Method and apparatus for inspection and repair of sailing vessels in-situ

摘要

An apparatus and method is disclosed for inspecting and repairing a sailing vessel having a hull while the sailing vessel remains afloat in the water, which may comprise a containment curtain of a size and shape allowing the containment curtain to define a work area around a portion of the hull of the sailing vessel; a containment seal adapted to cooperate with the hull of the sailing vessel to define with the containment curtain a region of water within the work area and a region of water outside of the work area; and a filtration system connected to the region of water within the work area and adapted to replace the ambient water initially within the region of the work area with filtered water. The filtered water may be filtered to a sufficient degree to allow underwater imaging of a portion of the sailing vessel in need of repair or replacement, e.g., to a sufficient degree to allow imaging of a quality to allow real-time remote analysis of the underwater imaging for purposes of approval of the repair or replacement. The apparatus and method may further comprise the containment seal forming seal along the hull of the sailing vessel from at least the waterline on the port side of the hull of the vessel to at least the waterline on the starboard side of the hull and the containment seal and the containment curtain forming a work area from a point along the hull of the sailing vessel to a point aft of the stern of the sailing vessel. The containment seal may further comprise a first containment seal and a second containment seal and the first containment seal and the second containment seal along with the containment curtain forming a work area from a first point along the hull of the sailing vessel to a second point along the hull of the sailing vessel. The method and apparatus may further comprise an underwater imaging apparatus adapted to provide as an output an image of a portion of the sailing vessel in need of repair or replacement; a real time communication link connected to the output of the imaging apparatus to a location outside of the work area to facilitate evaluation of the necessary repair or replacement.