Apparatus and method for sea bed excavation.

摘要

A sea-going vessel (1) provided with hoisting equipment (2) is employed for the controlled lowering and raising of excavation apparatus (3). The excavation apparatus (3) comprises a chamber (4) within which is contained agitation and suction means. The agitation means may comprise a propeller (9) employed to produce a high speed jet of sea water directed at the sea bed. Both agitation and suction means are controlled by communication means with the vessel (1). A method is described whereby an area of the sea bed is isolated by deployment of the chamber (4). Thereafter the sediment is disturbed by the agitation means before said disturbed sediment is conveyed to the vessel (1), for processing, by the suction means.