bollards 13 on the bottom facing the dock M, similarly to the previous Figures. In order to rigidly join the pairs 62 of semi-floating walls, box-shaped and stiffening cross-members 67 are provided between the runways 66; these cross-pieces form buoyancy control, displacement and ballast chambers of the pair of walls 62 so as to achieve the correct positioning of the open basin 65 and also as a function of buoyancy and displacement control of said basin, by means of the buoyancy chambers 9, to the runways 66 present on said semi- floating walls 61. Moreover, the box-shaped ballast and buoyancy cross-pieces 67 are disposed discretely and in limited numbers in the lower part of said semi- floating walls 61 . The similar parts in Figures 17-19 are indicated with the same numbers adopted in the preceding Figures.

With the use of a plant with semi-floating walls 61 , the guides 25 for the sliding of the berthing means 23 are made in the upper part of each semi-floating wall 61 : the ship 2 remains positioned with respect to the dock and the plant with the berthing to the pier of the dock and with said berthing means 23 which reciprocally position the ship and the pair 62 of semi-floating walls 61 of the plant so as to allow correct engagement of the washing assembly 4 or 44 under the hull 22 to be treated.

In Figure 17, further vessels 72 or ships 73 berthed at the dock M are also visible. The operation of the improved hull washing and cleaning plants for ships described above is divided into two main modes of operation: the plants that allow discontinuous washing of the hull of the concerned ship and the plants that allow the continuous treatment of the hull and wherein the washing assemblies are moved onto it.

In the discontinuous operation, for example of the plants with a washing assembly 4, housed in an open basin 5 and longitudinally sliding to a dock M, the operation takes place when the ship 2 or vessel 18 is approached and berthed, safely moored by means of berthing means 23 or also to the semi-floating wall 1 1 , which in turn is berthed to the dock M. After the alignment check, the open basin 5 provides for engaging the vessel to the washing assembly 4 up to the first sector of hull to be treated with sliding on the runways 6.

Subsequently, the washing starts with the washing assembly which operates with its own means, whether brushes 14, multiple belts 20 and/or 21 with pressurized water nozzles on the treated hull section, as indicated with the washing assemblies 44; the presence of different cleaning means on the assembly allows a simultaneous use of the same, obviously on different hull portions, thus reducing treatment times. With the use of flexible and inflatable bulkheads 16, 42, the washing assembly 4 or 44 is closed and water filtration is performed with the washing effluents; in fact, the flexible and inflatable bulkheads, which therefore adhere to the shape of the ship's hull, prevent the mixing of water with the effluents: the seal is not hydraulic, but the separation is sufficient to allow a faster collection of effluents near the washing means, whether they are brushes 14 or 19 or multiple belts of nozzles with pressurized water.

At the end of the washing of the first section, with a waiting time to complete water filtration and purification if necessary, the washing means, brushes or belts with nozzles are lowered together with the flexible bulkheads, with deflation of the upper edge 42. Then the open basin 5 is moved on the runways 6, with the washing assembly 4 or 44, for the length to the next step, of a length close to the length of the same assembly or slightly lower to allow the overlap and to clean the whole hull of the ship. After each new movement, the repetition of the above operations takes place, until the completion of all the sectors corresponding to the length of the ship's hull and final disengagement of the open basin 5 from the ship's hull.

The discontinuous operation, as well as the construction of a semi- floating open basin 5, 65, can also be performed on the constructive form of a floating plant 30 if the washing means adopted and the flexible and inflatable bulkheads 16, which are used, need to operate discontinuously. In fact, on the dry dock 31 there are sliding guides 36 for the washing assembly 4 or 44 in the floor 35 and the same or even more than one washing assembly can be positioned within the dry dock 31 , just as a plant 17 can have a plurality of open basins 5 also with washing assemblies 4 or 44 which can treat hulls of equal or different size. That is, with the same size of treated hull, the washing assembly can operate simultaneously on the same hull, significantly reducing the treatment time. Moreover, in the case of Figure 2, the washing assemblies 4 or 44, if they are made for different hull dimensions, can be used only on hulls of appropriate width of each washing assembly; moreover, even less conveniently, a washing assembly for wide hulls can always treat a hull of a smaller vessel, but not the other way round.

The continuous operation of the described improved plants can take place if it is not necessary to purify the treatment wastewater or even if the flexible and inflatable bulkheads 16, 42 are made with rollers 43 for sliding the upper inflatable edge 42 against the hull. The operations are similar to those described for discontinuous operation with the advantage that, especially on a hull without any bumps or submerged appendages, the cleaning and washing task may be performed without stopping the washing assembly 4 or 44, or the washing assemblies if used in multiple versions, inside the same dry dock 31 , or the open basin(s) 5 on the runways 6 on the same dock M. With continuous operation, the washing assembly is generally made of a limited length compared to the length of the hull to be treated, therefore, with the axial displacement along the hull, the washing task is in any case continuous and certainly quicker, as the time for detachment and repositioning of the washing assembly and/or of the open basin 5 along the hull can be shortened.

As described with the washing assemblies 4 or 44 which have closed lateral sides F and a closed bottom P, the driving of the suction mouths A, Figure 3, allows to capture the water with the cleaning and washing effluents without affecting the water surrounding the washing assembly. Likewise, suction occurs with the uptake of water with slots R, Figure 4, in a construction variant. This suction is performed in any case during the treatment, while wastewater filtration is done only if required by the law. This prevents the deposit of dirt on the bottom P of the washing assembly 4 or 44. The presence and use of flexible and inflatable bulkheads 16, 42, with or without rollers 43, allows the capture of almost all the water surrounding the washing point of the hull 22; finally, the uptake is greatest when it is previously performed also in the belt of high pressure nozzles or in the vicinity of the rotating brushes, that is at the point where it is formed.

The continuous treatment is advantageous with hulls that present slight dirt with the presence of "microfouling", i.e. characterized by very small organisms that form the so-called "slime", i.e. sea mold, such as diatoms and microorganisms, which are easily removable; in fact, not adding the waste of time for the detachment and the repositioning of the washing assembly 4 or 44 under the hull 22 results in a quicker and safer treatment with the reliable capture of the effluent, also using flexible bulkheads 16 with inflatable edge 42 and sliding rollers 43 during operation, so as to allow complete filtration of the sludge.

Moreover, the discontinuous operation allows to obtain the greater safety of retaining the treatment effluents containing any residues of the anti- vegetative paints which are previously applied to the ship's hulls to prevent the formation of dirt or "fouling". Another reason for the treatment of the cleaning effluent comes from the impediment to the discharge of biological sludge, containing non-native forms of marine life, coming from other seas or ecosystems that could be infesting and harmful to the port or sea area where the hull cleaning treatment takes place. Furthermore, the free discharge of effluents to those using such poisonous anti-vegetative paints for the marine environment is not allowed. Thus the use of paints, known as "fouling release", which facilitate the detachment of the formed vegetation without being poisonous, allows to perform cleaning and washing of ship hulls very quickly, considering the minimum thickness of the formed layer, in each case, between one wash and the next.

The advantages in the application of the constructive forms of improved plants for cleaning and washing of hulls of ships described above can be summarized with the complete versatility of the use of a washing assembly 4 or 44, whether housed in an open basin 5, or 65, on a dock M or even within a dry dock 31 , since it is positioned engaged to the hull and cleans it in a discontinuous or continuous manner according to the requirements and costs that are necessary for the more or less rapid treatment needed.

In fact, with what has been described, it is possible to use plants with only one open basin 5 and its washing assembly, as the same is towable or self- propelled (plant 51 of Figure 12), which can be coupled to the various piers B in the port, previously equipped with runways 6 and berthing means 23 to stop moored ships. In this sense, the constructive forms with a semi-floating wall 1 1 or a pair of walls 61 are very advantageous, due to the possibility of not applying fixed equipment to a specific dock M, but allowing the port authority to decide where to place the plant, thus exploiting in the most convenient way also the specific destinations of the berthing docks themselves or also arranging a specific hull treatment point in the roadsted or in a bay in the port, as indicated in Figures 10 and 1 1 . Even more, the construction forms with semi-floating wall(s) for the open basin 5 or 65 can be moored in the usual masonry dry docks which, by operating with the submerged hull, do not need to be used dry.

Both constructive forms with a semi-floating open basin 5 or 65, and with the floating installation 30 with dry dock 31 , as well as with a dock M can be used with berthing to pillars 37 and allow to perform the cleaning of ships that are parked on canals, in the roadsted or in passage straits such as in the Suez or Panama canals, or even waiting for entry into a port while waiting for their turn for ship passage or berthing.

With the use of improved cleaning plants described herein, both with the presence of a suction and filtration plant for the washing effluent, and without the plant, it is extremely convenient for the fleet managers of transport ships to keep the hull clean, without thereby providing stop days for the ships; in fact, with the massive diffusion of fast and economical hull washing technology of the hulls and the possible creation of appropriate organizations that manage, even for particular geographical areas, the washing activities, it is also possible to avoid the expensive anti-vegetative or even just releasing paints, known as "fouling-release", just using protective anti-corrosion paints. Obviously, a person skilled in the art, in order to satisfy specific and contingent requirements, may make numerous modifications to an improved hull washing and cleaning plant for ships as previously described, all however contained within the scope of protection of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Thus, when claiming specific parts such as the suction and/or filtration apparatus for wastewater, the same parts can be used in combination with both the construction form with the semi-floating open basin 5, 65, and the dry dock 31 and the floating plant 30 construction form, possibly with the presence of flexible and inflatable bulkheads 16 positioned at the ends of the working length of the washing assembly 4 or 44 on which they are applied. Furthermore, the flexible and inflatable bulkheads, also if present, may not be used if the collection and filtration of the washing waters is not necessary or required. Said flexible and inflatable bulkheads, in their upper edge 42, can also be used without the presence of plants for the suction and collection of wastewater, that is also only to avoid the loss of active technical fluids while moving the parts of the washing assembly, with their consequent release in water. Moreover, the aforesaid flexible and inflatable bulkheads, when provided with rollers 43 at the inflatable upper edge 42, to make them slide under the hull, can also be used with the washing assemblies 4 or 44 housed on the open basin 5 as well as on the sliding washing assemblies in the dry dock 31 .

Claims

1 . Improved hull (22) washing and cleaning plant for ships (2, 18), comprising cleaning and washing means submerged below the water level (L) and operating on the hull (22); members for moving the washing means on the hull in its length; members for controlling and changing the movement of the plant with control of the immersion level; the structure of the plant also includes a basin (5, 31 ) with walls (7, 8, 33) for the engagement of the ship and within which the cleaning and washing means are positioned; characterized in that it presents the cleaning and washing means arranged on at least one washing assembly (4, 44) housed in said basin and brought into contact with the hull (22) during the cleaning with the control of plant buoyancy and of the position of the support means of the cleaning and washing means; the washing assembly (4, 44) is moved along the treated hull while remaining in the basin (5, 31 , 65); the washing assembly has the washing means operating simultaneously on the section of the hull covered by the length of the single washing assembly (4, 44); the washing assembly has a closed structure (S) in the sides (F) and in the bottom (P) thereof; the washing means are associated with suction members (A, R) for the water, placed in the washing assembly (4, 44), with the washing effluents and the dirt removed from the hull; at the ends of each washing assembly (4, 44) flexible and inflatable bulkheads (16) are made in the upper edge (42), to adhere to the hull (22) during washing.

2. Improved plant according to claim 1 , wherein the suction members (A, R) are positioned on the washing means, both with rotating brushes (14, 19) and with high pressure water washing nozzles placed on belts (20, 21 ) to wrap the hull, and are connected (T) to a filtration apparatus before the evacuation of the purified water; the filtered material is periodically evacuated from the plant in an ecologically controlled manner.

3. Improved plant according to claim 1 , wherein the flexible and inflatable bulkheads (16) have the inflatable upper edge (42) equipped with rollers (43) for sliding the flexible and inflatable bulkhead when placed in contact with the hull (22) of the treated ship.

4. Improved plant according to claim 1 , wherein the washing assembly (4, 44) is positioned in an open semi-floating basin (5), and is made movable along the hull of the ship being treated by sliding the same open basin (5) along runways (6) associated with the berthing dock of the ship (2); the open basin has an external wall (7), an internal wall (8) and a connection structure of the walls; the outer wall and the connection structure being made vertically movable on the internal wall (8), by means of a vertical cart (10), to control the displacement of the semi-floating open basin (5); the internal wall is in turn slidingly connected on said runways (6).

5. Improved plant according to claim 4, wherein the semi-floating open basin (5) is made separable from the runways (6) and made transferable in floating in another dock (M) equipped with identically positioned runways (6).

6. Improved plant according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the washing assembly (4, 44) being made movable and transversely (N) displaceable to the open basin (5) to keep the axis (X) of the hull (22) in treatment aligned with the cleaning and washing means (14, 19, 20, 21 ).

7. Improved plant according to claim 4, wherein the semi-floating open basin (5) is made slidable on runways (6) supported by a semi-floating wall (1 1 ) which in turn is kept berthed, parallel or transverse to the dock (M), by means of usual bollards (12) on the pier (B) and so-called submerged mooring posts (13) on the seabed of the dock; the semi-floating wall (1 1 ), if necessary, is made to float together with the open basin (5) for a possible transfer of the whole plant.

8. Improved plant according to claim 4, wherein the semi-floating open basin (65) is made sliding on runways (66) supported by a pair (62) of equidistant semi-floating walls (61 ) joined together at a lower position to the open basin (65); the pair of walls is kept berthed at the dock (M) by means of usual bollards (12) on the pier and so-called submerged mooring posts (13) on the seabed in front of the dock; the couple of semi-floating walls (61 ), if necessary, is transferred with the open basin (65) for a possible transfer of the whole plant.

9. Improved plant according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the washing assembly (4, 44) being made movable and displaceable transversely (N) to the open basin (5, 65) to keep the axis (X) of the treated hull (22) aligned with the cleaning and washing means (14, 19, 20, 21 ).

10. Improved plant according to claim 8, wherein the union of the semi-floating walls (61 ) takes place by means of lower box-shaped cross-pieces (67) which make ballast/floating chambers, similar to the floating chambers (9) of the open basin, and which have a limited distribution in the length of the cleaning and washing plant.

1 1 . Improved plant according to claim 1 , wherein the washing assembly (4, 44), housed in a floating basin plant (30), is made movable along the hull (22) of the treated ship (2), by sliding the washing assembly (4, 44) itself along guides (36) present on the floor (35) of a dry dock (31 ) constituting the floating plant itself.

12. Improved plant according to one of the preceding claims from 6 to 10, wherein the improved hull cleaning and washing plant (1 , 17, 29, 30, 60) for ships is berthed to moorings in the roadsted, bays along ship routes, bays or wet docks and specifically to berthing pillars, to perform the hull washing and cleaning operations of ships without cluttering docks or piers in the port.