WO2014087207A1

WO2014087207A1 - Device for cleaning ships and method in which such a device is applied

Info

Publication number: WO2014087207A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/002584
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boudewijn Gabriël VAN ROMPAY
Original assignee: VAN ROMPAY BOUDEWIJN GABRIëL
Priority date: 2012-12-06
Filing date: 2013-11-19
Publication date: 2014-06-12
Also published as: BE1021092B1

Abstract

Device for cleaning a submerged section of the hull (15) and other components of a ship (14) that have been treated with a non-toxic coat of paint on the basis of a surface- treated coating, characterised in that the device (1) is provided with a supporting structure (5) with one or more water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar fastened thereon for generating a jet of water (10) with a large flow rate and low pressure, whose jet (10) can be directed at the hull (15) of the ship to be cleaned.

Description

Device for cleaning ships and method in which such a device is applied.

The present invention relates to a device for cleaning ships .

More specifically, the invention is intended for cleaning the submerged section of the hull and other components of ships that have been treated with a non-toxic coat of paint on the basis of a surface-treated coating such as a composite reinforced with glass flakes, for example.

Traditionally the hull and other components of a ship are treated with a biocide-containing toxic coat of paint.

A disadvantage is that such coats of paint are easily worn away and/or damaged during cleaning. As a result, after a number of cleans the coat of paint has to be applied again.

Moreover, after a number of cleans the effect of the coat of paint is reduced, such that there will be more growth when the ship sails again. This growth will ensure that the ship experiences more resistance when sailing. As a result, the fuel consumption will increase.

Moreover, ships that have been treated with such coats of paint cannot be cleaned when the ship is in the water. Indeed when cleaning such ships with traditional coats of paint, very many toxic substances are released that are harmful to the environment and marine life. As a result, it is necessary for the cleaning of the hull and other components of the ship to be done in a dry dock.

This method has the disadvantage that it takes a lot of time, such that the ship is unavailable for a long time.

Ships that have been treated with a surface-treated coat of paint present the aforementioned disadvantages to a much lesser extent, as the coat of paint is much more resistant and contains no toxic substances that can be released when cleaning.

The cleaning of such ships that have been treated with a surface-treated coat of paint is generally done in the water by divers using machines with rotating brushes.

Although the cleaning of ships with a surface-treated coat of paint is much faster and easier than for ships with a traditional toxic coat of paint, the use of divers still has a few disadvantages.

The visibility in the water can be limited, which can hamper the good performance of the cleaning.

Moreover the divers are sometimes exposed to strong currents under water, which can make the cleaning hazardous . In addition, a large number of professional divers are needed, and they are distributed in the ports around the world, whereby the recruitment of suitable divers can sometimes present a problem.

Also with this method the cleaning of a ship still takes one or more days, a period during which the ship is not operationally available.

The use of a high-pressure jet of water with a small flow rate for cleaning surfaces under water is known, such as described in WO 00/32467. Such high pressure jets of water are generated by a device that is equipped with the necessary pumps for generating pressurised water that is driven through a nozzle or sprayer, similar to a high pressure cleaner.

The pressure of the jet of water is typically 300 to 1000 bar for example. Under water this pressure is lost to a great extent, whereby the loss is all the greater as the jet of water moves further through the water. This means that in combination with the relatively low flow rate of such a jet of water, the distance between the surface to be cleaned and the nozzle or sprayer can only be a couple of centimetres, typically 5 to 10 centimetres.

This has the disadvantage that such devices must have special facilities to be able to accurately follow the shape of the hull of a ship to be cleaned and to be able to position the nozzles or sprayers up to a distance of a number of centimetres from the hull.

Consequently the cleaning of the ship is precision work and takes a lot of time.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to at least one of the aforementioned and other disadvantages .

The object of the present invention is a device for cleaning the submerged section of the hull and other components of a ship that have been treated with a nontoxic coat of paint on the basis of a surface-treated coating, whereby the device is provided with a supporting structure with one or more water jets, thrusters or similar fastened thereon, which comprise a driven screw that is affixed rotatably in a guide pipe or similar, whereby the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar generate a jet of water with a large flow rate and low pressure, whose jet can be directed at the hull of the ship to be cleaned.

Water jet here means the powerful drives that are traditionally used to propel ships such as hydrofoils, ferries and other working ships, and these water jets are able to drive enormously high flow rates of water from an inlet to an outlet and this with pressures that are relatively low. Such water jets are commercialised by Rolls-Royce®, Hamilton® and Castoldi®, for example, with a variety of powers up to 25 megawatts. Thrusters are also used for propelling ships. Thrusters have the advantage that they are able to achieve a greater efficiency than water jets. Such thrusters are commercialised by Voith® and Schottel®, for example, with a variety of powers.

The advantage of such water jets or thrusters is that they can generate a powerful jet of water, which, when properly dosed and suitably directed, can spray the slime and growth from the hull.

The pressure of such a jet of water is relatively low, typically of the order of 10 to 50 bar, for example around 20 bar. This relatively low pressure in combination with the high flow rate ensures that the jet of water from such water jets, thrusters or similar, is suitable for use under water, whereby the distance between the hull of the ship to be cleaned and the water jet, thruster or similar can be 2 to 3 metres.

All this makes it possible to sail a ship alongside such a jet of water or to pilot such a ship alongside such a jet of water at low speed to clean the ship while sailing. This provides the advantage that the ship can be cleaned in a very short space of time and that the ship does not even have to dock to clean the ship. Indeed, when being piloted into a port, the ship can be piloted alongside a device according to the invention such that no operational stoppage is involved in the cleaning operation. Such a device can be fitted out, as it were, as a type of carwash for ships through which the ship to be cleaned is piloted. An advantage of such a device is that the ship no longer has to go into a dry dock to clean the hull and other submerged components.

An additional advantage of such a device is that divers are no longer needed to clean the submerged section of the hull, such that the visibility under water and the hazard of currents in the water no longer play a role.

An additional advantage is that the cleaning, due to the nature of the coat of paint, will not reduce the effect of the coat of paint.

Because the coat of paint is made clean again, the ship will experience less resistance, such that it will be able to sail faster and will consume less fuel.

In a very advantageous way, in this way devices according to the invention can be distributed around the world in different ports so that a ship can be cleaned whenever it calls in at a port, such that slime and growth are removed each time before crossing an ocean or another sea such that the coat of paint of the hull is always in an optimum condition and the growth of barnacles and similar is avoided because the nutrient medium for these barnacles is removed each time. According to a preferred embodiment the supporting structure is constructed as a U-shaped structure with two upright arms at a distance from one another that is greater than the width of the ship to be cleaned and a base at a level below water that is lower than the draught of the ship to be cleaned, whereby the supporting structure is equipped with water jets, thrusters or similar whose jet is directed inwards with respect to the supporting structure. Hereby at least one water jet, thruster or similar is mounted on the base with its jet of water directed upwards and at least one water jet, thruster or similar on each arm with its jet directed towards the opposite arm. An advantage of this is that both the underside of the hull of the ship and the sides of the hull can be cleaned when the ship sails through the supporting structure.

Preferably water jets, thrusters or similar are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central plane between the upright arms of the supporting structure.

This has the advantage that the forces that the ship experiences as a result of the jet of water from the water jets, thrusters or similar are symmetrical, such that the ship does not experience a net sideways force that would lead to the ship being pushed sideways to one arm under the influence of this sideways force. In order to be able to clean ships of different sizes, the supporting structure can be made floating whereby the depth can be adjusted according to the draught of the ship to be cleaned and/or the distance between the arms or the distance between the water jets, thrusters or similar of the opposite arms are adjustable according to the width of the ship so that the outlet of the water jets, thrusters or similar is situated at a suitable distance from the hull of the ship to be cleaned.

According to another preferred embodiment the supporting structure comprises a fixed section that is fastened or anchored in a water channel or similar and a movable section that enables the position of one or more water jets, thrusters, or similar to be adjusted vertically and/or sideways.

In view of the diversity of the sizes of ships, primarily ocean-going vessels, it may be useful to have a set of devices according to the invention, whereby the devices are distinguished from one another by different widths and depths for cleaning ships of different dimensions.

The invention also concerns the use of a device according to the invention whereby the device is used to clean a ship that sails through the device, more specifically between the arms of the supporting structure.

The invention also concerns a method for cleaning ships whose submerged section of the hull and other components have been treated with . a non-toxic coat of paint on the basis of a surface-treated coating, whereby use is made of a device that is provided with a supporting structure with one or more water jets, thrusters or similar fastened thereon, which comprise a driven screw that is affixed in a guide pipe or similar, and whose jet can be directed at the hull of the ship to be cleaned, whereby ships that sail or are piloted through or alongside the device are cleaned by driving the water jets, thrusters or similar, and directing the jet of water from the water jets, thrusters or similar at the hull or the components of the ship to be cleaned. This method has the advantage that the cleaning can be done without the ship having to stop.. As a result that there is hardly any time loss, if any at all.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, a few preferred embodiments of a device according to the invention are described hereinafter by way of an example, without any limiting nature, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 schematically shows a device according to the invention;

figure 2 schematically shows a cross-section according to line II-II' of figure 1;

figure 3 schematically shows the section indicated by F3 in figure 1 on a larger scale;

figure 4 schematically shows a view according to line IV-IV of figure 3;

figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of figure 3; figure 6 schematically shows a cross-section according to line VI-VI' of figure 5 on a larger scale; figure 7 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention;

figure 8 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a device according to the invention;

figure 9 schematically shows the use of a device according to the invention.

The device 1 shown in figures 1 and 2 is constructed with a U-shaped supporting structure 2 on which a number of water jets 3 are mounted.

In this case the U-shaped supporting structure 2 is constructed as a floating dock 2 and comprises a base 4 and two upright arms or partitions 5.

Different water jets 3 are mounted on the base 4 and the upright arms 5, with their inlets 6 directed to the outside 7 of the dry dock 2 and with their outlets 8 to the inside 9 of the dry dock 2. All water jets 3 are hereby submerged.

The inlets 6 of the water jets 3 on the upright arms 5 are oriented downwards and if desired can be made longer than the thickness of the supporting structure 2 so that they protrude downwards on the outside 7 of the supporting structure 2, as is shown in figure 1 for a few water jets 3.

As can. be seen in figure 4, the outlet 8 of the water jets 3 is adjustable. As a result the direction of the jet of water 10 that comes out of the outlet 8 is adjustable, such that the jet of water 10 can be adjusted in both the horizontal direction and/or vertical direction.

In this example the water jets 3, as schematically shown in figures 3 and 4, are constructed as water jets 3 that are traditionally used for propelling ships such as hydrofoils, ferries and other working ships.

In this case, the water jets 3 are provided with a double screw 11 that is driven by a drive 12, in this case a motor with generator, whereby the motor is connected to the shaft 13 of the double screw 11 and the generator supplies the necessary electric power to the motor. It is clear that instead of a double screw 11, another type of screw can be provided.

The operation and use of the device 1 for cleaning ships 14, whose hull 11 and other components have been treated with a non-toxic coat of paint on the basis of a surface- treated coating is very simple and as follows.

A ship 14 with growth on its hull 15 can sail between the arms 5 of the floating dock 2, as shown in figure 1.

The device 1 is hereby dimensioned or can be dimensioned such that the distance A between the arms 5 and the depth B of the base 4 are chosen such that when a ship 14 sails through the floating dock 2 the outlets 8 of the water jets 3 are at an average distance C from the hull 15 and at an average distance D from the bottom 16 of the ship 14. In this case the distances C and D are half a metre to three metres, preferably half a metre to one metre. Because the outlets 8 of the water jets 3 are directed towards the inside 9, their jet of water 10 will be directed at the hull 15 of the ship 14, for example perpendicular to the surface of the hull 15 or at a certain angle .

By driving the double screw 11 using the drive 12, the water jet 3 will be able to draw in water via the inlet 6. This water will leave the water jet 3 via the outlet 8 with a high flow rate and at an increased pressure.

In this way a powerful jet of water 10 with a large flow rate is generated which, as it were, blows the slime and the growth from the hull 15 such that the ship 14 is cleaned over its entire length as the ship 14 sails through the device 1.

In this case one vertical row of water jets 3 is provided in the floating dock 2. In most cases one or two vertical rows of water jets 3 will suffice to remove growth from the hull 15 of the ship 14. However, more vertical rows are not excluded.

With normal fouling of the ship 14, the ship can be completely cleaned without the ship 14 having to lie at rest and whereby the ship 14 can pass through the device at low speed, for example two knots. Due to the nature of the coating, the coat of paint is very hard and will not wear from the force of the jet of water 10. The lifetime of the coating can be guaranteed up to 25 years. Moreover no toxic substances will be released while removing the growth.

The water jets 3 can be affixed either immovably or rotatably on the supporting structure 2 in order to be able to adjust the distance C from the outlets 8 to the hull 15 and other components of the ship 14 concerned as a function of the dimensions of the ship 14 and the level of fouling.

If necessary the flow rate of the water jets 3 can also be adjusted, for example if the growth is more difficult to remove from the hull 15 and consequently a more powerful jet of water 10 is needed. As a result every form of growth can always be removed. Moreover, as presented in figure 4, the jets of water 10 of the water jets 3 are directable, at least for some water jets 3, so that when the bow 17 or stern 18 of the ship 14 sails alongside a water jet 3, the jet of water 10 from this water jet 3 can be directed at the bow 17 or the stern 18 such that the jet of water can optimally spray off the growth on the bow 17 or the stern 18.

When the ship 14 has sailed through the device 1, it is free of any growth on its hull 11 and can continue its journey in optimum conditions. Optionally sensors 19 are provided on the supporting structure 2, as schematically shown in figure 4. These sensors 19 are connected to a control system 20 that controls the drive 12 of the double screw 11 and/or of the directable outlets 8 of the water jets 3.

When the sensors 19 detect the presence of a ship 14 sailing through the device 1, the control system 20 will ensure that the water jets 3 are brought into operation and/or that their outlets 8 are directed.

When the sensors 19 no longer detect the ship 14, because it has sailed through the device 1, the water jets 3 will be switched off.

Preferably a number of sensors 19 can be provided, so that the progress of the ship 14 through the device 1 can be followed whereby a water jet 3 only comes into operation when the ship 14 sails alongside the water jet 3 concerned.

Naturally these sensors can also be provided at the outlets 8 of the water jets 3, for example.

The sensors 19 can be constructed as underwater cameras, for example, which detect the ship 14 via a visual image when it sails alongside the water jet 3 concerned. It is useful here that the water jets 3 are completely submerged so that they cannot draw in and transport any air such that the visibility in the water is maintained. On the basis of this visual signal the control system 20 can then also determine and adjust the optimum direction of the jet of water 10. It is clear that the supporting structure 2 can also be constructed as a floating structure, whereby the depth B of the base 4 can be adapted to the draught of the ship 14 to be cleaned, by fastening or removing floats or ballasts for example on the supporting structure 2.

Furthermore, it is also clear that not all water jets 3 must be submerged, for example if the depth B of the base 4 is adapted to a ship 14 with a relatively small draught, it is possible that some water jets 3 on the arms 5 of the supporting structure 2 protrude partially or entirely above the water. Due to the downward oriented inlet 6 of the water jets 3, the water jets 3 that protrude partially or entirely above the water can nevertheless generate a jet of water 10. This also enables, when the ship 14 is not fully laden, the section of the hull 15 that protrudes above water, and which has growth, to be effectively cleaned.

Furthermore, it is also clear that the jet of water 10 from the water jets 3 can also be made directable by the water jets 3 being stationed in a self-directable way in the supporting structure 2.

Although the device 1 described above is anchored during use while a ship 14 sails through, it is not excluded that the floating dock 2 is also pulled under an anchored ship 14 with the water jets 3 in operation so that a ship 14 at the wharf can also be cleaned. To this end the floating dock 2 can be provided with its own propelling means.

Furthermore, it is also clear that although water jets 3 are used in the example described above, one or more or all water jets 3 can be replaced by thrusters 21. Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of figure 3, whereby the water jet 3 is replaced by a thruster 21. Such a thruster 21 can generate a jet of water 10 at a high flow rate and with low pressure. A device 1 for cleaning ships 14 equipped with such thrusters 21 works analogously to a device 1 equipped with water jets 3, with the difference that the jet of water 10 is now generated by the thruster 21.

As shown in figure 6, in this case the thruster 21 is equipped with a ring-shaped housing 22 and a shaftless screw 23 with blades 24 oriented radially towards the centre. In this case, the drive of the thruster 21 is provided in the housing 22. Such thrusters 21 with a shaftless screw are commercialised by Voith®, for example.

Due to the screw 23 coming into operation, the thruster 21 will draw in water via the inlet 6 and generate a powerful jet of water 10 with a high flow rate and a relatively low pressure via the outlet 8.

The water jets 3 and/or thrusters 21 can also be made adjustable by fastening them on beams 24 that are driven by hydraulic or otherwise-activated cylinders 25. Such an embodiment is shown in figure 7. Here the floating dock 2 is provided with one horizontal movable beam 25 and two vertical movable beams 25, for example. In this case, a number of water jets 3 are provided on these beams 25. Alternatively thrusters 21 can also be provided on the beams 24.

These movable beams 25 are connected to the floating dock 2 by means of hydraulically activated cylinders 26. Hereby the two vertical movable beams 25 are connected to the arms 5 and the horizontal beam 25 to the base 4.

The hydraulically activated cylinders 26 enable the distance between the vertical movable beams 25, and consequently also the distance between the outlets of the water jets 3 on these beams 25, to be adjusted and set according to the dimensions of the ship 14 to be cleaned.

The operation of the device 1 as shown in figure 7 is analogous to the embodiment described earlier. In this case the hydraulically driven cylinders 26 will adjust the movable beams 25 in such a way that, when the ship 14 sails through the device 1, the distance C between the hull 15 of the ship 14 to be cleaned and the outlets 8 of the water jets 3 is between half a metre and three metres at all times, and on average between half a metre and one metre, for example.

When the stern 18 of the ship 14 sails through the device 1 the beams 25 will then be oriented as shown in figure 7, for example. Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. In this case the supporting structure 2 is constructed as a fixed section 27 and a movable section 28 with a base 4 and upright arms 5. Water jets 3 are provided on the base 4 and upright arms 5. The distance A between the arms 5 can be adjusted and the depth B of the base 4 is also adjustable.

In this way the dimensions of the supporting structure 2 can be adapted to the dimensions of the ship 14 to be cleaned.

The operation and use of the device 1 for cleaning ships 14 that sail through the device 1 is analogous to the operation and use of the first embodiment whereby in this case, before the ship 14 to be cleaned sails through the arms 5 of the device 1, the distance A between the arms 5 and the depth B of the base 4 is adapted to the dimensions and draught of the ship 14. As a result, the device 1 of figure 8 is suitable for cleaning ships 14 of different dimensions and draughts, whereby it can always be ensured that the average distance C and average distance D are always as optimum as possible during cleaning. In order to limit the number of required water jets 3 it is also possible to arrange the water jets 3 movably on the supporting structure 2 in such a way that they can move along a part of the hull 15, for example movable in a horizontal plane around and under the hull 15 of the ship 14.

Advantageously, devices 1 as described above can be distributed around the world in ports 29 that are used by ocean-going vessels 14. This is schematically shown in figure 9.

Hereby devices 1 are provided in ports 29 around the world. When the ship 14 sails into a port 29, it can sail through a device 1.

All growth occurring during the previous journey is removed from the hull 15 and other components of the ship 14 that are submerged, such that the ship 14 can continue to sail with a cleaned hull 15.

Because the ship 14 can be cleaned when sailing into the port 29 and the ship 14 does not have to stop or go into dry dock for this purpose, there is no or practically no loss of time.

When the ship 14 sails out of the port 29 again, less resistance will be experienced by the cleaned hull 15, such that it can sail faster and will consume less fuel. The ship 14 will always sail at its most optimum speed/consumption ratio.

When the ship 14, after its next journey, sails into another port 29 that is equipped with a device 1, if necessary it can sail through the device 1 in order to remove the growth occurring during this trip.

This method can be followed in every port 29 that the ship 14 calls in at such that the ship 14 can continue every journey in optimum conditions.

Preferably the ship 14 is also cleaned when sailing out of the ports 29. In this way the growth of slime and algae that collects on its hull 15 during its stay in the port 29, and which forms a basis for the further growth of barnacles and similar during sailing, can be removed.

Figures 3 to 5 clearly show that water jet 3 or thruster 21 means a type of water jet 3 or thruster 21 whereby a screw 11 is rotatably affixed in a guide pipe 30.

Hereby preferably at least the inlet 6 of the guide pipe 30 is submerged so that the inlet 6 is under water.

By driving the screw 11, the water jet 3 or thruster 21 will draw in water directly from the river or port via the guide pipe 30 and this water will leave the water jet 3 in the form of a jet of water 10 with a high flow rate and at a pressure of 10 to 50 bar, for example. The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiment (s) described as an example and shown in the drawings, but a device and method according to the invention can be realised in all kinds of variants, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims .

1. - Device for cleaning a submerged section of the hull (15) and other components of a ship (14) that have been treated with a non-toxic coat of paint on the basis of a surface-treated coating, characterised in that the device (1) is provided with a supporting structure (5) with one or more water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar fastened thereon, which comprise a driven screw (11) that is affixed rotatably in a guide pipe (30) or similar, whereby the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar generate a jet of water (10) with a large flow rate and low pressure, whose jet (10) can be directed at the hull (15) of the ship (14) to be cleaned.

2. - Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the supporting structure (2) is a U-shaped structure with two upright arms (5) at a distance (A) from one another that is greater than the width of the ship (14) to be cleaned and a base (4) at a level below the water level that is lower than the draught of the ship (14) to be cleaned, whereby the supporting structure (2) is provided with water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar, whose jet (10) is directed inwards with respect to the supporting structure (2) .

3. - Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the U-shaped structure is a floating dock (2) through which the ship (14) can sail.

4. - Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that at least one water jet (3), thruster (21) or similar is mounted on the base (4) with its jet of water (10) directed upwards and at least one water jet (3), thruster (21) or similar on each arm (5) with its jet (10) directed towards the opposite arm (5) .

5. - Device according to any one of the previous claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar are arranged symmetrically with respect to the central plane between the upright arms (5) of the supporting structure (2) .

6. - Device according to any one of the previous claims 2 to 5, characterised i that the distance (A) between the arms

(5) or the distance between the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar of the opposite arms (5) is adjustable according to the width of the ship (14) to be cleaned and such that the outlet (8) of the water jets (3) is situated at a suitable distance (C) from the hull (15) of the ship (14) to be cleaned.

7. - Device according to claim 6, characterised in that the distance from the outlet (8) of the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar to the hull (15) is half a metre to three metres, and preferably half a metre to one metre.

8. - Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar are provided with an inlet (6) and an outlet (8) whose inlet (6) is on the outside (7) of the supporting structure (2) and the outlet (8) on the inside (9) .

9.- Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar are submerged.

10.- Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the inlet (6) of the guide pipe (30) of the water jets (3) , thrusters (21) or similar is submerged.

11. - Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the supporting structure (2) is a floating structure whose depth can be adjusted according to the draught of the ship (14) to be cleaned.

12. - Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the jet (10) of at least one water jet (3), thruster (21) or similar is directable because either the water jet (3), thruster (21) or similar itself or the outlet (8) of the water jet (3), thruster (21) or similar is directable.

13.- Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the supporting structure (2) comprises a fixed section (27) that is fastened or anchored in a water channel or similar and a movable section (28) that enables the position of one or more water jets (3) , thrusters (21) or similar to be adjusted vertically and/or sideways .

14. - Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises sensors (19) that detect the presence of the ship (14) and which set the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar into operation when a ship (14) is between the arms (5) of the device (1) and which switches off the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar when there is no ship (14) between the arms (5) of the device (1) .

15. - Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the flow rate of the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar is adjusted or can be adjusted, such that when the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar are directed at the hull (15) of the ship (14) they spray the growth of algae and slime from the hull (15) without the aforementioned coating being damaged.

16. - Device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the coating is a composite reinforced with glass flakes.

17. - A set of devices (1) according to any one of the previous claims, whereby the devices (1) of the set are separated from one another by different widths and depths for cleaning ships (14) of different dimensions.

18. - A network of devices (1) or of a set of devices (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the devices (1) are provided in ports (29) around the world such that a ship (14) can be cleaned whenever calling in at a port (29) .

19.- The use of a device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the device (1) is used for cleaning a ship (14) that sails through the device (1), more specifically between the arms (5) of the supporting structure (2) .

20.- Method for cleaning ships (14) whose submerged section of the hull (15) and other components have been treated with a non-toxic coat of paint on the basis of a surface- treated coating, characterised in that use is made of a device (1) that is provided with a supporting structure (2) with one or more water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar fastened thereon, which comprise a driven screw (11) that is affixed in a guide pipe (30) or similar, and whose jet (10) can be directed at the hull (15) of the ship (14) to be cleaned, whereby ships (14) that sail or are piloted through or alongside the device (1) are cleaned by driving the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar, and directing the jet of water (10) from the water jets (3), thrusters (21) or similar at the hull (15) or the components of the ship (14) to be cleaned.

21.- Method according to claim 20, characterised in that a network of devices (1) is provided that are distributed among ports (29) and that a ship (14) that sails from port (23) to port (29) is cleaned by using a device (1) in the port (29) concerned whenever sailing in and/or out so that these ships (14) can be cleaned each time after a passage before leaving for a new destination, as is schematically shown in figure 9, whereby a ship (14) that leaves from a port (29) in the United States for Europe is cleaned before starting its journey, and the ship (14) is cleaned again upon its arrival in the port (29) in Europe so that it starts the new crossing to the United States with a cleaned hull (15) such that barnacles do not have the opportunity to latch onto the hull (15) given the lack of a nutrient medium.