Apparatus, systems and methods for collecting debris from a body of water

Abstract

A system for collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a waterborne vessel includes at least one collection chamber, water discharge pump and sensor. The at least one sensor is communicably coupled to the water discharge pump(s) and configured to gather information about debris near or inside the vessel. At least one water discharge pump is automatically turned on and off based at least partially upon information gathered by the at least one sensor.

Description

APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING DEBRIS FROM A BODY OF WATER

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 63 / 39,2765 filed on July 27, 2022 and entitled “Apparatus, Systems and Methods for Collecting Floating Debris”, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to recovering debris or contaminants from a body of water. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to recovering floating oil, chemicals, beads, trash, biological materials, other substances or materials at offshore or inland, underground or aboveground locations.BACKGROUND

[0003] Historically, it has proven difficult to remove debris, or contaminants, effectively and efficiently from onshore and offshore bodies of water and other locations. Some variables that may hinder such recovery efforts include the large amount of debris often needed to be recovered, the different types of debris, the rapid speed at which the debris spreads, the effect of wind, waves, rough seas and other environmental factors on the recovery operations and the limited size and / or capacity of existing recovery systems. Presently available debris recovery systems and techniques are thus believed to have one or more limitations or disadvantages.

[0004] For example, presently known vessels being used or promoted to collect waterborne debris are typically unable to efficiently and / or effectively collect different types of debris. For another example, in the offshore and inland waterway oil spill recovery arenas, various existing oil skimmers are believed to be unable to recover large volumes of oil. Many known systemscannot separate out significant amounts (or any) of the collected oil from sea water, resulting in limited on-board oil storage and oil recovery capacity. In fact, many existing systems cause further emulsification of the oil and water and thus cannot return separated water back to the sea or other body of water, limiting on-board oil storage capacity, increasing cost and time, etc. Other existing oil skimmers attempt to separate the recovered oil from sea water, but are slow and therefore largely ineffective at recovering substantial volumes of oil.

[0005] It should be understood that the above-described disadvantages, limitations, features, capabilities, examples, advantages and other details are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope or subject matter of this disclosure or the appended claims. Thus, none of the appended claims should be limited by the above discussion or construed to address, include or exclude each or any of the above-cited disadvantages, limitations, features, capabilities, examples, details or advantages merely because of their mention above.

[0006] Accordingly, there exists a need for improved systems, apparatus and methods useful in connection with debris recovery operations having one or more of the attributes or capabilities described or shown in, or as may be apparent from, this patent.BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0007] In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves autonomous systems for collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a waterborne vessel. The vessel is unmanned and includes a single collection chamber having upper and lower ends and a sloping roof at the upper end. The vessel further includes at least one debris pump and water discharge pump both fluidly coupled to the collection chamber. Debris and water from the body of water are collected in the collection chamber, separated and discharged separately off the vessel. At least one internal sensor is disposed at least partially within the collectionchamber and communicably coupled to at least one electronic controller. The internal sensor is configured to gather information about contents of the collection chamber and communicate such information to the controller. At least one external sensor is associated with the body of water and communicably coupled to the controller. The external sensor is configured to gather information about debris in the body of water and communicate such information to the controller. The controller is configured to turn on and off the water discharge pump based at least partially upon information from the external sensor and turn on and off the debris pump based at least partially upon information from the internal sensor, both without human involvement.

[0008] The following features are optional. If desired, the debris pump and water discharge pump are disposed in the collection chamber. The upper end of the collection chamber may be vaulted, have a generally inverted-funnel shape or a generally cathedral-ceiling shape. The collection chamber may have at least one flooding port fluidly coupling the collection chamber to the body of water. The flooding port may be selectively opened to allow the collection chamber to be free-flooded with water from the body of water without the need for any pumps to fill the collection chamber with water or purge the collection chamber of air. The ceiling of the collection chamber may be sufficiently spaced downwardly from at least one top deck of the vessel so that after the collection chamber is free-flooded with water (without the need for any pumps to fill the collection chamber with water or purge the collection chamber of air), the vessel will sink in the body of water until the collection chamber is completely full of water.

[0009] In some instances, an inflow regulator (IFR) may be releasably coupled to the vessel and extend at least partially across the flow path of debris and water recovered from the body of water travelling on the vessel. The IFR may have a carrier and at least two buoyant floats releasably engageable with the carrier, wherein the buoyancy of the IFR can be varied by changing the number of buoyant floats coupled to the carrier.

[0010] If desired, the system may include one or more intake openings fluidly coupling the collection chamber with the body of water. An inflow tunnel may be fluidly coupled between the intake opening and collection chamber and through which all debris entering the collection chamber from the intake opening must pass. The inflow tunnel may be at least partially formed between opposing first and second walls and have a width extending therebetween, wherein the width of the inflow tunnel can be selectively varied, such as by adding or removing one or more spacers between the first and second walls.

[0011] Water from the collection chamber may be removed through an inlet of the water discharge pump and the velocity of water entering the water discharge pump inlet may be slowed by at least one barrier (e.g., suction diffusers) disposed at least partially in the collection chamber. The system may include at least one intake opening through which debris and water enter the vessel from the body of water and a flow passageway fluidly coupling the intake opening and collection chamber, and the velocity of water entering the water discharge pump inlet may be reduced by at least one barrier disposed at least partially between the intake opening or flow passageway and water discharge pump inlet. The barrier may include a perforated suction diffuser and all water entering the water discharge pump inlet must pass through the suction diffuser. The suction pressure of the water discharge pump may be distributed by the suction diffuser across an area greater than the cross-sectional area of the water discharge pump inlet.

[0012] The vessel may include first and second water discharge outlets fluidly coupled to the water discharge pump. Water from the collection chamber may be discharged by the water discharge pump off the vessel in a discharge path at least substantially parallel to the surface of water in the body. The first and second water discharge outlets may be disposed proximate to the bottom of the vessel on opposing sides of the vessel, respectively, allowing water to bedischarged from the vessel without more than minimally altering the position of the vessel or disturbing floating debris in the body of water.

[0013] First and second adjustable-position flotation tanks may be positioned at least partially above the roof of the collection chamber, the first adjustable-position flotation tank being closer to the first side than the second side of the vessel the second adjustable-position flotation tank being closer to the second side than the first side of the vessel. Each flotation tank may be moveable up and down at least partially over and relative to the roof and collection chamber. The sloping roof may include first and second slanted sections sloping upwardly and inwardly from the first and second sides of the vessel, respectively. Each adjustable-position flotation tank may be independently moveable in an angled path up and down at least partially over and relative to the respective roof section associated therewith.

[0014] The present disclosure also includes embodiments of methods of autonomously collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on an unmanned, waterborne vessel deployable in the body of water. The vessel includes a single collectionseparation chamber, and at least one circulation pump and debris pump both fluidly coupled to the collection-separation chamber. The circulation pump is configured to draw water and debris from the body of water into the collection- separation chamber and discharge water from the collection-separation chamber off the vessel. The debris pump is configured to discharge debris from the collection-separation chamber off the vessel. These methods include at least one internal sensor, disposed at least partially within the collection-separation chamber and communicably coupled to an electronic controller, gathering information about contents of the collection-separation chamber and communicates at least some such information to the controller. At least one external sensor, associated with the body of water and communicably coupled to the controller, gathers information about debris in the body of water and communicates at least some such information to the controller. Without human involvement,the electronic controller can turn on and off the circulation pump based at least partially upon information from the external sensor and turn on and off the debris pump based at least partially upon information from the internal sensor.

[0015] Various embodiments of the present disclosure involve waterborne vessels useful for autonomously collecting floating debris and water from a body of water and discharging water into the body of water. These vessels include at least one collection chamber fluidly coupled to the body of water by at least one intake opening. At least one water discharge pump, having an inlet fluidly coupled to the collection chamber, is configured to draw water and debris from the body of water, through the intake opening and into the collection chamber and discharge water from the collection chamber off the vessel. All water discharged off the vessel by the water discharge pump must pass through the water discharge pump inlet. At least one perforated suction diffuser is disposed at least partially between the intake opening and water discharge pump inlet. All water entering the water discharge pump inlet must pass through the perforated suction diffuser and the velocity of water entering the water discharge pump inlet is reduced by the suction diffuser. At least one sensor is communicably coupled to the water discharge pump and configured to gather information about debris near or inside the vessel. The water discharge pump is automatically turned on and off based at least partially upon information gathered by the sensor.

[0016] If desired, the suction pressure of the water discharge pump may be distributed by the suction diffuser across an area greater than the cross-sectional area of the water discharge pump inlet. The combined cross-sectional area of all perforations in the suction diffuser may be at least five times greater than the cross-sectional area of the water discharge pump inlet. The collection chamber may be a sunken collection chamber.

[0017] In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems for collecting and processing floating solid debris from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel has at least onechamber and at least one debris pump in fluid communication with and positioned at or proximate to the upper end of the at least one chamber. The system includes a debris recovery conveyor belt having first and second ends and extending from the vessel to the body of water during operations so that the first end thereof is at or under the surface of the body of water. A first debris processor is positioned closer to the second end than the first end of the conveyor belt so that the conveyor belt receives floating solid debris from the body of water and delivers it to the first debris processor, which fragments the solid debris into small debris pieces and delivers the small debris pieces into at least one chamber of the vessel. A second debris processor is positioned in or proximate to the at least one chamber of the vessel and receives small debris pieces from the at least one chamber and fragments at least some of it into even smaller debris pieces and delivers that to the at least one debris pump.

[0018] In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems for processing floating solid debris recovered from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel has at least one chamber and at least one intake opening fluidly coupled to the chamber(s) and through which water enters the chamber(s) from the body of water. At least one discharge port is fluidly coupled to the chamber(s) and through which at least some processed solid debris exits the chamber(s). The system includes a first debris processor disposed on the vessel between at least one intake opening and at least one discharge port and configured to fragment floating solid debris from the body of water into fragments. A second debris processor is disposed on the vessel between the first debris processor and at least one discharge port and configured to receive solid debris fragments fragmented by the first debris processor and re- fragment at least some of them into a size that is smaller than the fragmented size thereof and allow at least some of the re-fragmented solid debris to enter at least one discharge port.

[0019] The following features are optional. If desired, the first debris processor may be configured to discharge solid debris fragments fragmented thereby into at least one of chamberand the second debris processor may be configured to receive debris fragments fragmented by the first debris processor from the chamber(s). At least one chamber of the vessel may include an inflow chamber and the first debris processor may be positioned above or within the inflow chamber. The first debris processor may be configured to receive and fragment floating solid debris constructed at least partially of any among plastic, metal, glass, fabric other man-made materials, wood or a combination thereof. The second debris processor may be configured to reduce the solid debris fragments received thereby into finely ground particles. The first debris processor may include a heavy duty, large-capacity industrial shredder and the second debris processor may include a grinder.

[0020] These systems may include a debris pump having at least one inlet fluidly coupled to the discharge port(s) and the second debris processor may be configured to allow solid debris fragments re-fragmented thereby to enter at least one inlet of the debris pump. The vessel may include at least first and second chambers, the first chamber being an inflow chamber positioned proximate to the intake opening(s) and the second chamber being a main cargo compartment fluidly coupled between the inflow chamber and at least one discharge port. The first debris processor may be configured to fragment solid debris before it enters the main cargo compartment and the second debris processor may be configured to re-fragment solid debris fragments received thereby from the main cargo compartment and before solid debris fragments enter the discharge port(s). The main cargo compartment may have upper and lower ends, the first debris processor may be positioned on the vessel so that it fragments solid debris before it enters the main cargo compartment and the second debris processor may be positioned closer to the upper end than the lower end of the main cargo compartment.

[0021] These systems may be useful for collecting floating solid debris from the body of water and include a conveyor configured to extend from the vessel to the body of water and receive floating solid debris from the body of water and deliver it to the first debris processor.The conveyor may be elongated, have first and second ends and be positioned during floating solid debris collection operations so that the first end thereof extends at least partially over at least one chamber of the vessel and the second end thereof is positioned at or below the surface of the body of water. The first debris processor may be positioned closer to the first end than the second end of the conveyor. The first debris processor may be positioned at least partially below the conveyor so that at least some of the collected floating solid debris drops from the conveyor into the first debris processor. The conveyor may be at least partially porous and configured to allow floating solid debris having an outer dimension of up to one and one-half inches to filter therethrough and into at least one chamber of the vessel.

[0022] In many embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems for collecting and processing floating solid debris from a body of water on a vessel, the body of water having a surface and the vessel having at least one chamber, at least one intake opening fluidly coupled to the at least one chamber and through which water enters the at least one chamber from the body of water, at least one discharge port fluidly coupled to the at least one chamber and through which at least some processed solid debris exits the at least one chamber and a debris pump fluidly coupled to the at least one discharge port and useful to pump at least some processed solid debris from the at least one chamber. These systems include at least one conveyor having first and second ends and, during at least part of solid debris collection operations, is positioned so that the first end thereof extends at least partially over at least part of the vessel and the second end thereof is positioned proximate to the surface of the body of water. A first debris processor is disposed on the vessel proximate to the first end of the conveyor and at least one chamber of the vessel and a second debris processor is positioned between the first debris processor and debris pump.

[0023] The following features are optional. If desired, the conveyor may be configured to receive floating solid debris from the body of water proximate to its second end and convey ittoward its first end. The second end of the conveyor may be positioned under the surface of the body of water during at least part of the solid debris collection operations. The first debris processor may include a shredder and the second debris processor may include a grinder. The first debris processor may be configured to be positioned within an inflow chamber. The first debris processor may be configured to receive solid debris from the conveyor and fragment at least some of the received solid debris into solid debris fragments, each solid debris fragment having a size that is smaller than the original size of the solid debris from which it was fragmented. The second debris processor may be configured to receive and re-fragment solid debris fragments fragmented by the first debris processor and allow the re-fragmented solid debris fragments to enter the debris pump.

[0024] The present disclosure also includes embodiments of methods of processing floating solid debris recovered from a body of water on a vessel having at least one chamber, at least one intake opening fluidly coupled to the chamber and through which water enters the chamber from the body of water. The vessel also includes at least one discharge port fluidly coupled to the chamber and through which processed solid debris exits the chamber. Aa debris pump is fluidly coupled to the discharge port and useful to pump processed solid debris out of the chamber. These method include a first debris processor, disposed on the vessel between the intake opening and debris pump, receiving solid debris that was floating in the body of water. The first debris processor fragments solid debris received thereby into solid debris fragments, each solid debris fragment having a respective size that is smaller than the original size of the solid debris from which it was fragmented. A second debris processor, disposed on the vessel between the first debris processor and the debris pump, receives solid debris fragments that were fragmented by the first debris processor and re-fragments at least some of them into a re-fragmented size that can be accepted and pumped by the debris pump. Thesecond debris processor discharges the re-fragmented solid debris fragments. At least some of the re-fragmented solid debris enters the debris pump.

[0025] The following features are optional. The vessel may include a conveyor having first and second ends, the first end positioned to extend at least partially over part of the vessel and the second end of the conveyor positioned proximate to the surface of the body of water. The conveyor may receive floating solid debris from the body of water proximate to the second end thereof and convey floating solid debris received thereby toward the first end thereof and to the first debris processor. At least some of the solid debris on the conveyor may drop from the conveyor into the first debris processor. The first debris processor may allow at least some of the solid debris fragments fragmented thereby to be in at least one chamber of the vessel.

[0026] The conveyor may be at least partially perforated and allow at least some solid debris received thereby having an outer dimension up to the allowable solid debris size limit of the debris pump to filter therethrough and into at least one chamber of the vessel. The first debris processor may shred solid debris received thereby and the second debris processor may macerate and grinds fragmented solid debris received thereby. The first debris processor may receive and fragment floating solid debris constructed at least partially of any among plastic, metal, glass, fabric, other man-made materials, wood or a combination thereof, and the second debris processor may fragment solid debris fragments received thereby into finely ground particles.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the present disclosure involves a system for collecting floating debris from a body of water with the use of at least one vessel. The vessel includes at least one ingestion head positionable at or proximate to the surface of the body of water. The ingestion head includes at least one intake opening and at least one exit port fluidly coupled together and a vacuum cavity surrounding the exit port(s) so that the exit port(s) can be maintained submerged in liquid throughout debris recovery operations. A fluid removal systemis separate and distinct from the ingestion head and connected thereto only by one or more fluid suction conduits extending therebetween and fluidly coupled to the exit port(s) of the ingestion head. The fluid removal system includes at least one circulation pump fluidly coupled to the fluid suction conduit(s) and is configured to draw debris and water into the ingestion head. The fluid removal system provides a liquid-sealed system extending between the circulation pump(s) and the port(s) of the ingestion head.

[0028] The following features are optional. If desired, the ingestion head may include a plurality of intake openings positioned proximate to one another around the perimeter of the ingestion head and a plurality of IFRs, at least one IFR extending at least partially across each intake opening. At least IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR. At least four IFRs may be included. The intake openings may be positioned around the perimeter of the ingestion head to ingest floating debris and water into the ingestion head from the body of water from any direction without moving the ingestion head. The ingestion head may be movable relative to the fluid removal system. The ingestion head may be moveable between at least one underground stowed position and at least one operating position at or proximate to the surface of the body of water.

[0029] The ingestion head may include an inflow chamber extending between and fluidly coupled to the at least one intake opening and the at least one exit port, the inflow chamber having a bottom surface and an inner vacuum cavity wall extending upwardly therefrom and surrounding the at least one exit port. At least one inflow chamber cover may extend over the inflow chamber and at least one exit port and have an outer vacuum cavity wall extending downwardly therefrom and around the inner vacuum cavity wall, the inflow chamber cover forming the vacuum cavity. The upper end of the inner vacuum cavity wall may be spaced downwardly from the inflow chamber cover and remain submerged in water during debris collection operations and the lower end of the outer vacuum cavity wall may be spaceddownwardly from the upper end of the inner vacuum cavity and upwardly from the bottom of the inflow chamber. The space between the lower end of the outer vacuum cavity wall and the bottom of the inflow chamber may remain submerged in water during debris collection operations, whereby debris drawn into the ingestion head must pass below the outer vacuum cavity wall and over the inner vacuum cavity wall before entering the exit port(s) and remain submerged during such travel. The circulation pump(s) may concurrently draw debris and water into the ingestion head and discharge such water from the fluid removal system.

[0030] If desired, a debris separation system fluidly coupled to the fluid removal system and remote from the ingestion head may be provided, whereby the water discharged from the fluid removal system has a hydrocarbon concentration of less than 5.0 PPM. A plurality of ingestion heads may be included, each ingestion head being connected to the fluid removal system only by one or more fluid suction conduits and the fluid removal system may be at least partially disposed on a vessel or be land-based.

[0031] In many embodiments, a system for collecting floating debris from a body of water includes an ingestion head positionable at or proximate to the surface of the body of water. The ingestion head includes one or more intake openings extending around the perimeter thereof to allow floating debris and water to be drawn into the ingestion head from the surface of the body of water from any direction without moving the ingestion head. A fluid removal system may be separate and distinct from the ingestion head and connected thereto only by one or more fluid suction conduits extending therebetween. The ingestion head may be movable relative to the fluid removal system and debris and water may be drawn into the ingestion head by suction provided by the fluid removal system through the at least one fluid suction conduit. If desired, the ingestion head may include at least one exit port fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid suction conduit. The fluid removal system may include at least one circulation pump fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid suction conduit and configured to draw debris and waterinto the ingestion head. The fluid removal system may provide a liquid-sealed system extending between the at least one circulation pump and the at least one port of the ingestion head.

[0032] In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves a method of collecting floating debris from a body of water. These exemplary methods include positioning an ingestion head at or proximate to the surface of the body of water, the ingestion head including at least one intake opening and at least one exit port fluidly coupled together; connecting a fluid removal system to the ingestion head only by one or more fluid suction conduits; at least one circulation pump of the fluid removal system fluidly coupled to the at least one fluid suction conduit and drawing debris and water into the ingestion head, through the at least one fluid suction conduit and into a vacuum-sealed collection chamber; the fluid removal system providing a liquid-sealed system extending between the at least one circulation pump and the port of the ingestion head; and the at least one circulation pump discharging water from the collection chamber.

[0033] These exemplary methods may further include any combination of the following optional features, The ingestion head may move across the body of water relative to the fluid removal system. The circulation pump may concurrently drawing debris and water into the ingestion head and discharge water from the collection chamber. The ingestion head may move between at least one underground stowed position and at least one operating position at, or proximate to, the surface of the body of water. If desired, the ingestion head may include a plurality of intake openings positioned proximate to one at different locations around the perimeter thereof and floating debris and water may be drawn into the ingestion head from the body of water from any direction without moving the ingestion head.

[0034] In many embodiments, the present disclosure involves apparatus, systems and methods for collecting debris floating on an onshore or offshore body of water or other area (tank farm, earthen cavity, crater, etc.) and involve the use of at least one ingestion headconfigured to be positioned in the body of water to ingest debris from the body of water. Each ingestion head including at least one inflow regulatory (“IFR”) and is remote from and fluidly coupled to at least one collection system configured to store and / or process debris recovered through the ingestion head. In some applications, any of the debris collection vessels summarized and described below may serve as the collection system. Furthermore, these embodiments can include any components and features of the debris collection vessels summarized and described below and vice versa.

[0035] In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods of collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel includes at least one cargo compartment and at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the at least one cargo compartment and the body of water during debris collection operations. At least one suction pump fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment concurrently draws water and debris from the body of water into the at least one cargo compartment and removes water from the cargo compartment(s). Concurrently therewith, at least one debris pump, distinct from the circulation pump(s), removes debris from the cargo compartment(s).

[0036] The following features are optional. If desired, any one or more, or none, of the following features may be included. One or more circulation pumps may remove water from one or more cargo compartments at or proximate to the lower end thereof and / or one or more debris pumps may remove debris from one or more cargo compartments at or proximate to the upper end thereof. The circulation pump(s) may be selectively controlled to vary the volume of water removed from at least one cargo compartment and / or the debris pump(s) may be selectively controlled to vary the volume of debris removed from at least one cargo compartment.

[0037] At least one inflow chamber may be disposed on the vessel between the cargo compartment(s) and intake opening(s). The inflow chamber(s) may be at least partiallyseparated from the compartment(s) by at least one wall and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. At least one IFR at least partially free-floating at or near the surface of liquid in at least one inflow chamber may limit the water and debris drawn from the body of water into the cargo compartment(s) to primarily debris and water that passes over the at least one IFR. At least one circulation pump may lower the liquid level in at least one inflow chamber between the IFR(s) and passageway(s) to a height lower than the liquid level therein between the IFR(s) and the intake opening(s) during debris collection operations.

[0038] A variable buoyancy system associated with at least one IFR may be selectively actuated to adjust the height thereof in the inflow chamber(s). First and second variable buoyancy IFRs may be disposed in the same inflow chamber, the second variable buoyancy IFR being positioned between the first variable buoyancy IFR and the cargo compartment(s). The first variable buoyancy IFR may primarily reduce wave action and / or turbulence in the water and debris moving through the inflow chamber(s) from the intake opening(s) to the cargo compartment(s), and / or the second variable buoyancy IFR may primarily cause mostly debris to enter the cargo compartment(s) during debris collection operations. The first variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to de -ballast it higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the second variable buoyancy IFR when there is an increase in water turbulence and / or wave action in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s). The second variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to de-ballast it higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the first variable buoyancy IFR when debris in the body of water is a sheen and / or decreases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s). The second variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to ballast it lower in the inflow chamber(s) than the first variable buoyancy IFR when debris in the body of water is thicker than a sheen and / or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s).

[0039] A vacuum may be created above the surface of the contents of at least one cargo compartment and maintained during debris collection operations. The cargo compartment(s) may be maintained completely full of water and / or debris during collection operations. The vessel may include at least one trunk fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment at or above the upper end thereof and the debris pump(s) fluidly coupled to at least one trunk. Debris may be allowed to rise into at least one trunk from at least one cargo compartment and at least one debris pump may remove debris from the cargo compartment(s) through the trunk(s). The debris pump(s) may be selectively temporarily turned off when the level of debris in the trunk(s) is at or below a particular height. At least one sensor may be disposed at least partially within at least one cargo compartment and / or at least one trunk and indicate the height of water in the cargo compartment(s) and / or trunk(s), respectively.

[0040] In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems useful for collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel. The vessel includes at least one cargo compartment and at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the cargo compartment(s) and body of water during debris collection operations. At least one circulation pump may be fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment(s) and have sufficient pumping capacity both when the vessel is moving and stationary to concurrently (i) draw water and debris from the body of water into the cargo compartment(s) and (ii) remove water from the cargo compartment(s). At least one debris pump that is distinct from the circulation pump(s) is fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment(s) and selectively controllable to remove debris from the cargo compartment(s) concurrently with (i) and (ii) above.

[0041] If desired, any one or more, or none, of the following optional features may be included. At least one circulation pump may be fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment closer to the lower end than the upper end thereof and the at least one debris pump may be fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment closer to the upper end thanthe lower end thereof. The circulation pump(s) may be selectively controllable to vary the volume of water removed from the cargo compartment(s) and the debris pump(s) may be selectively controllable to vary the volume of debris removed from the cargo compartment(s).

[0042] At least one inflow chamber may be disposed on the vessel between the cargo compartment(s) and intake opening(s) and at least partially separated from the at least one cargo compartment by at least one wall and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. At least one IFR may be at least partially free-floating at or near the surface of liquid in at least one inflow chamber. At least one circulation pump may be configured to lower the liquid level in at least one inflow chamber between the IFR(s) and passageway(s) to a height below the liquid level in the inflow chamber(s) between the IFR(s) and intake opening(s) during debris collection operations. First and second variable buoyancy IFRs disposed in the same inflow chamber, the second variable buoyancy IFR being positioned between the first variable buoyancy IFR and the cargo compartment(s).

[0043] A variable buoyancy system may be associated with at least one IFR, the variable buoyancy system being configured to (i) allow air to escape from the at least one IFR and be replaced with liquid to decrease the buoyancy thereof and (ii) provide air into the at least one IFR and force liquid out of the at least one IFR to increase the buoyancy thereof.

[0044] At least one trunk may be fluidly coupled to at least one cargo compartment at or above the upper end thereof. The debris pump(s) may be fluidly coupled to at least one trunk and configured to remove debris from at least one cargo compartment through at least one trunk. At least one sensor disposed at least partially within at least one cargo compartment and / or at least one trunk and configured to indicate the height of water therein, respectively.

[0045] In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods of collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water. The vessel has at least one inflow chamber distinct from a main collection compartmentand fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. The main collection compartment has a length, width, height and upper and lower ends. The vessel also includes at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the inflow chamber(s) and the body of water and through which water and floating debris can enter the at least one inflow chamber and vessel from the body of water. At least one water removal outlet and at least one debris removal outlet (distinct from the water removal outlet(s)) are fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment. The passageway(s) and water removal outlet(s) are fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the lower end than the upper end of the main collection compartment and the debris removal outlet(s) are fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the upper end than the lower end of the main collection compartment. These methods include filling the main collection compartment with liquid to a fill height above the passageway(s) and water removal outlet(s) and thereafter, concurrently drawing floating debris and water from the inflow chamber(s) through the submersed passageway(s) and into the main collection compartment during collection operations. At least one TFR at least partially floats in the inflow chamber(s) and reduces wave action and / or turbulence in the floating debris and water passing through the inflow chamber(s) to the main collection compartment during collection operations. Floating debris in the main collection compartment is allowed to rise above the at least one debris removal outlet and the water in the main collection compartment, removing water from the main collection compartment through the water removal outlet(s) and discharged to the body of water. Floating debris is allowed to be removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and directed to one or more debris delivery destinations.

[0046] If desired, any of the following optional features may be included. These methods may include minimizing emulsification of water and debris in the main collection compartment during collection and separation operations. At least initially, the main collection compartment may be filled with primarily water from the body of water to a fill height above the at least onedebris removal outlet and all or substantially all air may be evacuated from the main collection compartment above the surface of the contents therein. If desired, initially, the main collection compartment may be completely filled with primarily water from the body of water and, thereafter, maintained completely full of water and / or debris during collection operations. Floating debris and little, or no, water may be caused to enter the main collection compartment during collection operations. A vacuum may be created above the surface of the contents of the main collection compartment. The vessel may include at least one trunk having at least one elongated, upwardly extending void fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment at or above the upper end thereof, the void(s) having a width that is smaller than the length and width of the main collection compartment. Water and / or floating debris may be allowed to completely fill the main collection compartment and extend up into at least one void of the trunk(s) during collection operations. The debris removal outlet(s) may be fluidly coupled to the void(s) and floating debris may be allowed to float to the upper end of the main collection compartment and into the trank(s) and be removed therefrom through the debris removal outlet(s) and directed to one or more debris delivery destinations.

[0047] These methods may include at least substantially preventing the entry of air into the main collection compartment during collection and separation operations. The drawing floating debris and water from the inflow chamber(s) into the main collection compartment may be ceased and at least one IFR allowed to extend at least partially above the surface of the contents of the at least one inflow chamber to prevent floating debris from backing out of the inflow chamber(s) through the intake opening to the body of water. One or more IFRs may be disposed on the vessel at a height above the location of the passageway(s) and limit the floating debris and water that enters the main collection compartment during collection operations to primarily floating debris and water that passes over the at least one IFR. The passageway(s) may have a width or diameter that is less than approximately ten percent (10%) the height of the maincollection compartment and be disposed at or proximate to the bottom of the main collection compartment and primarily floating debris and some water may be drawn over the at least one IFR, down in the inflow chamber(s), through the passageway(s) and into the main collection compartment during collection operations.

[0048] A second IFR may be disposed in the inflow chamber(s) between a first IFR and the main collection compartment. The first IFR may primarily reduce wave action and turbulence in water and floating debris moving through the inflow chamber(s) and the second IFR may primarily cause mostly floating debris to enter the main collection compartment during collection operations. At least one IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR and at least one variable buoyancy IFR may be actuated during collection operations to vary the buoyancy thereof and its reducing water turbulence in the floating debris and water moving through the inflow chamber(s) and into the main collection compartment. If desired, at least one variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated during collection operations to vary the buoyancy thereof and its ability to cause mostly floating debris to enter the main collection compartment during collection operations. A second IFR may be disposed in the inflow chamber(s) between a first IFR and the main collection compartment, both IFRs being variable buoyancy IFRs. The second IFR may be actuated during collection operations to ballast it lower in the inflow chamber(s) than the first IFR when the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is a sheen and / or decreases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s) to assist in increasing the volume and cascading movement of floating debris passing by the second IFR into the main collection compartment. The first IFR may be selectively actuated to ballast it higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the second IFR during collection operations when at least one among the speed of the vessel in the body of water or the water turbulence and / or wave action in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s) increases.

[0049] If desired, at least one circulation pump may draw water and floating debris from the inflow chamber(s), through the passageway and into main collection compartment. The circulation pump(s) may concurrently (i) draw water and floating debris from the body of water into the inflow chamber(s) and main collection compartment and (ii) remove water and little or no debris from the main collection compartment through the water removal outlet(s) and discharge it to the body of water during collection and separation operations. The circulation pump(s) may lower the liquid level in the inflow chamber(s) between the passageway(s) and the IFR(s) to assist in increasing at least one among the cascading movement, volume and rate of floating debris drawn over the IFR(s) and into the main collection compartment. At least one debris pump, distinct from the circulation pump(s) may remove floating debris and little or no water from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and directing it to one or more debris delivery destinations during collection and separation operations. The debris pump(s) may remove floating debris and little or no water from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and direct it to one or more debris delivery destinations concurrently with the circulation pump(s) concurrently (i) drawing water and floating debris from the body of water into the inflow chamber(s) and main collection compartment and (ii) removing water and little or no floating debris from the main collection compartment through the water removal outlet(s) and discharging it to the body of water during collection and separation operations regardless of whether the vessel is moving.

[0050] At least one IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR and the speed of the vessel in the body of water may be selectively varied, and / or the circulation pump(s) may be selectively actuated and / or at least one variable buoyancy IFR may be selectively actuated to assist in (a) varying the buoyancy thereof in real-time on an ongoing basis as needed during collection operations in response to one or more changes in wind, rain, wave action, turbulence or other sea conditions in or above the body of water, the type, density and / or viscosity of liquid in thebody of water or main collection compartment, the thickness, size, composition and / or depth of floating debris in the body of water or main collection compartment, or a combination thereof, and / or (b) changing at least one among the volume, rate and ratio of floating debris and water entering the main collection compartment, (c) optimizing the intake resistance of at least one IFR, (d) optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of debris collection, (e) enhancing the separation of floating debris and water on the vessel, or a combination thereof.

[0051] If desired, at least one debris pump, distinct from the circulation pump(s) may be used to remove floating debris and little or no water from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and direct it to one or more debris delivery destinations during collection and separation operations. The debris pump(s) may be selectively actuated to vary the volume of floating debris removed from the main collection compartment. The suction of the circulation pumps and / or speed of the vessel in the body of water may be increased during collection operations when the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is thicker than a sheen and / or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s) in order to assist in increasing the volume and / or rate of floating debris entering the main collection compartment. At least one IFR may be de-ballasted during collection operations when at least one among the (i) speed of the vessel in the body of water, (ii) suction of the circulation pump(s) and (iii) wave action and / or turbulence in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s) increases.

[0052] At least one IFR may include at least one buoyant portion that free-floats at or near the surface of liquid in the inflow chamber(s). The buoyant portion(s) of IFR(s) may be lowered relative to the surface of liquid in the inflow chamber(s) during collection operations when (i) the vessel is not moving or slowed, (ii) there is a reduction in, or little or no, wave action and / or water turbulence in the body of water, (iii) the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is thicker than a sheen and / or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s),or a combination thereof. The suction of the circulation pump(s) and / or the height of the buoyant portion(s) of at least one IFR in the inflow chamber(s) may be varied during collection operations to assist in (i) increasing the ratio of floating debris to water entering the main collection compartment, (ii) increasing the volume and cascading movement of floating debris passing by the IFR(s) into the main collection compartment, (hi) optimizing the intake resistance of at least one IFR, (iv) optimizing the efficiency and effectiveness of debris collection, (v) enhancing the separation of floating debris and water on the vessel, or a combination thereof. The height of the buoyant portion(s) of at least one IFR may be increased in the inflow chamber(s) during collection operations when at least one among (i) the speed of the vessel in the body of water and / or the water turbulence and / or wave action in the body of water proximate to the intake opening(s) increases and / or (ii) the floating debris on the surface of in the body of water is a sheen or decreases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s).

[0053] If desired, a second IFR may be disposed in the inflow chamber(s) between a first IFR and the main collection compartment, both IFRs being variable buoyancy IFRs. The second IFR may be ballasted higher in the inflow chamber(s) than the first IFR during collection operations when the floating debris on the surface of the body of water is thicker than a sheen or increases in thickness proximate to the intake opening(s). When the vessel is moving in the body of water during collection operations, the suction of at least one circulation pump may be increased to a volume that is at least slightly greater than the volume of water and / or floating debris entering the intake opening(s) to reduce or eliminate the existence or effect of head waves at the intake opening(s). One or more circulation pumps may be disposed in at least one suction chamber that is distinct from the inflow chamber(s) and the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by the at least one water removal outlet. At least one suction chamber vent may be fluidly coupled to the suction chamber(s) proximate to the upper end thereof and opened during initial filling of themain collection compartment with liquid to at least partially vent the suction chamber(s) of gases and allow liquid to enter the suction chamber sufficient to submerse the water removal outlet(s) in liquid and provide a liquid-only interface between the suction chamber(s) and main collection compartment, to allow minimal or no gases to enter the main collection compartment from the at least one suction chamber.

[0054] In many embodiments, the present disclosure involves systems for collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water and which include a main collection compartment disposed on the vessel and having a length, width, height and upper and lower ends. At least one water removal outlet is fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the lower end than the upper end of the main collection compartment. At least one debris removal outlet, distinct from the at least one water removal outlet(s), is fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment closer to the upper end than the lower end of the main collection compartment. At least one inflow chamber is disposed on the vessel and at least partially separated from the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. The at least one passageway is disposed closer to the lower end than the upper end of the main collection compartment. At least one intake opening is fluidly coupling the at least one inflow chamber and the body of water, whereby water and floating debris can enter the vessel from the body of water through the at least one intake opening and into the at least one inflow chamber. At least one circulation pump is fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by the at least one water removal outlet. The circulation pump(s) are selectively controllable during collection operations to draw water and floating debris from the at least one inflow chamber, through the at least one passageway and into the main collection compartment and vary at least one among the volume, rate and ratio of water and floating debris drawn into the main collection compartment. At least firstand second IFRs are at least partially floating in the same inflow chamber. The second IFR is disposed between the first IFR and the main collection compartment.

[0055] The following features are optional. If desired, at least one IFR may be a variable buoyancy IFR that is selectively controllable during collection operations to vary the buoyancy thereof in at least one inflow chamber. A variable buoyancy system may be associated with one or more variable buoyancy IFRs and is selectively controllable during debris collection operations to allow air to escape from the variable buoyancy IFR(s) and be replaced with liquid to decrease the buoyancy of the variable buoyancy IFR(s), and provide air into the variable buoyancy IFR(s) and force liquid out of the variable buoyancy IFR(s) to increase the buoyancy of the variable buoyancy IFR(s). The first and second IFRs may be pivoting-type, variable buoyancy IFRs, each disposed on the vessel at a height above the location of the at least one passageway. At least one IFR may be configured to principally limit the floating debris and water that enters the main collection compartment from the at least one inflow chamber to primarily floating debris and water that passes over the at least one IFR and thereafter moves down in the at least one inflow chamber and into the at least one passageway. The passageway(s) may have a width or diameter that is less than approximately ten percent (10%) the height of the main collection compartment and be disposed at or proximate to the bottom of the main collection compartment. During collection operations, the at least one passageway and the at least one water removal outlet may be configured to be submersed in liquid to provide a liquid seal of the main collection compartment below the surface of the contents thereof and allow minimal or no gases to enter the main collection compartment from below the surface of the contents thereof (e.g., to support a liquid-sealed system, such as defined below).

[0056] A trunk having at least one elongated, upwardly extending void may be fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment at or above the upper end of the main collection compartment. The void(s) may have a width that is smaller than the length and width of themain collection compartment. The debris removal outlet(s) may be fluidly coupled to the void(s) and the main collection compartment may be completely filled with water and / or floating debris. During debris collection operations, floating debris at the upper end of the main collection compartment may be able to pass into the trunk(s) and thereafter removed through the debris removal outlet(s). A debris pump that is distinct from the circulation pump(s) and fluidly coupled between the debris removal outlet(s) and one or more debris delivery destinations may be included. The debris pump(s) may be selectively controllable during collection and separation operations to vary the volume of floating debris removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s).

[0057] The circulation pump(s) may be disposed on the vessel in at least one suction chamber that is distinct from the inflow chamber(s) and the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by at least one water removal outlet. The water removal outlet(s) may be disposed proximate to the lower end of the main collection compartment and submersed in water during collection operations. At least one gate may be associated with the passageway(s) and / or water removal outlet(s). The gate(s) may be selectively controlled to block the passageway(s) and / or water removal outlet(s) and fluidly isolate the main collection compartment from the inflow chamber(s) and / or water removal outlet(s).

[0058] At least one inflow chamber cover may extend at least partially over at least one inflow chamber on the vessel and be at least partially transparent, see-through or perforated and / or strong enough to support large-sized debris placed thereupon. At least one front door may be disposed on the vessel and selectively controllable to close off or block the intake opening(s). At least one large-sized debris guard may be provided on the vessel proximate to the intake opening(s) to assist in preventing large-sized debris from entering into the inflow chamber(s).

[0059] In the present disclosure, there are also embodiments of systems for collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water. These systems include a main collection compartment disposed on the vessel and having a length, width, height and upper and lower ends. At least one inflow chamber is disposed on the vessel and is distinct from the main collection compartment and fluidly coupled thereto by at least one passageway. At least one intake opening fluidly couples the inflow chamber(s) and the body of water, whereby water and floating debris can enter the vessel from the body of water through the intake opening(s) and into the inflow chamber(s). At least one circulation pump is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment. The circulation pump(s) are selectively controllable during collection operations to draw floating debris and water from the inflow chamber(s) through the passageway(s) and into the main collection compartment. At least one trunk has at least one elongated, upwardly extending void fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment at or above the upper end thereof. During debris collection operations, floating debris at the upper end of the main collection compartment can pass into the trunk to allow the main collection compartment to be completely filled with water and / or floating debris. At least one debris removal outlet through which floating debris can be removed from the main collection compartment is also included. The debris removal outlet(s) are fluidly coupled to the trunk(s), whereby floating debris at the upper end of the main collection compartment will pass at least partially through the trunk(s) as it is removed through the debris removal outlet(s). At least one IFR at least partially floats in the inflow chamber(s).

[0060] The following features are optional. If desired, at least one wave diminishing surface may be disposed on the vessel between the IFR(s) and the body of water, slant downwardly away from the vessel and towards the body of water and be configured to assist in dampening or reducing the impact, size and / or action of waves and turbulence of water anddebris entering the intake opening(s). The circulation pump may be disposed on the vessel in at least one suction chamber having upper and lower ends and being distinct from the main collection compartment and inflow chamber(s). The suction chamber(s) may be fluidly coupled to the main collection compartment by at least one water removal outlet, the water removal outlet(s) being submersed in water during collection operations. A suction chamber vent may be disposed proximate to the upper end of the suction chamber(s) and configured to allow the suction chamber(s) to be selectively at least partially vented of gases. At least one flooding port may be fluidly coupled between the main collection compartment and body of water and configured to allow the main collection compartment to be at least partially filled with liquid from the body of water. At least one submersible fluid pump may be fluidly coupled to at least one flooding port and selectively actuated to completely fill the main collection compartment with liquid from the body of water. At least one air discharge vent may be disposed at or proximate to the upper end of, and fluidly coupled to, the main collection compartment and be configured to selectively allow gases to be evacuated from the main collection compartment. At least one vacuum pump may be fluidly coupled to at least one air discharge vent(s) and selectively controllable to remove gases from the main collection compartment.

[0061] If desired, at least one sensor may be disposed at least partially within the main collection compartment and configured to indicate whether debris is at a particular height in the main collection compartment. At least a first sensor may be disposed inside the main collection compartment above the passageway(s) and water removal outlet(s) to indicate when debris should be removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s) and assist in avoiding more than minimal debris being sucked into the circulation pump(s). At least a second sensor may be disposed on the vessel below the debris removal outlet(s) to indicate when debris should not be removed from the main collection compartmentthrough the debris removal outlet(s) and assist in avoiding more than minimal water being removed from the main collection compartment through the debris removal outlet(s).

[0062] In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves a system useful for collecting debris and water from a body of water at or near the surface of the body of water onto a waterborne vessel, separating the collected debris from water on the vessel and separately off-loading the collected debris and water from the vessel. At least one intake opening is provided in the vessel at or near the front of the vessel and in fluid communication with at least a first area inside the vessel. At least one variable buoyancy IFR is disposed in the first area on the vessel aft of the intake opening and configured to at least partially float in liquid inside the first area. The IFR includes at least one variable buoyancy chamber and may be selectively actuated to vary its buoyancy by introducing air into or allowing air to escape from the buoyancy chamber. At least one circulation pump is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to the first area. The circulation pump may be selectively actuated to draw debris and water from the body of water, through the intake opening into the first area and over the IFR and discharge recovered water to the body of water. At least one debris pump is fluidly coupled to the first area and configured to remove recovered debris from the vessel and offload it to at least one destination off the vessel.

[0063] In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves apparatus, methods and systems useful for collecting debris (and some water) from a body of water at or near the surface of the body of water onto a waterborne vessel. The vessel has front and rear ends and is positionable at or near the surface of the body of water. The vessel includes at least a first cargo compartment in fluid communication with the body of water and configured to contain water and debris. At least one bulkhead is disposed on the vessel between the first cargo compartment and the front end of the vessel. At least one intake opening is disposed adjacent to or formed in the bulkhead(s) and fluidly couples the first cargo compartment and the bodyof water. At least a first, at least partially buoyant, IFR is disposed at least partially in the first cargo compartment proximate to the intake opening(s). The IFR has a front end and a rear end and extends at least partially across the width of the first cargo compartment. The IFR is sufficiently buoyant so that when the first cargo compartment at least partially contains water, the front end thereof floats at or near the surface of the water in the first cargo compartment and limits the inflow of debris (and some) water from the body of water into the first cargo compartment to debris and water disposed at or near the surface of the body of water and which flows over the IFR during use of the system. At least one suction conduit is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to the first cargo compartment. At least one circulation pump is disposed on the vessel and fluidly coupled to at least one suction conduit. When one or more circulation pumps are actuated during use of the system, it / they will create suction in at least one suction conduit to concurrently (i) draw debris and water from the body of water through the intake opening(s) over at least one IFR into the first cargo compartment and (ii) draw water from the first cargo compartment into at least one suction conduit.

[0064] In various embodiments, the present disclosure includes a system useful for collecting debris from a body of water on a vessel moveable in the body of water. The vessel includes at least one cargo compartment and at least one intake opening fluidly coupling the at least one cargo compartment with the body of water during debris collection operations. The system includes at least one circulation pump having sufficient pumping capacity both when the vessel is moving and stationary to concurrently (i) draw water and debris from the body of water, through the at least one intake opening and into the at least one cargo compartment and (ii) remove water and little or no debris from the at least one cargo compartment. At least one IFR can at least partially free-float at or near the surface of liquid in the vessel and limit the water and debris drawn from the body of water into the at least one cargo compartment to primarily debris and water that passes over the at least one buoyant portion during debriscollection operations. The at least one IFR can also be selectively actuated to adjust the height of at least a portion thereof relative to the surface of liquid in the vessel during debris collection operations.

[0065] In many embodiments, the present disclosure involves methods of collecting debris from a body of water onto a vessel moveable in the body of water and having at least one intake opening fluidly coupling at least one cargo compartment of the vessel with the body of water. At least one circulation pump on the vessel is selectively actuatable, both when the vessel is moving and stationary, to concurrently (i) draw water and debris from the body of water, through the at least one intake opening and into the at least one cargo compartment and (ii) remove water and little or no debris from the at least one cargo compartment. At least one buoyant portion of at least one IFR on the vessel free-floats at or near the surface of liquid in the vessel. The at least one IFR limits the water and debris drawn from the body of water into the cargo compartment to primarily debris and water that passes over the at least one buoyant portion of the at least one IFR during debris collection operations. The at least one IFR is selectively actuatable to adjust the height of the at least one buoyant portion thereof relative to the surface of liquid in the vessel during debris collection operations.

[0066] In some embodiments, the present disclosure involves an oil recovery vessel useful for collecting oil floating in a body of water in an oil spill area at or near the surface of the body of water. The vessel includes a plurality of distinct cargo compartments positioned adjacent to one another along at least part of the length of the vessel and arranged and adapted to contain sea water and oil. A front the cargo compartment is disposed closest to the front of the vessel and a rear the cargo compartment is disposed closest to the rear of the vessel. The front cargo compartment is separated from the front end of the vessel by at least one front vertical wall. Each adjacent pair of cargo compartments is separated by at least one other vertical wall. Each vertical wall includes at least one opening formed therein proximate to theupper end thereof. Each opening is arranged and adapted to allow the flow of liquid through the associated vertical wall and into the adjacent cargo compartment aft of the vertical wall.

[0067] These embodiments include a plurality of gates. Each gate allows and disallows liquid flow through at least one of the openings. Each gate is selectively movable between at least one open and at least one closed position. At least one suction conduit is fluidly coupled to each cargo compartment to concurrently allow water to be removed from, and oil to enter, any of them. The vessel also includes at least one at least partially floating, elongated, boom disposed proximate to the front of the vessel. Each boom is arranged and adapted to encourage oil to flow into the front cargo compartment from the body of water.

[0068] In various embodiments, the present disclosure involves a system for collecting oil on a waterborne vessel from an oil spill area at or near the surface of a body of water. The system includes at least three successively fluidly coupled cargo compartments configured to initially hold sea water and thereafter hold oil. A front cargo compartment is disposed closest to the front of the vessel and a rear cargo compartment is disposed closest to the rear of the vessel. At least one intermediate cargo compartment is disposed between the front and rear cargo compartments.

[0069] The system of these embodiments also includes a plurality of (e.g., fluid) passageways. At least a first passageway fluidly couples the front cargo compartment to the body of water and is configured to allow the flow of liquid into the front cargo compartment from the body of water. At least a second passageway fluidly couples the front and the forward- most intermediate cargo compartment and is configured to allow the flow of liquid from the front cargo compartment into the forward-most intermediate cargo compartment. If there is more than one intermediate cargo compartment, at least a third passageway fluidly couples each pair of successively fluidly coupled intermediate cargo compartments in the direction of the rear end of the vessel and is configured to allow liquid flow from the forward-most of eachsuch pair of intermediate cargo compartments to the aft-most of each such pair of intermediate cargo compartments. At least one other passageway fluidly couples the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment and the rear cargo compartment to allow liquid flow into the rear cargo compartment from the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment.

[0070] The system of these embodiments also includes at least one suction conduit fluidly coupled to each cargo compartment and configured to allow each cargo compartment to be concurrently at least substantially emptied of sea water and at least substantially filled with oil, starting with the rear cargo compartment. At least one circulation pump is fluidly coupled to the suction conduit(s) and arranged and adapted to concurrently draw sea water out of each cargo compartment through the suction conduit(s) and draw oil into that cargo compartment through at least one associated passageway until that cargo compartment is substantially full of oil, starting with the rear cargo compartment and ending with the front cargo compartment.

[0071] There are embodiments of the present disclosure that involve a method of collecting oil on a waterborne vessel from an oil spill area at or near the surface of a body of water. At least three fluidly interconnected cargo compartments on the vessel are at least substantially filled with sea water. A front cargo compartment is disposed closest to the front end of the vessel, a rear cargo compartment is disposed closest to the rear end of the vessel and at least one intermediate cargo compartment is disposed between the front and rear cargo compartments. The front end of the vessel is positioned in or adjacent to the oil spill area. At least a first passageway allows oil and some sea water to enter the front cargo compartment proximate to the upper end thereof from the body of water. Additional passageways allow oil and some sea water to pass from the front cargo compartment into each successively fluidly coupled cargo compartment proximate to the upper end thereof (in the direction of the rear end of the vessel), respectively. At least one circulation pump concurrently pumps sea water out ofthe rear cargo compartment through at least one suction conduit and allows oil and some sea water to enter the rear cargo compartment from the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment.

[0072] After the rear cargo compartment is substantially filled with oil, the rear cargo compartment is fluidly isolated from the other cargo compartments. At least one circulation pump concurrently pumps sea water out of the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment through at least one suction conduit and allows oil and some sea water to enter the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment from the cargo compartment fluidly coupled thereto on its forward side. After the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment is substantially filled with oil, the aft-most intermediate cargo compartment is fluidly isolated from the other substantially water filled cargo compartments. These acts are repeated for any additional intermediate cargo compartments and then the front cargo compartment. After the front cargo compartment is substantially filled with oil, it is fluidly isolated from the body of water.

[0073] Accordingly, the present disclosure includes features and advantages which are believed to enable it to advance debris recovery technology. Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure described above and additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments and referring to the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] The following figures are part of the present specification, included to demonstrate certain aspects of various embodiments of this disclosure and referenced in the detailed description herein:

[0075] Figure 1 is a top view of an exemplary waterborne debris recovery vessel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0076] Figure 2 is a side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1 with the side shell removed to show exemplary interior cargo compartments and other components during exemplary debris recovery operations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0077] Figure 3 is a perspective view of part of the front end of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1;

[0078] Figure 4 is a view facing an exemplary vertical wall disposed between cargo compartments of the embodiment of Figure 1 from inside one of the cargo compartments (facing rearwards) and showing an exemplary associated gate in a fully open position;

[0079] Figure 5 shows the exemplary vertical wall of Figure 4 with the exemplary gate in a closed position;

[0080] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of part of the exemplary vertical wall and gate of Figure 4 taken along lines 6-6;

[0081] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of part of the exemplary vertical wall and gate of Figure 5 taken along lines 7-7 ;

[0082] Figure 8 is a front view of part of an exemplary gate of the present disclosure showing an alternate embodiment of a gate actuator;

[0083] Figure 9 is a top view of an exemplary wave dampener within an exemplary cargo compartment of the vessel of Figure 1 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0084] Figure 10 is a side, cross-sectional view of the exemplary wave dampener of Figure 9 taken along lines 10 — 10;

[0085] Figure 11 is an exploded view of part of the exemplary vessel shown in Figure 2;

[0086] Figure 12 is a side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1 with the side shell removed to show exemplary interior cargo compartments and other components duringexemplary debris recovery operations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0087] Figure 13 is an exploded view of part of the exemplary vessel shown in Figure 12;

[0088] Figure 14 is a side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1 with the side shell removed to show exemplary interior cargo compartments and other components during exemplary debris recovery operations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0089] Figure 15 is a side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1 with the side shell removed to show exemplary interior cargo compartments and other components during exemplary debris recovery operations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0090] Figure 16 is a side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1 with the side shell removed to show exemplary interior cargo compartments and other components during exemplary debris recovery operations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0091] Figure 17 is a side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1 with the side shell removed to show exemplary interior cargo compartments and other components during exemplary debris recovery operations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0092] Figure 18 is a side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 1 with the side shell removed to show exemplary interior cargo compartments and other components during exemplary debris recovery operations in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0093] Figure 19 is an exploded top view of part of the exemplary fluid removal system shown in Figure 1 ;

[0094] Figure 20 is a front view of some of the exemplary fluid removal system components in Figure 19 taken along lines 20 — 20;

[0095] Figure 21 is a top view of an exemplary elongated boom of Figure 1 shown in a stowed position;

[0096] Figure 22 is an exploded view of part of the exemplary elongated boom of Figure 21;

[0097] Figure 23 is a plan view of an exemplary waterborne vessel with the decks removed to show parts of an exemplary debris recovery system having an exemplary pivoting-type inflow regulator in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0098] Figure 24 is an isolated perspective view of part of the front end of the exemplary vessel and debris recovery system of Figure 23 ;

[0099] Figure 25 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 23 with the side shell removed and showing the exemplary interior cargo compartment and inflow regulator in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;[000100] Figure 26 is side, partial cross-sectional view of part of the exemplary vessel of Figure 23 with the side shell removed and showing the exemplary inflow regulator in an exemplary rest position;[000101] Figure 27 is a perspective view of the exemplary inflow regulator of Figure 26;[000102] Figure 28 is another perspective view of the exemplary inflow regulator ofFigure 26 showing its underside;[000103] Figure 29 is side, partial cross-sectional view of part of the exemplary vessel of Figure 23 with the side shell removed and showing the exemplary inflow regulator in an exemplary operating position;[000104] Figure 30 is a side, cut-away view of part of the exemplary waterborne vessel of Figure 23 with the side shell removed and the exemplary debris recovery system includingan exemplary variable buoyancy system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000105] Figure 31 is a plan view of part of the exemplary debris recovery system shown in Figure 30;[000106] Figure 32 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary waterborne vessel of Figure 23 with the side shell removed and the exemplary debris recovery system including the exemplary variable buoyancy system of Figure 30 and showing the exemplary inflow regulator in an exemplary rest position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000107] Figure 33 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary waterborne vessel of Figure 32 with the side shell removed and showing the exemplary inflow regulator in a first exemplary operating position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000108] Figure 34 is a side, partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary waterborne vessel of Figure 32 with the side shell removed and showing the exemplary inflow regulator in a second exemplary operating position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000109] Figure 35 is a side, cut-away view of part of an exemplary waterborne vessel with the side shell removed and including a debris recovery system having an exemplary sliding-type inflow regulator in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000110] Figure 36 is a perspective view of the exemplary sliding-type inflow regulator of Figure 35;[000111] Figure 37 is a top view of part of the exemplary waterborne vessel and debris recovery system shown in Figure 35;[000112] Figure 38 is a side, cut-away view of part of the exemplary waterborne vessel of Figure 35 with the side shell removed and including exemplary seal members in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000113] Figure 39 is a top view of part of the waterborne vessel and exemplary debris recovery system shown in Figure 38;[000114] Figure 40 is a side, cut-away view of part of the exemplary waterborne vessel of Figure 30 with the side shell removed and including an exemplary IFR catcher in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000115] Figure 41 is partial cross-sectional side view of a waterborne vessel and at least part of another embodiment of a debris recovery system provided thereon in an exemplary transit mode in accordance with the present disclosure;[000116] Figure 42 is a top view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 41 with the top deck removed and exemplary front doors open to show exemplary interior areas and components;[000117] Figure 43 is partial cross-sectional, side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 41 and the exemplary debris recovery system at the beginning of free-flooding of the exemplary cargo compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;[000118] Figure 44 is partial cross-sectional, side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 41 and the exemplary debris recovery system at the end of free- flooding and the beginning of air evacuation of the exemplary cargo compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;[000119] Figure 45 is partial cross-sectional, side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 41 and the exemplary debris recovery system at the end of air evacuation of the exemplary cargo compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;[000120] Figure 46 is partial cross-sectional, side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 41 and the exemplary debris recovery system during exemplary debris recovery operations;[000121] Figure 47 is partial cross-sectional, side view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 41 but having an alternate embodiment of components for flooding and air evacuating the illustrated cargo compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;[000122] Figure 48 is partial cross-sectional, side view of part of the exemplary vessel of Figure 41 and equipped with an exemplary large-sized debris guard in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;[000123] Figure 49 is a top view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 48 showing exemplary large- sized debris atop the exemplary inflow chamber cover;[000124] Figure 50 is a top view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 48 and equipped with an exemplary debris containment boom coupled to the exemplary front doors of the vessel and surrounding an exemplary debris field in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;[000125] Figure 51 is a top view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 48 and equipped with two debris containment booms coupled to the exemplary front doors of the vessel and a pair of exemplary assist vessels in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;[000126] Figure 52 is partial cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary waterborne vessel having an exemplary suction diffuser plate and associated exemplary filter in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;[000127] Figure 53 is a top view of the vessel of Figure 52 with the exemplary filter removed;[000128] Figure 54 is a top view of the vessel of Figure 52;[000129] Figure 55 is partial cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary waterborne vessel having an exemplary debris separation system in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;[000130] Figure 56 is a top view of an exemplary waterborne vessel having an exemplary debris separation system and debris transport barge in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;[000131] Figure 57 is a side, cut-away view an exemplary closed-loop variable buoyancy system for use with one or more exemplary variable buoyancy IFRs in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000132] Figure 58 is a top plan view of an exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000133] Figure 59 is a perspective view of an exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000134] Figure 60 is a side view of the exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement of Figure 59;[000135] Figure 61 is a top plan view of an exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement at an exemplary tank farm in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000136] Figure 62 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary ingestion head that can direct recovered debris to an exemplary vessel or other form of exemplary collection system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000137] Figure 63 is a top perspective view of part of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 62;[000138] Figure 64 is a side perspective view of the exemplary IFR cluster of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 62;[000139] Figure 65 is a side view of an exemplary ingestion head shown in an exemplary stowed position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000140] Figure 66 is a side view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 65 moving between at least one exemplary stowed and at least one exemplary operating positions; [000141] Figure 67 is a side view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 65 in an exemplary operating position;[000142] Figure 68 is a side view of an exemplary ingestion head shown in an exemplary underground stowed position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000143] Figure 69 is a perspective view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 68;[000144] Figure 70 is a side view of the exemplary ingestion head of Figure 68 shown in an exemplary operating position in a body of water;[000145] Figure 71 is a perspective view of the exemplary ingestion head of Figure 70 shown including a pair of exemplary containment booms;[000146] Figure 72 is a bottom view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 68;[000147] Figure 73 is a top view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 68;[000148] Figure 74 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary ingestion head shown ingesting water and debris from a body of water and which can direct recovered debris and water to an exemplary vessel or other form of exemplary collection system in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000149] Figures 75 is a side view of the exemplary inflow chamber cover shown in Figure 74;[000150] Figure 76 is a perspective view of the exemplary inflow chamber cover shown in Figure 74;[000151] Figure 77 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of part of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 74 without any exemplary IFRs or an inflow chamber cover;[000152] Figure 78 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of part of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 74 without any exemplary IFRs but with an exemplary inflow chamber cover;[000153] Figure 79 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of part of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 74;[000154] Figure 80 is a perspective view of part of another exemplary ingestion head in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000155] Figure 81 is a perspective view of the ingestion head shown in Figure 80 with an exemplary inflow chamber cover partially cut-away;[000156] Figure 82 is a perspective view of the exemplary inflow chamber cover shown in Figure 81 ;[000157] Figure 83 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary waterborne vessel shown fluidly coupled to one or more exemplary ingestion heads in an exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000158] Figure 84 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of another exemplary waterborne vessel shown fluidly coupled to one or more exemplary ingestion heads in an exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000159] Figure 85 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of yet another exemplary waterborne vessel shown fluidly coupled to one or more exemplary ingestion heads in an exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000160] Figure 86 is a top view of the exemplary remote debris recovery arrangement shown in Figure 85 ;[000161] Figure 87 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of an exemplary collection tank and other parts of an exemplary debris recovery system for use in a remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000162] Figure 88 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of another exemplary collection tank and other parts of an exemplary debris recovery system for use in a remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000163] Figure 89 is a partial cross-sectional, side view of yet another exemplary collection tank and other parts of an exemplary debris recovery system for use in a remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000164] Figure 90 is a top view of still another exemplary collection tank and other parts of an exemplary debris recovery system for use in a remote debris recovery arrangement in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000165] Figure 91 is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an ingestion head in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000166] Figure 92 is a perspective view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure91;[000167] Figure 93 is a side, disassembled, view of main components of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 92;[000168] Figure 94 is a top view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 92;[000169] Figure 95 is a side view of the exemplary ingestion head shown in Figure 92;[000170] Figure 96 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a vessel shown floating lightly and able to transit quickly, or in an initial deployed position, in a body of water in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000171] Figure 97 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 96 during free-flooding of the collection chamber that has a collection-ready, internal, flotation waterline in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000172] Figure 98 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary vessel of Figure 96 during debris collection and separation in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000173] Figure 99 is a partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary debris collection pod shown lifted and before deployment in a body of water in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000174] Figure 100 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 99 shown floating in a body of water in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000175] Figure 101 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 99 during free-flooding of the collection chamber therein in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000176] Figure 102 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 99 during debris collection and separation in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000177] Figure 103 is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a debris collection pod shown lifted and before deployment in a body of water in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000178] Figure 104 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 103 shown floating in a body of water in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000179] Figure 105 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 103 during free-flooding of the collection chamber therein in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000180] Figure 106 is a partial cross-sectional view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 103 during debris collection and separation in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000181] Figure 107 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of a debris collection pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000182] Figure 108 is a rear perspective view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107;[000183] Figure 109 is a bottom perspective view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107;[000184] Figure 110 is a partial cross-sectional view of part of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 showing a first exemplary spacer in the exemplary inflow tunnel in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000185] Figure 111 is a partial cross-sectional view of part of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 showing a second exemplary spacer in the exemplary inflow tunnel in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000186] Figure 112 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary variable buoyancy 1FR in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000187] Figure 113 A is a bottom view of the exemplary variable buoyancy IFR of Figure 112 shown having three exemplary removable floats coupled thereto in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000188] Figure 113B is a bottom view of the exemplary variable buoyancy IFR of Figure112 shown having two exemplary removable floats coupled thereto in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000189] Figure 113C is a bottom view of the exemplary variable buoyancy IFR of Figure 112 shown having one exemplary removable float coupled thereto in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000190] Figure 114 is a side view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 with one or more right side walls thereof removed to show various components inside and outside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000191] Figure 115 is a perspective view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 with one or more front walls thereof removed and showing various components inside and outside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000192] Figure 1 16 is a perspective view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 with one or more the left side walls thereof removed to show various components inside and outside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000193] Figure 117 is a side view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 ;[000194] Figure 118 is a perspective view of the exemplary debris collection pod ofFigure 117 with one or more rear walls thereof removed and showing various components inside and outside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000195] Figure 119 is a rear view of part of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure117 with one or more rear walls thereof removed and showing various components inside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000196] Figure 120 is a top view of another embodiment of a debris collection pod with one or more upper walls and various components thereof removed and showing various components inside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000197] Figure 121 is a perspective view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 120 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000198] Figure 122 is a rear view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 shown floating in a body of water in an exemplary high-draft position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000199] Figure 123 is a side view of the exemplary debris collection pod shown in Figure 122;[000200] Figure 124 is a rear view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 shown floating in a body of water in an exemplary low-draft position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000201] Figure 125 is a side view of the exemplary debris collection pod shown in Figure 124;[000202] Figure 126 is a rear view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 shown floating in a body of water in an exemplary rolled position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000203] Figure 127 is a rear view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 shown floating in a body of water in another exemplary rolled position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000204] Figure 128 is a rear view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 shown floating in a body of water in an exemplary pitched position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000205] Figure 129 is a rear view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 shown floating in a body of water in another exemplary pitched position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000206] Figure 130 is a rear view of part of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure107 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000207] Figure 131 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107;[000208] Figure 132 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary adjustable- position flotation tank of the debris collection pod shown in Figure 107;[000209] Figure 133 is a partial cross-sectional view of part of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 with one or more rear walls thereof removed and showing various components inside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000210] Figure 134 is a perspective view of part of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 showing various components inside the exemplary lower body of the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000211] Figure 135 is an exploded perspective view of part of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 showing various components in the exemplary lower body of the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000212] Figure 136 is an exploded view of the top of the exemplary trunk of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000213] Figure 137 is a side view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 with one or more right side walls thereof removed to show various components inside and outside the pod in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000214] Figure 138 is a side view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 with one or more left side walls thereof removed to show exemplary solid debris collection operations in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure;[000215] Figure 139 is an overhead view of the exemplary debris collection pod of Figure 107 shown deployed at an exemplary remove debris recovery site in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure; and[000216] Figure 140 depicts an example network diagram including one or more client devices, user / vessel host systems and debris recovery vessels in accordance with one or more embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS[000217] Characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure and additional features and benefits will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments and referring to the accompanying figures. It should be understood that the description herein and appended drawings, being of exemplary embodiments, are not intended to limit the claims of this patent (or any patent or patent application claiming priority hereto). On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and the claims. Many changes may be made to the particular embodiments and details disclosed herein without departing from such spirit and scope.[000218] In showing and describing preferred embodiments in the appended figures, common or similar components, features and elements are referenced with like or identical reference numerals or are apparent from the figures and / or the description, claims and other parts of this patent herein. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features andcertain views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic in the interest of clarity and conciseness.[000219] When reference numbers are followed by a lowercase letter (e.g., connectors 110a, 110b), they are each the same type of component or item (e.g., a connector 110) having the same features, but having a different location, use or other characteristic(s). As used herein and throughout various portions (and headings) of this patent (including the claims), the terms "invention", "present invention" and variations thereof are not intended to mean every possible embodiment encompassed by this disclosure or any particular claim(s). Thus, the subject matter of each such reference should not be considered as necessary for, or part of, every embodiment hereof or of any particular claim(s) merely because of such reference.[000220] Certain terms are used herein and in the appended claims to refer to particular features and components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to a feature or component by different names and this document does not intend to distinguish between components and features that differ in name but not function.[000221] Reference herein and in the appended claims to components, features and aspects in a singular tense does not necessarily limit the present disclosure or appended claims to only one such component, feature or aspect, but should be interpreted generally to mean one or more, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom. The use of “(s)” in reference to an item, aspect, component, feature or action (e.g., “surface(s)”) should be construed to mean “at least one”.[000222] As used throughout and in all parts of this patent, the following terms have the following meanings, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise:[000223] The term “and / or” as used herein provides for three distinct possibilities: one, the other or both. All three possibilities do not need to be available - only any one of the three.For example, if an embodiment of a component is described as “having a collar and / or a coupling'”, it may include only one or more collars, only one or more couplings or at least one of each. Thus, the use of “and / or” herein does not require all three possibilities, just any one or more of the three possibilities. A claim limitation that recites “having a collar and / or a coupling” would be literally infringed by a device including only one or more collars, one or more couplings or both one or more couplings and one or more collars.[000224] The phrase “at least one among” as used herein generally has the same meaning as “and / or”. For example, if an embodiment of a component is described as “having at least one among a collar, a coupling and a connector” , it may include only one or more collars, only one or more couplings, only one or more connectors or any combination thereof. Thus, the use of “at least one among” herein and in any claims related hereto does not require all those possibilities to be available, just any one or more of them. Accordingly, a claim limitation that recites “having at least one among a collar, a coupling and. a connector” would be literally infringed by a device including only one or more collars, one or more couplings, one or more connectors or any combination thereof.[000225] The terms “automated”, “automatic” and variations thereof as used herein refer to and mean being capable of operating or performing one or more tasks with minimal or no human intervention. Some examples of automation involve the use of one or more electronic devices (e.g., computers, robotics, Al, loT).[000226] The terms “autonomous” and variations thereof mean the referenced item can operate to perform one or more function automatically and without human involvement.[000227] The terms “bead”, “pellet” and variations thereof refer to and include a small typically rounded, spherical, cylindrical or sometimes odd-shaped mass (e.g., flakes, chips) of one or more substances which may have a size between under 1mm and 5 mm, but can be smaller or larger. Beads are typically small-sized debris and one example of man-made beadsis pre-production plastic pellets, or nurdles, which, in some cases, are made of polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyvinyl chloride and / or other material(s) and are used as a base material for many products. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such type of beads.[000228] The terms “connector”, "coupling" and the like, and variations thereof, mean and include any form of hardware or configuration of components that causes the referenced items to be connectable together. The present disclosure and appended claims are thus not limited to the specific types of couplings and connectors shown in the appended drawings, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000229] The terms "coupled", "connected", “engaged” and the like, and variations thereof refer to and include either an indirect or direct connection or engagement. Thus, if a first device couples to a second device, that connection may be through a direct connection, or through an indirect connection via other devices and / or connections, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000230] The terms “elongated” and variations thereof as used herein mean and refer to an item having an overall length (during the intended use of the item) that is greater than its average width.[000231] The term “diameter” means diameter or width, so the diameter of a component mentioned herein may actually be its diameter or width.[000232] The terms “fluid” and variations thereof refer to and include liquids, gas, solids or a combination thereof, including, without limitation, foam, gel, solvent, chemicals, lubricant, grease, oil, hydraulic fluid, materials, particles, proppant, slurry, etc. The type of fluid is not limiting upon the present disclosure or appended claims, except and only to theextent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000233] The terms “for example, “e.g.,” , “such as” and variations thereof are used to provide one or more possible examples of the referenced item, feature, detail, circumstance, etc. that may occur in some instances. Such examples are not required for every embodiment or any claims, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000234] The terms "including" and "comprising" are used herein and in the appended claims in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean "including, but not limited to".[000235] “Large-sized debris” may include items such as, but not limited to, cups, bottles, cans and other garbage, driftwood, large biological materials (e.g., deceased marine life, large globs of algae bloom), floating wood, plastic, metallic and other large objects as well as conglomerates, globs, sludge or slurry mixtures that includes debris, and the like. The meaning of the term “large” as used to describe debris is relative and depends upon other variables in a particular scenario, such as the dimensions or capabilities of various components and / or parts of the vessel 10 (e.g., size of debris pump inlet 382 and capacity of debris pumps 380, when included). For a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, a large-sized debris particle may have a width, length, height and diameter of over approximately one inch (1”) or one-and-a- half inches (1.5”), but it could be more or less. The present disclosure and appended claims are not intended, and should not be limited, to a particular type or size of large-sized debris, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000236] The terms “minimal”, “’insubstantial” and the like and variations thereof generally mean no more than approximately 5-10%, but may vary depending upon the particular type of equipment item(s) in play, application, circumstances of use, other variables or a combination thereof.[000237] The terms “operator”, “user”, “owner”, “party”, “stakeholder” and he like, and variations thereof, refer to and include one or more one or more humans, legal entities, virtual entities, robots or robotic components, artificial intelligence-driven components / circuitry, other entities or components and the like or the effort thereof.[000238] The terms “outfall canal” and variations thereof refer to and include aboveground and underground areas, such as sumps, ditches, canals, tunnels, ponds and caverns where wastewater, storm water or debris may pass through or be collected. Outfall canals may be associated with private or governmental entities, such as refineries, chemical plants, tank farms, municipalities, etc., but are not limited thereto.[000239] The terms “perforated” and variations thereof mean having a multitude of orifices (aka perforations) formed therein and through which water can flow and adjacent orifices are separated by one or more impenetrable surfaces, structures or areas.[000240] The terms “rigidly coupled” and variations thereof mean connected together in a manner that is intended not to allow any, or more than an insubstantial or minimal amount of, relative movement therebetween as is expected during typical or expected operations. In other words, if components A and B are rigidly coupled together, they are not movable relative to one another (more than a minimal or insubstantial amount) during typical or expected operations.[000241] “Small-sized debris” may include items such as, but are not limited to, oil, chemicals, floating liquids, particulate pollutants, pellets, small biological materials (e.g., small globs of algae bloom), small plastic material (e.g., micro-plastics, plastic beads), other smalltrash particles, small floating metallic and / or wood objects, and the like. The meaning of the term “small” as used to describe debris is relative and depends upon other variables in a particular scenario, such as the dimensions or capabilities of various components and / or parts of a vessel 10 (e.g., size of debris pump inlet(s) 382 and capacity of debris pumps 380, when included). For a non-limiting example, in some embodiments, a small-sized debris item may have a width, length, height and diameter of up to approximately (1” or 1.5”, but it could be more or less. The present disclosure and appended claims are not intended, and should not be limited, to a particular type or size of small-sized debris, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000242] The terms “substantial”, “substantially”, “primarily” and variations generally mean at least 90%, but may be more or less depending upon the particular type of equipment item(s) in play, application, circumstances of use, other variables or a combination thereof. For example, in some instances, such when used to describe the amount or degree of something (e.g., “reduces a substantial volume of fluid”), substantial may mean only at least 50% (or more or less) of the normal or expected amount or degree of the referenced item, variable, criteria, etc.[000243] The terms “successive”, “in succession” and variations thereof mean one after the other.[000244] The “top deck” refers to and includes any upper surface of a vessel 10, including ingestion heads 440, pods 600, etc., that is normally maintained above the surface of the body of water during typical deployment or operations.[000245] The terms “waterborne” and variations thereof mean deployable on, or in, water, other liquid or a combination thereof.[000246] An “unmanned” vessel can operate, in at least some situations, without any humans on board.[000247] The terms “vertical” and variations thereof mean, includes and refers to perfectly vertical, angled (not perfectly vertical) or otherwise extending in a non-horizontal manner or orientation. For example, the “vertical wall” 90 is not limited to having only a perfectly vertical orientation, but may have any orientation that is not horizontal.[000248] It should be noted that any of the above terms may be further explained, defined, expanded or limited below or in other parts of this disclosure. Further, the above list of terms is not all inclusive, and other terms may be defined or explained below or in other sections of this patent.[000249] Referring initially to Figures 1 & 2, an exemplary debris recovery vessel 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in a debris collection area, or body of water, 30. In this example, the debris 34 to be recovered is a contaminant, such as floating oil. However, depending upon the configuration of the vessel 10 and other factors, any collectible type and form of contaminants or debris may be recovered. For example, the debris 34 may include one or more substances, materials or a combination thereof, such as chemicals (e.g., alcohol, petroleum products, oil), particulate pollutants and other solids (e.g., wood, floating metallic materials, beads, plastic debris and micro plastics, such as presently found in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, etc.), biological matter and the like.[000250] In many embodiments, only buoyant or partially buoyant debris 34 may be collected, while other embodiments may involve or include the collection of non-buoyant debris 34. Accordingly, the present disclosure and appended claims are not necessarily limited to, or by type of, debris 34 that may be present in the body of water 30 and recovered, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.For the reader’ s convenience, the terms “debris” and “contaminant” are used interchangeably herein. Thus, the “debris” being recovered may sometimes be referred to herein as a contaminant whether or not it actually formally contaminates the body of water 30.[000251] Similarly, depending upon the configuration of the vessel 10 and other factors, the vessel 10 may be used in any type of body of water 30, such as any inland or offshore waterway (e.g., a sea or ocean, bay, sound, inlet, river, stream, lake, canal, wetlands, swamp), onshore or off-shore, aboveground or underground, man-made or natural areas or structures that can contain debris (e.g., pond, tank, tank farm, ditch, outfall canal, tunnel, cavern, sump, etc.) or the like. Accordingly, the present disclosure and appended claims are not necessarily limited to, or by the type or nature of the body of water, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom. For the reader’s convenience, the terms “body of water”, “collection area” and the like, and variations thereof, are used interchangeably herein to generally refer to any area that contains or can contain debris which can be recovered with the use of one or more embodiments of apparatus, systems or methods that are described herein or apparent from this patent.[000252] Additionally for the reader’s convenience, the substance(s) contained in the body of water 30 within which the debris can float is sometimes referred to herein as “water” or “sea water” 38, even though it may not actually be water or sea water, depending upon the type of body of water 30 and other factors. For example, in some cases, the “sea water 38” as referenced herein may be fresh water, contaminated water, one or more other liquids or a combination thereof in a body of water 30. In some instances, the body of water 30 may contain only, or primarily, liquids or substances other than water, chemicals, gas, foam, froth, particles, materials, or a combination thereof. For example, when the body of water 30 is at a tank facility 424 (e.g., Figure 61), such as a tank farm or the like having oil, or other chemical or liquidproduct in the product storage tanks 426 and there is a leak, the liquid in the body of water 30 may be only product, or product and water and / or other substances / materials (e.g., fire suppressants). Thus, in some situations, the body of water 30 refers to an area that does not, in fact, contain water, and what is referred to herein as the sea water 38 may be fresh water or may not include any water. Accordingly, the present disclosure and appended claims are not necessarily limited to recovering containments from bodies of water 30 containing water, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000253] Still referring to Figures 1 & 2, the illustrated vessel 10 is useful for recovering and / or collecting debris 34 floating at the surface 32 of the body of water 30 in a debris field, or oil spill area, 36, near the surface 32 of, or elsewhere in, the body of water 30. The surface 32 of the body of water 32 may, in various applications, be generally at sea level 33 (e.g., Figures 32, 41 , 55, 83, 92, 97, 104 & 124) of the body of water 30 and extend to a depth below the actual surface plane. For example, the “debris field”, or “oil spill area”, 36 can, in some instances, be characterized as generally having a top layer of floating debris (e.g., oil), followed by a lower layer of partially submerged debris or contaminated sea water (e.g., “oily water”) followed by lower layers of sea water 38 that debris may extend into or enter, particularly when there is turbulence in the water from wind, waves, vessels moving through the oil spill area 36 or other causes. As used herein, the terms “wave” and variations thereof mean and includes waves, swells, chops and any other formations of water 38 in a body of water 30 that cause the surface 32 of the body of water 30 to not be flat. It should be noted, however, that such “layering” is a general description and the actual disposition of oil and other debris in the body of water 30 is dynamic and thus change over time or in real-time. Accordingly, debris 34 floating at the surface 32 of a body of water 30 may include debris that is at least partiallybuoyant, which may be located at the top layer (in the plane of the surface 32), as well as debris floating or positioned in a middle or even lower layer (below the plane of the surface 32).[000254] The vessel 10 may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation. For example, the vessel 10 may include a front or forward end 42, a rear or aft end 44, a left or port side 46, a right or starboard side 48 and is moveable across the surface 32 of the body of water 30 to, from and through the debris (e.g., oil) spill area 36. The front end 42 of the illustrated vessel 10 is shown having a curved shape, but could instead have a straight, rectangular or any other desired shape. The vessel 10 may be self-propelled, propelled in a different manner or be stationary (e.g., moored platform, anchored barge, at least partially floating collection tank, skimmer, ingestion head 440 (e.g., Figures 62, 92), pod 600 (e.g., Figures 99, 107)). For example, the vessel 10 may be dropped or placed into the body of water 30. In this embodiment, the vessel 10 is a ship-shape tanker barge 12 moved by a primary mover, such as a tug boat 14, in an integrated tug / barge arrangement. The illustrated tug 14 inserts into the barge 12 at a slot 50 at the rear end 44 of the barge 12. Other embodiments of the vessel 10 may be a self-propelled tanker or other ship, a barge moved by a tanker ship, a skimmer, collection pod or tank, ingestion head, or any other type of waterborne vessel or structure. Furthermore, the vessel 10 may be a retrofit or a new vessel. Other than having the common quality of being waterborne, the present disclosure is not limited by the nature and type of vessel 10 or whether, or how, it is movable or propelled in the body of water 30, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000255] Still referring to Figures 1 & 2, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the vessel 10 may include a debris recovery system 58 having at least one cargo chamber, or compartment, 60. The chamber 60 may also be referred to herein as a processing, collection and / or separation, compartment, chamber or tank, as well as othervariations of the terms processing, collection, separation, compartment, chamber, tank and the like. Thus, such terms and variations thereof are used herein (and in other patents and patent applications owned by the Assignee hereof) interchangeably and are not limiting upon the present disclosure. Each exemplary chamber 60 is arranged and adapted to at least temporarily contain fluid and debris 34 (e.g., water and oil). Generally, in many embodiments, when oil, and / or other debris 34 that is buoyant or has lower density than sea water 38, is present in a chamber 60, the buoyancy thereof is expected to help to cause the debris to ultimately float atop any sea water 38 therein.[000256] The cargo compartment(s) 60 may have any suitable form, size, location, configuration, components and construction, as long as it has the common qualities of being sized to fit on the vessel 10, be able to contain water and debris and from which water and debris can be removed. Likewise, any desired number of one or more cargo compartments 60 may be included. In this embodiment, multiple distinct cargo compartments 60 are fluidly coupled together in succession, or one after the other. Thus, a first exemplary compartment is fluidly coupled to a second compartment, which is fluidly coupled to a third compartment and so on. The illustrated cargo compartments 60 are positioned proximate or adjacent to one another along at least part of the length 52 of the vessel 10 and below the top deck 54.[000257] Still referring to Figures 1 & 2, in this example, a front, or first, cargo compartment 62 is closest to the front end 42 of the vessel 10, a rearmost, or sixth, cargo compartment 64 is closest to the rear end 44 of the vessel 10 and four intermediate cargo compartments 60 (e.g., the second 66, third 68, fourth 70 and fifth 72 cargo compartments) are positioned therebetween. However, there may be fewer (e.g., one) or more (e.g., 6, 7, 8, etc.) cargo compartments 60. Some embodiments may include cargo compartments 60 that are side- by-side, one above the other, and / or multiple rows of cargo compartments 60 or any combination thereof. The present disclosure is thus not limited by the number, size, locationand configuration of cargo compartments 60, which may have any suitable size, shape and dimensions. For example, in some embodiments of vessels 10 useful in offshore and some onshore locations, the exemplary cargo compartments 60 each have an approximate height of forty five feet (45’), an approximate width of fifty feet (50’) and an approximate length of seventy five feet (75’).[000258] If desired, the vessel 10 may have additional compartments. For example, the illustrated barge 12 is a double-hull tanker that includes outer compartments surrounding the cargo compartments 60, such as one or more (e.g., side) ballast tanks 80, a forward void 84, a rear void 86 and one or more inner bottom tanks 88 (e.g., Figure 2). These additional compartments may be used for any suitable purpose. For example, one or more of the ballast tanks 80 may be loaded and / or unloaded during debris recovery operations with sea water to obtain, maintain or change the desired height of the vessel 10 in the body of water 30. However, the inclusion, quantity, type, configuration, location and use of additional compartments is not limiting upon the present disclosure.[000259] Still referring to Figures 1 & 2, the exemplary vessel 10 typically also includes at least one vertical wall, or bulkhead, 90. When included, the vertical wall(s) 90 may have any suitable form, configuration, location and operation. In this embodiment, each adjacent pair of cargo compartments 60 is at least partially separated by at least one bulkhead 90 and at least one bulkhead 90 separates at least one chamber 60 (e.g., the foremost or front cargo compartment 62) from the body of water 30 (often at the front end 42 of the vessel 10), which is sometimes referred to herein as the front vertical wall 92.[000260] In various embodiments, other portions or chambers on the vessel 10 (e.g., inflow chamber 310 (e.g., Figures 52, 74, 103), inflow tunnel 312 (e.g., Figure 137), suction chamber 340 (e.g., Figures 41 & 96)) or on other components (inflow chamber 466 of collection tank 462 (e.g., Figure 87)) may be at least partially separated from the cargo compartment(s)60 and / or each other by one or more vertical walls 90, or may include one or more vertical walls 90 therein. If desired, a removable hatch 93 (e.g., Figure 54) may be provided over the top of one or more vertical walls 90 to provide easy access, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof.[000261] Referring now to Figures 3 & 4, the exemplary vessel 10 may also include at least one passageway, or opening, 100 that allows fluid and / or debris flow past one or more vertical walls 90 or between different cargo compartments 60 and / or other parts of the vessel 10 (e.g., inflow chamber 310 (e.g., Figures 52, 74, 103), inflow tunnel 312 (e.g., Figure 137), suction chamber 340 (e.g., Figures 41 & 96)) or in other components (inflow chamber 466 of collection tank 462 (e.g., Figure 87)). One or more exemplary passageways 100 may also, or instead, allow fluid and / or debris to flow into the vessel 10, or cargo compartment(s) 60, from the body of water 30; which passageways 100 are sometimes referred to herein as the intake opening(s) 102 (see also, Figures 24, 46, 53, 55, 62, 86, 99, 137).[000262] The openings 100, 102 may likewise have any suitable form, configuration, location and operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the intake openings 102 are formed in or adjacent to the front vertical wall 92 (see also Figure 11). In some configurations, the front vertical wall 92 may be coupled to or formed in one or more forward-facing trunks (not shown) or other components or structures that include, or form, at least one intake opening 102 which allows fluid / debris flow from the body of water 30 into the desired cargo compartment(s) 60 or other part of the vessel 10. For example, the intake opening 102 may be formed in or by two forward-facing trunks, or other features, (not shown) fluidly coupled to the front compartment 62 (e.g., outwardly angled relative to the longitudinal centerline of the vessel 10). And in many embodiments, the front 42 of the vessel 10 may be open, forming the intake opening 102 (e.g., Figures 24, 46, 55, 91, 107).[000263] Referring back to Figures 3 & 4, the openings 100 in each successive exemplary vertical wall 90 allow fluid flow between the successive adjacent cargo compartments 60 (see also Figure 12) or other areas on the vessel 10. In some embodiments, any of these passageways 100 may communicate fluid through one or more forward-facing trunks or other structures or components (not shown). Moreover, one or more of openings 100, 102 may be at least partially formed in, or by, the body, hull, top deck or other component or part of the vessel 10 (e.g., not necessarily in a vertical wall 90).[000264] In many embodiments (e.g., Figures 1-4), the opening(s) 100 in or associated with the front vertical wall 92 allow the flow of liquid / debris into the front cargo compartment 62 from the body of water 30, and the exemplary opening(s) 100 in or adjacent to each successive vertical wall 90 allow liquid / debris to flow at least from the adjacent foremost chamber 60 into the adjacent aft-most chamber 60 (e.g., into each successive chamber 60 in the aft direction). Liquid and / or debris can thus flow from the body of water 30 into the illustrated front cargo compartment 62, then into the second cargo compartment 66, then into the third cargo compartment 68 and so on and finally into the rearmost cargo compartment 64 through the respective openings 100.[000265] The openings 100 may also have any suitable quantity, size and orientation. Still referring to Figures 3 & 4, for example, each vertical wall 90 of the illustrated debris recovery system 58 includes six square openings 100, each having , an approximate height of six feet (6’) and an approximate width of fifteen feet (15’) and spaced approximately six feet (6’) from the top of the associated chamber 60. However, there may be more or less openings 100 (formed in or associated with each or select vertical walls 90) having any other desired dimensions and location. In the illustrated example, each opening 100 is formed in the corresponding vertical wall 90 proximate to its upper end 94 and the upper end 74 of the adjacent cargo compartment(s) 60. As will be described further below, the location of theopenings 100 near the upper end 74 of the illustrated cargo compartments 60 may be provided, for example, to encourage primarily debris (e.g., oil and some oily water), and at times, only oil and / or other debris, to flow into the front cargo compartment 62 from the body of water 30 (e.g., and then into each successive cargo compartment 66, 68, 70 72 and 64) during debris recovery operations.[000266] Referring now to Figures 1-3, if desired, the exemplary vessel 10 may have an intake, or recessed front, deck 56 forward of the front vertical wall 92. As used herein, the terms “recessed front deck”, “intake deck” and variations thereof refer to an uppermost deck of the vessel 10 that is forward of the front vertical wall 92 and is recessed relative to, or lower in height than, the top deck 54 of at least some of the portion(s) of the vessel 10 that extend over the cargo compartments 60. As shown in Figure 3, the recessed front deck 56 may, for example, include at least one flat plate that aligns below the height of the openings 100 in the front vertical wall 92, such as to assist in encouraging the flow of the top layer(s) of liquid from the body of water 30 into the front cargo compartment 62. However, the recessed front deck 56 may have any other form, configuration and shape or may not be included.[000267] Still referring to Figures 1-3, the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may include at least one distinct door, or gate, 110 arranged and adapted to allow and disallow the flow of liquid and / or debris through at least one of the openings 100. Each exemplary gate 110 is selectively movable between at least one open and at least one closed position. In the open position(s), each exemplary gate 110 allows liquid / debris flow through its associated opening(s) 100, and in the closed position(s), each illustrated gate 110 disallows liquid / debris flow through its associated opening(s) 100.[000268] If desired, the debris recovery system 58 may be configured so that one or more gates 110 may be used, at least in part, to further refine the flow of liquid / debris thereby. For example, the position of the respective gates 110 may be remotely adjusted to serve as askimmer, or debris separator, to encourage mostly debris (e.g., oil) to waterfall, cascade or pass, by the gate 110 through the associated opening(s) 100. In that context, the gate 110 serves as an embodiment of a “sliding”-type wave dampener, or inflow regulator, 140 (e.g., as discussed below). In various embodiments, the fully open position(s) of each gate 110 is below the associated opening(s) 100. Consequently, if desired, each exemplary gate 110 may be movable up therefrom, or down from a closed position, into one or more partially open positions. Thus, in some embodiments, the height of the gate 110 can be adjusted relative to the lower end of the associated opening(s) 100 to cause a waterfall, or cascading, effect of the top layer(s) of liquid and debris (e.g., oil and oily water) and block the lower, heavier, layer of sea water 38 from passing thereby.[000269] It should be noted that, in some embodiments, the gates 110 in the closed position may not provide a complete fluid-tight seal. Thus, when all gates 110 associated with all the openings 100 in one of the vertical walls 90 are in a closed position, the aft-most adjacent chamber 60 is at least substantially sealed from the inflow of liquid from the other adjacent chamber 60, or, in the case of the front cargo compartment 62, from the body of water 30. For example, when the gate(s) 110 associated with opening(s) 100 in the front vertical wall 92 are closed, the front cargo compartment 62 is at least substantially sealed from the entry of liquid from the body of water 30 through those opening(s) 100. For example, in some embodiments, such as upon completion of debris recovery operation and prior to transit of the vessel 10 to an off-loading location, all gates 110 may be 100% sealed.[000270] The gates 110 may have any suitable form, construction, configuration and operation. Referring to Figures 4-7, for example, a single gate 110 may be movable over all the openings 100 formed in the associated vertical wall 90. The exemplary gate 110 includes an elongated plate 112 that is selectively moveable up and down over the adjacent openings 100 between at least one open (e.g., Figures 4 & 6) and at least one closed position (e.g., Figures5 & 7) by at least one gate actuator 120. If desired, the gate 110 may include numerous (e.g., three) stiffeners 114 extending at least substantially across the length of the plate 112. The stiffeners 114 may have any suitable form, configuration and construction. For example, the stiffeners 114 may be angle iron coupled to the outside surface of the plate 112, such as to assist in supporting the plate 112 and maintaining the shape of the plate 112, other desired purpose(s) or a combination thereof. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this arrangement. In other embodiments, for example, a distinct gate 110 may be provide for each opening 10, may have a configuration that does not include an elongated plate 112 and / or may not have stiffeners 114.[000271] The gate actuator(s) 120 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. For example, the gate actuator 120 may be electronically and / or manually and / or remotely controlled. For another example, one or more gate actuators 120 may be used to control movement of one or more gates 110. For yet another example, the gate actuator 120 may be used to selectively move the associated gate(s) 1 10 between positions, such as between any among multiple different open positions and a closed position, based upon any suitable criteria. For example, any one or more of the gates 110 may be moved to an optimal partially-open position for encouraging mostly debris, such as oil, to flow thereby based upon the particular buoyancy, density, thickness and / or weight of the debris. Thus, the gate actuator(s) 120 may, if desired, be configured so that the position of one or more of the gates 110 may be varied throughout debris recovery operations.[000272] Still referring to Figures 4-7, in this embodiment, three gate actuators 120 are used to drive each exemplary gate 110. Each illustrated gate actuator 120 is a hydraulic actuator 122. For example, the hydraulic actuator 122 may include a hydraulic power unit 124 (shown positioned above the top deck 54) which drives a telescoping unit 126 coupled to the gate 110. In other embodiments, more or fewer gate actuators 120 of any type (e.g., pneumatic actuators)may be used to drive each gate 110. For example, the gate actuator 120 in Figure 8 includes a manually rotatable crank- wheel 128 and crank rod 129 coupled to the gate 110 and configured to move the gate 110 up into at least one closed position and down into one or more open positions. If desired, the crank-wheel 128 may extend above the top deck 54, such as for convenience.[000273] Referring specifically to Figure 4, if desired, one or more gate guide / sealing mechanisms 116 may be provided, such as to assist in defining one or more positions of the gate 110, guiding the up and down movement of the gate 110, enhancing the desired sealing engagement between the gate 110 and vertical wall 90, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. The gate guide / sealing mechanism 116 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the gate guide / sealing mechanism 116 includes a frame 118 extending around the periphery of all of the openings 100 to define the upper and lower limits of movement of the gate 110 and also assist in providing some sealing engagement between the gate 110 in a fully closed position and the vertical wall 90. For example, the frame 118 may be constructed of angle iron coupled to the vertical wall 90.[000274] Now referring to Figures 9 & 10, if desired, the debris recovery system 58 may include one or more wave dampeners, or inflow regulators (IFR), 140 within one or more of the cargo compartments 60 or any other desired location on the vessel 10 or in any other components of a remote debris recovery arrangement 420 (e.g., Figures 58-81). As used herein and in the appended claims, the terms “wave dampener”, “inflow regulator”, “IFR” and variations thereof are used interchangeably. The wave dampener(s) 140 may have any suitable purpose. For example, the wave dampener(s) 140 may be provided to reduce the size of, or turbulence caused by, waves in liquid passing through one or more of the openings 100, help encourage only the top layers of liquid and debris (e.g., oil, oily water) to pass through theopenings 100, help maintain a steady flow of liquid through the openings 100, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof.[000275] When included, the wave dampeners 140 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. Some embodiments of IFRs 140 are sometimes referred to herein as “sliding”-type IFRs 140 (e.g., gates 110, Figures 2, 4-6, 14-18; see also, Figures 35-39) because they are designed to move in a generally sliding movement (typically up and down) relative to the vessel 10 or other structure or components, while others are sometimes referred to herein as “pivoting”-type IFRs 140 because they are configured to pivot relative to the vessel 10 (see e.g., Figures 10-13, 23-29, 52-77) or other structure or components. In Figures 9 & 10, for example, a pivoting-type IFR 140 extends into each chamber 60 proximate to the opening(s) 100 formed in the forward-most vertical wall 90 for that chamber 60 (See also Figures 11 & 13). The exemplary wave dampener 140 includes at least one float 144 that is coupled (e.g., by weld, mechanical connectors, etc.) to one or more carriers 146, spaced-away from the vertical wall 90 and arranged to float in the liquid entering the chamber 60 though the openings 100. In this embodiment, one carrier 146 and float 144 are shown extending across all of the openings 100 in the associated vertical wall 90.[000276] The float(s) 144 and carrier(s) 146, when included, may have any suitable form, configuration, operation and constructed of metal, plastic or any other suitable material or combination thereof. In this particular embodiment, the float 144 is a single tube 145 (e.g., hollow-pipe), but could include multiple components (e.g., removable and replaceable to decrease or increase buoyancy of the IFR 140). The illustrated float 144 is elongated and configured to freely move up and down with the surface of the liquid. In Figure 10, for example, the float 144 is shown in three positions as it moves up and down with the incoming liquid. The illustrated carrier 146 is a flat plate 150 pivotably connected to the gate 110 associated with the openings 100, such as with one or more hinge pins 148, but could have anyother construction. In other embodiments, the wave dampener 140 may include multiple (e.g., removable) floats 144 and / or carriers 146, which be coupled to one or more vertical walls 90 or other component(s) or parts of the vessel 10. For example, multiple independent sets of carriers 146 with floats 144 may be side-by-side across the width of the chamber 60 (e.g., to move at least partially independently relative to one another) and pivotably coupled to one another and one or more side walls 82 (Figure 1) of the chamber 60. Depending upon the particular circumstances and arrangement, the float 144 and possibly also the carrier 146 may assist in reducing the size of, or turbulence caused by, waves in the liquid passing through one or more of the openings 100, encouraging only the top layer(s) of liquid and debris (e.g., oil, oily water) to pass through the openings 100, and / or maintaining a steady flow of liquid through the openings 100, have any other purposes or a combination thereof.[000277] Referring back to Figures 1 & 2, the debris recovery system 58 may include a fluid removal system 158 useful for removing entirely, or substantially, debris-free water (or other fluid) from one or more cargo compartments 60, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. The fluid removal system 158 may have any suitable configuration, components and operation. For example, fluid can be removed through the fluid removal system 158 from any one or more cargo compartments 60 at the same time, or in isolation relative to the other cargo compartments. Referring specifically to Figures 12 & 13, in some embodiments, the fluid removal system 158 is particularly configured to allow the drainage of sea water 38 from the lower end 76 of any chamber 60 and, at the same time, ultimately allow oil (and / or other debris) to at least partially fill that chamber 60 from its upper end 74 through the opening(s) 100 in the forward-adjacent vertical wall 90. In fact, the debris recovery system 58 may be configured to allow each successive chamber 60, starting at the rear end 44 of the vessel 10, to be at least substantially drained of sea water 38 and, concurrently, at least partially or substantially filled with debris 34.[000278] In Figure 1, the fluid removal system 158 includes a main suction conduit 160 extending at least partially through, and fluidly coupled to, each chamber 60 and configured to remove liquid from each chamber 60 as described above. The suction conduit 160 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction, location and operation. The exemplary suction conduit 160 extends lengthwise from the front cargo compartment 62 to aft of the rear cargo compartment 64, and delivers the drained liquid into the body of water 30 proximate to its aft end.[000279] Referring to Figures 19 & 20, in many embodiments, the suction conduit 160 is configured to draw liquid from each chamber 60 at the lower end 76 thereof. For example, the suction conduit 160 can draw liquid through at least one distinct suction inlet 164 positioned within each respective chamber 60 proximate to the lower end 76 thereof (See also e.g., Figure 13). In this embodiment, the fluid removal system 158 includes two suction inlets 164 disposed within each chamber 60. The exemplary suction inlets 164 are each provided in a respective inlet pipe section 168 fluidly coupled to and extending laterally from the suction conduit 160 and positioned to optimally draw in liquid (e.g., sea water) from the bottom of the chamber 60. For example, the inlets 164 may be positioned as close to the bottom (lower end 76) of the associated chamber 60 as is possible or practical. In some instances, each suction inlet 164 is the open end of a downwardly facing elbow pipe 170 provided at the ends of the respective inlet pipe sections 168. However, this exemplary configuration is not limiting upon the present disclosure. Any other suitable arrangement may be used to remove fluid (e.g., sea water) from one or more cargo compartments 60. In fact, some embodiments will not include any suction conduits 160 and / or related components.[000280] The size, number and location of the suction inlets 164 may be determined based on any suitable criteria, such as to provide the desired liquid flow rate in the associated chamber 60. For example, the velocity of the liquid (e.g., sea water) being removed from the cargocompartments 60 may be determined or limited to control or limit the turbulence and mixing of the liquid (e.g., oil, oily water) entering the successive compartments 60 through the associated openings 100 and promote the separation of debris and sea water in the cargo compartments 60.[000281] Still referring to Figures 19 & 20, if desired, the fluid removal system 158 may be configured to fluidly isolate each chamber 60. For example, at least one fluid valve 174 may be associated with each chamber 60. In many embodiments, in an open position, each such valve 174 will allow the flow of liquid from the associated chamber 60 into the suction conduit(s) 160 at the location of that valve 174. In a closed position, each exemplary valve 174 should disallow liquid flow between the associated chamber 60 and the suction conduit 160 at the location of that valve 174. Any suitable arrangement of valves 174 may be used for selectively allowing and disallowing liquid flow from each chamber 60 into the fluid removal system 158. For example, a distinct selectively controllable valve 174 may be provided between the suction conduit 160 and each suction inlet 164, such as in each inlet pipe section 168. Thus, to remove liquid from a particular chamber 60, the exemplary valves 174 in that chamber 60 are opened and the valves 174 in all other cargo compartments 60 are closed. In some configurations, it may be possible to open one or more valves 174 in multiple cargo compartments 60 at the same time.[000282] The valve(s) 174 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. For example, a commercial valve that may be useful as the valve 174 in some embodiments is the Class 123, iron body, gate-type valves having an outside screw and yoke with a rising stem by Crane Co. If desired, the valves 174 may be remotely actuated, such as via an electronic controller or computer-based control system (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140). However, in other embodiments, the fluid removal system 158 use different components to fluidly isolate cargo compartments 60 or may not isolate any cargo compartments 60.[000283] Still referring to Figures 19 & 20, if desired, the vessel 10 may include one or more internal sensors 178 useful to determine the nature, height, depth, volume, density, location or other characteristic(s) of contents, such as debris and / or water, in the vessel 10 (e.g., approaching or entering the fluid removal system 158 or a part thereof, at a height in the compartment 60, etc.), for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. For example, the internal sensor(s) 178 may be mounted in the chamber 60 or coupled to the fluid removal system 158.[000284] The internal sensor 178 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. In some embodiments, the internal sensor 178 may include at least one oily water sensor 180 disposed within each chamber 60 (e.g., proximate to each suction inlet 164 and configured to detect oil in the liquid entering the associated suction inlet 164. For example, a distinct oily water sensor 180 may be fluidly coupled to each inlet pipe section 168 or the suction conduit 160. The Model EX-100P2 / 1000P2, in-line analyzer by Advanced Sensors may be used as the oily water sensor 180 in some embodiments. For another example, at least one oily water sensor 180 may be mounted elsewhere in the chamber 60. A commercial example of an oily water sensor 180 that may be mounted elsewhere in the chamber 60 in various embodiments is the Model EX-100M / 1000M side stream analyzer by Advanced Sensors.[000285] If desired, the debris recovery system 58 may be configured so that each internal sensor 178 may communicate with at least one electronic controller or computer-based control system (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140), such as for the internal sensor 178 to provide signals indicating the presence, absence, location, volume, density or other characteristic of debris (e.g., oil) or water in any desired part of the vessel 10 (e.g., entering the intake opening 102, in a chamber 60, in the sea water entering an associated suction inlet 164, etc.). In some embodiments, based at least partially upon information received from one or more internalsensor 178, the controller 688 may signal one or more pumps (e.g., pumps 184, 370, 376, 380, described elsewhere herein) to turn on, off, slow down or speed up, or change the state of any other components (e.g., IFR’s 140, adjustable-position flotation tanks 85, Figure 107 & 108), modify one or more other controllable variables (discussed below), notify the operator of a particular condition, sound an alarm, communicate with one or more internal sensors 178, external sensors 694 (e.g., Figure 139) and / or other components, for any other purposes or a combination thereof.[000286] Referring back to Figure 1, the fluid removal system 158 may deliver the fluid removed from the cargo compartments 60 to one or more desired destinations in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the suction conduit 160 discharges fluid (e.g., water) from the cargo compartments 60 into the body of water 30 via at least one discharge outlet, or opening, 181 (e.g., disposed aft of the rear cargo compartment 64). The discharge outlets 181 may have any suitable form, configuration, location and operation. For example, the discharge opening 181 may be disposed on one or the other side 46, 48 of the vessel 10, both sides 46, 48 or other location(s) around (or spaced away from) the vessel 10 and fluidly communicate with one or more circulation pumps 184 (described below), suction conduits 160 or other components, such as via one or more discharge pipe sections 182. In the illustrated embodiment, at least one discharge pipe section 182 extends laterally from each side of the suction conduit 160 toward a distinct discharge opening 181 on the left or right side 46, 48 of the vessel 10, respectively.[000287] If desired, the fluid removal system 158 may include one or more circulation pumps 184 configured to assist in drawing debris (e.g., and water) into the intake opening(s) 102 of the vessel 10 from the body of water 30, drawing fluid (e.g., sea water) from one or more cargo compartments 60 (e.g., and discharging it off the vessel 10), for any other purposes or a combination thereof. For example, the circulation pump(s) 184 may provide “active” removal of fluid from the cargo compartments 60, such as to expedite the debris recoveryoperation, eliminate the need to move the vessel 10 through the debris field 36 (e.g., continuously) during debris recovery operations, for any other desired purpose(s) or a combination thereof. A circulation pump 184 that provides suction in and / or removes fluid from one or more cargo compartments 60 may be referred to herein (and other patents and patent applications owned by the Assignee hereof) as a suction pump, discharge pumps, water discharge pump and the like and variations thereof. Thus, the terms “circulation pump”, “discharge pump”, “suction pump” and variations thereof are used interchangeably herein.[000288] The circulation pump 184 may have any suitable form, configuration, location, operation and purpose. In many embodiments, a distinct circulation pump 184 is fluidly coupled to the discharge pipe section(s) 182 on each side of the suction conduit 160 and configured to create suction in the fluid removal system 158 to draw liquid and debris into the vessel 10 from the body of water 30 (e.g., at the inlet opening(s) 102) and from one or more cargo compartments 60 (e.g., through the suction conduit 160 and out the associated discharge opening(s) 181 ). The circulation pump 184 may, for example, be any suitable (e.g., centrifugal) pump capable of providing sufficient suction on one of its sides to draw debris into the vessel 10 and / or draw water out of one or more cargo compartments 60 (e.g., into the suction conduit 160 and discharge it through the associated discharge opening(s) 181). One commercial example suction pump 184 that may be useful in some embodiments is the Model 3498 double suction pump by Goulds Pumps®.[000289] In other embodiments, the suction pump(s) 184 may be fluidly coupled directly to the suction conduit 160, or directly to the chamber 60 or other area (in which case the suction inlet 164 may be at the pump 184 (e.g., Figure 52)). In some cases, one or more banks or any desired configuration of multiple circulation pumps 184 (e.g., two banks of five or six pumps each, or more or less) may be provided, such as to enhance the ability to control fluid removal during debris recovery operations, provide greater flexibility in fluid removal, reduce thepotential for negative consequences caused by pump failure during operations, one or more other purposes, or a combination thereof. However, various embodiments may not include any circulation pumps 184 or the circulation pumps 184 may have any other form and configuration or be located off the vessel 10.[000290] Still referring to Figure 1, if desired, the fluid removal system 158 may include one or more fluid valves 188 to seal off the suction conduit 160 and / or or other components of the fluid removal system 158. The valve(s) 188 may have any suitable form, configuration, location and operation and purpose. In various embodiments, one or more valves 188 is provided proximate to each discharge opening 181 to seal off the aft end of the suction conduit 160 and related components from the body of water 30 when the fluid removal system 158 is not in operation, during transit and / or after the cargo compartments 60 have been at least partially filled with debris. For example, a valve 188 is shown fluidly coupled to the discharge pipe section 182 between each discharge opening 181 and adjacent circulation pump 184. Any suitable type of fluid valve 188 may be used, such as the Class 123, iron body, gate-type valves having an outside screw and yoke with a rising stem by Crane Co. If desired, the valves 188 may be remotely actuated, such as via an electronic controller or computer-based control system (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140).[000291] However, the fluid removal system 158 may include any other desired components, configuration and operation. For example, the fluid removal system 158 may include multiple main suctions conduits 160. For another example, the suction conduit(s) 160 may not extend lengthwise through all the cargo compartments 60 and / or may discharge liquid at one or more intermediate locations on the vessel 10. For still a further example, the suction conduit(s) 160 may deliver the drained liquid to any other desired destination (e.g., into another one or more compartments and / or other container(s) on the vessel 10, or to another vessel, such as via one or more hoses, etc.). In some embodiments, the fluid removal system 158 may onlyinclude one or more circulation pumps 184. For yet another example, the fluid removal system158 may not include any suction conduits 160 (or other components described above) and may remove liquid from only one or any combination of compartments, chambers or other locations on the vessel 10. Thus the location, components and operation of the fluid removal systems 158 are not limiting upon the present patent and its claims or claims of any patents related hereto, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000292] Still referring to Figure 1 , the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may include at least one at least partially floating, elongated, boom 190 disposed proximate to the intake opening(s) 102 or front end 42 of the vessel 10. In some embodiments, the boom(s) 190 may be useful, for example, to encourage liquid to flow into the front cargo compartment 62 (or in some embodiments the only chamber 60) from the body of water 30 and, in particular, to ultimately effectively funnel, or corral, the top layer(s) of liquid (e.g., oil and oily water) and / or other floating debris, for entry into the vessel 10. Any desired number, type, configuration and construction of booms 190 may be included, and the boom(s) 190 may have any suitable location and operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the debris recovery system 58 includes first and second elongated booms 192, 194 configured to be movable between at least one stowed position and at least one deployed position. In the stowed position, the exemplary booms 192, 194 are positioned adjacent to the front end 42 of the vessel 10, such as shown in shadow in Figure 1. In other embodiments, the boom(s) 190 in the stowed position may be positioned at least partially on the front end 42 of the vessel 10, such as atop the recessed front deck 56. In yet other embodiments, the boom(s) 190 may not be stowed on the vessel 10.[000293] In at least one deployed position, the exemplary booms 190 extend angularly outwardly from the vessel 10 away from the front end 42, the first elongated boom 192 beingcloser to the left side 46 of the vessel 10 and the second elongated boom 194 being closer to the right side 48 of the vessel 10. For example, the booms 192, 194 may extend out into the body of water at an approximate 45 degree angle relative to the longitudinal centerline of the vessel 10. In many embodiments, the deployed positions of the booms 190 are useful to form an overall generally, funnel shape forward of the vessel 10 to allow or encourage floating liquid and debris, to flow or funnel into the front cargo compartment 62 during debris recovery operations. If desired, one or more cables or other connectors may be coupled between each boom 190 and the vessel 10, such as to provide support for the boom 190 in the deployed position(s), maintain the position of the boom 190 in the deployed position, prevent the boom 190 from moving back towards the vessel 10 from the deployed position, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. For example, multiple cables or other connectors may extend between the vessel 10 and each boom 190 at different locations along the length of the boom 190.[000294] The elongated boom(s) 190 may be movable between at least one stowed and at least one deployed position in any suitable manner. Referring to Figures 21 & 22, each exemplary boom 190 may be pivotably engaged with the vessel 10. For example, the boom 190 may be secured to a vertical pipe, or pin, 196, such as with one or more cross pins 197 extending transversely through the boom 190 and vertical pipe 196. The illustrated cross pin 197 allows the concurrent movement of the boom 190 and vertical pin 196. The exemplary vertical pin 196 is rotatable within holes 198 formed in at least one upper bracket 200 and at least one lower bracket 202 extending from, or coupled to, the vessel 10. The vertical pin 196 may be prevented from sliding out of the holes 198 in any suitable manner, such as with upper and lower locking pins 204, 206 extending transversely through the vertical pin 196 above and below the upper and lower brackets 200, 202, respectively. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this arrangement for moving the elongated boom(s) 190 between at least onestowed and at least one deployed position. For example, in some embodiments, one or more hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, cables, winches or other components may be used to move booms 190 between stowed and deployed positions. Other embodiments may use one or more booms 190 that are not deployed from or coupled to the vessel 10.[000295] If desired, the boom 190 may be configured to be moveable into and secured in more than one distinct deployed position. This may be desirable, for example, to form a wider or narrow outer reach of multiple booms 190, or any other purpose. Any suitable mechanism(s) may be used to provide multiple distinct deployed positions of the boom(s) 190. For example, the vertical pin 196 may be engaged with a ratchet- like mechanism to secure the boom 190 in multiple deployed positions. If desired, the movement of the boom(s) 190 between at least one stowed and at least one deployed position may be automated and / or automatically controlled, such as with an electronic controller or computer-based control system (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140).[000296] Still referring to Figures 21 & 22, each exemplary elongated boom 190 may be movable vertically relative to the vessel 10 during operations and / or include multiple articulating boom sections 210 to allow the boom 190 to follow or respond to the action of waves in body of water 30, reduce the potentially damaging forces places upon the boom 190 and / or connecting components (e.g., vertical pin 196, locking pins 204, 206, brackets 200, 202) during extreme or near extreme sea conditions, maintain a desired position of the boom 190 in the body of water 30, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. These features may be useful, for example, to enhance the flexibility and capabilities of the vessel 10 and debris recovery system 58 to operate in typical deep sea conditions and not have to wait for the debris field to move close to shore.[000297] Each boom 190 may be vertically moveable relative to the vessel 10 in any suitable manner. For example, the vertical pin 196 may be movable up and down relative tothe upper and lower brackets 200, 202 within a desired range of motion. In various embodiments, the vertical pin 196 is movable up and down relative to the upper and lower brackets 200, 202 a desired distance 208. For example, if the distance 208 is approximately three feet (3’), the boom 190 and connected vertical pin 196 may move as much as approximately three feet (3’) up and down relative to the brackets 200, 202 and vessel 10.[000298] Still referring to Figures 21 & 22, each exemplary boom 190 includes multiple, interconnected, articulating boom sections 210 that are moveable relative to one another during debris recovery operations. While the illustrated embodiment includes two articulating boom sections 210, other embodiments may include three, four, five, size or more boom sections 210. The boom sections 210 being moveable relative to one another in any suitable manner. For example, the illustrated boom sections 210 are pivotably coupled together to allow each of them to move up and down relative to one other when the boom 190 is in one or more deployed positions. Adjacent boom sections 110 may be connected with at least one hinge pin 212 extending transversely between them and allowing their relative up and down movement. In other embodiments, the boom sections 210 may also, or instead, be moveable side to side relative to one another.[000299] Still referring to the embodiment of Figures 21 & 22, each exemplary elongated boom 190 may have an overall curved, straight or varied-shaped outer profile. For example, the boom 190 may be formed in a hollow box-beam configuration with one or more top plates220, bottom plates 221, inner side plates 222, outer side plates 224 and end cap plates 226. If desired, one or more stiffener plates 228 may be provided within the boom 190, such as to add stiffness and structural support to the boom 190. The exemplary stiffener plates 228 are shown extending between the side plates 222, 224, but could also or instead be provided between the top and bottom plates 221 or oriented in a different configuration. The exemplary plates 220,221, 222 and 224 and stiffener plates 228 are constructed of any suitable material, such as steel.However, the boom 190 may have any other suitable construction.[000300] If desired, one or more flexible, fluidly impermeable covers 230 may be coupled to the boom 190 over the cross pin 197 and / or hinge pin(s) 212. This may be useful in some embodiments, for example, to prevent floating liquid (e.g., oil) and debris, from escaping from inside the funnel area caused by the boom(s) 190 through the boom 190 at the location of the cross pin 197 and hinge pin(s) 212. The flexible cover 230 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and operation. For example, the flexible covers 230 may be flaps, sheets or other arrangements of heavy, flexible neoprene rubber. In certain embodiments, each flexible cover 230 is coupled to the boom 190 only on one side of the respective cross pin 197 or hinge pin 212 to allow the remainder of the cover 230 to slide relative to the boom 190 during shifting or movement of the boom 190 or articulating section(s) 210 during operations. For example, the cover 230 disposed over the cross pin 197 may be coupled to the boom 190 forward of the cross pin 197, and the cover 230 disposed over each hinge pin 212 may be coupled to the adjacent boom section 210 forward of the hinge pin 212. In other embodiments, the cover 230 may instead be coupled to the boom 190 or other component on both respective sides of the cross pin 197 and / or hinge pins 212. For example, the cover 230 may have a pleated, or accordion- like, configuration and be coupled to both sides of the boom 190 or boom sections 210 so that it gives, or bends along with the boom 190 and / or boom sections 210.[000301] Referring back to Figures 1 & 3, in some embodiments, the vessel 10 may be arranged and ballasted so that its front end 42 and / or the boom(s) 190, if included), are at least partially submerged in sea water during debris recovery operations. In some circumstances, this may be beneficial to provide the desired rate and / or flow of liquid into the cargo compartments 60, encourage the top layer of liquid (e.g., oil) and other floating debris to enter the cargo compartments 60 from the body of water 30 other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. For example, in certain configurations, the vessel 10 may be configured so that whenthe vessel 10 is submerged to its desired height in the body of water 30 for debris collection(e.g., its load line), the recessed front deck 56 is at least partially submerged and the booms 192, 194 and openings 100 in the front vertical wall 92 are partially submerged so that the top layer(s) on the surface 32 of the body of water 30 can wash across the recessed front deck 56 and flow directly into those openings 100. For example, the vessel 10 may be arranged and ballasted so that the booms 190 and the openings 100 in the front vertical wall 92 are submerged up to approximately P2 their respective heights. Thus, if the booms 190 and the openings 100 in the front vertical wall 92 each have a height of approximately six feet (6’) for example, the vessel 10 may be positioned in the body of water so the boom 190 and openings 100 are each submerged approximately three feet (3’). However, any other desired arrangement may be used.[000302] An exemplary method of removing debris from a body of water 30 in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described. Referring to Figures 1 & 2, the cargo compartments 60 of the exemplary debris recovery vessel 10 are initially at least substantially filled with water in any suitable manner. If desired, the cargo compartments 60 may be flooded with sea water 38 before the vessel reaches the debris field 36. For example, all the gates 110 could be moved into a fully open position to allow the cargo compartments 60 to free-flood with sea water 38. Also, if desired, the free-flooding of the cargo compartments 60 could be performed during the forward movement of the vessel 10 in the direction of arrow 16 (Figure 2), such as to flood, or assist in expediting flooding of, the compartments 60. Preferably, the valves 174 are closed during free-flooding of the cargo compartments 60. However, it may be possible to temporarily open the valves 174 and even turn on one or more circulation pumps 184 to fill the compartments 60 with sea water. The vessel 10 may be arranged and ballasted so that flooding the cargo compartments 60 will submerge the vessel 10 to a desired height in the body of water 30 for debris collection (e.g.,its load line), such as described elsewhere herein.[000303] In some embodiments, after the exemplary cargo compartments 60 are at least substantially filled with water, the vessel 10 may be moved to the debris field 36. In other instances, the vessel 10 may be delivered (e.g., dropped by crane) to the debris collection area 30 with cargo compartment(s) 60 empty or not substantially filled with water. At the desired location, one or more exemplary booms 190, when included, may be moved to a deployed position, such as described above. However, the boom(s) 190 may be moved into a deployed position at an earlier or later time.[000304] Still referring to the embodiment of Figures 1 & 2, once at the debris field 36 or debris collection area 30, while all of the exemplary gates 110 are in an open position, sea water is removed from the rear cargo compartment 64. For example, one or more of the valves 188 may be opened and all of the valves 174, except those in the rear cargo compartment 64, are closed. The exemplary valves 174 in the rear cargo compartment 64 may be opened to remove sea water from the lower end 76 of the rear cargo compartment 64 (e.g., into the suction conduit 160 and out one or more discharge openings 181 in the path of arrows 240 (Figure 2)). If desired, one or more circulation pumps 184 may be turned on, such as to provide active suction and pumping of the sea water off the vessel 10.[000305] Still referring to Figures 1 & 2, as sea water is removed from the lower end 76 of the exemplary rear cargo compartment 64, debris (typically with sea water) is simultaneously drawn into (e.g., by suction of the circulation pump(s) 184) or enters the front cargo compartment 62 through the openings 100 in the front vertical wall 92. Although it is impossible to forecast the actual makeup of the liquid entering those openings 100 at any specific point in time, the exemplary debris recovery system 58 is configured so that primarily the debris and liquid on and near the surface 32 of the body of water 30 (e.g., oil and some oilywater) should enter the front cargo compartment 62, as shown by flow arrow 242 in Figures 2 & 11.[000306] Since the exemplary intermediate cargo compartments 66, 68, 70 and 72 are substantially full of sea water, as the lower end 76 of the rear cargo compartment 64 is being emptied of sea water, the upper layer(s) of liquid (e.g., oil and some oily water) and other floating debris 40 entering the front cargo compartment 62 is preferably drawn across the surface of the sea water in the intermediate cargo compartments 66, 68, 70 and 72 through the openings 100 in each successive vertical wall 90 and ultimately into the rear cargo compartment 64, such as shown with flow arrows 244 in Figure 12. If one or more exemplary wave dampeners 140 (e.g., Figures 11 & 13) are included in one or more of the cargo compartments 60, the wave dampener(s) 140 may assist in encouraging primarily floating debris to enter the chamber 60 through one or more openings 100 (e.g., in the front and subsequent cargo compartments 62, 66, 68, 72 and 64), reduce wave action and turbulence of liquid entering each compartment 60, help maintain a steady flow of liquid through the openings 100 other desired purpose(s) or a combination thereof. As sea water continues to be drawn down through the exemplary rear cargo compartment 64, it is expected that at least some of the oil (and / or other debris) in the water therein will separate and float on top of the sea water, further separating the debris from the sea water therein.[000307] Referring now to Figures 12 & 14, when substantially all of the sea water in the exemplary rear cargo compartment 64 is removed, that compartment 64 is fluidly isolated as desired. For example, the compartment 64 may be fluidly isolated from the fluid removal system 158 and the other compartments 60, such as by closing the valves 174 in the cargo compartment 64 and the gate(s) 110 associated with the openings 100 that lead into that compartment 64. In some embodiments, the cargo compartment 64 may be fluidly isolated when it is substantially full of debris. For example, this may occur when one or more internalsensors 178, such as the oily water sensors 180 (e.g., Figure 20), indicate the presence of some or a particular amount of debris in the exiting sea water (e.g., at one or more particular locations).[000308] In many embodiments, to continue the debris recovery operations, the above process as performed with respect to the rear cargo compartment 64 can be repeated for each successive aft-most chamber 60. For example, referring to Figure 14, the valve(s) 174 in the next cargo compartment 72 may be opened to allow sea water to be removed from the lower end 76 of that compartment 72 in the path of arrows 240. Substantially simultaneously, principally floating debris some water preferably enters into the upper end 74 of, and fills, that cargo compartment 72, such as shown with flow arrows 244. When substantially all sea water in that exemplary cargo compartment 72 is removed (e.g., Figure 15), that compartment 72 may be fluidly isolated. For example, the compartment 72 may be fluidly isolated at least from the remaining forward cargo compartments 60 which still contain sea water, or fluidly isolated similarly as described above with respect to cargo compartment 64, such as by closing the valves 174 in that cargo compartment 72 and the gate(s) 110 associated with the openings 100 that lead into that compartment 72.[000309] If desired, the above exemplary process may then be repeated for cargo compartment 70 (e.g., Figures 15 & 16) by opening the valves 174 therein to allow sea water to be removed from the lower end 76 of that compartment 70 in the path of arrows 240. Substantially simultaneously, principally debris and some water preferably enter into the upper end 74 of, and fills, that cargo compartment 70, such as shown with flow arrows 244 (Figure 15). When substantially all sea water in that cargo compartment 70 is removed (Figure 16), it may be fluidly isolated, such as described above. The above process may then be repeated for cargo compartment 68 (e.g., Figures 16 & 17), then cargo compartment 66 (e.g., Figures 17 & 18) and finally cargo compartment 62 (e.g., Figure 18). If desired, one or more cargocompartments 60 may be skipped in the process by fluidly isolating that compartment 60 (and the other more rearward cargo compartments 60), such as described above. If debris collection continues, when substantially all sea water in the exemplary front cargo compartment 62 is removed, it may be fluidly isolated, such as described above. It should be noted that the above process can be used with embodiments having any number (e.g., 2, 3, 4, etc.), form and configuration of cargo compartments 60. Thus, the methods of debris recovery of present disclosure are not limited by the number, form and configuration of cargo compartments 60. [000310] In accordance with many embodiments, debris 34 is separated from sea water 38 and collected as it moves across, or is collected in, the vessel 10 and / or as sea water 38 is discharged from the vessel 10 so that large amounts of floating debris (e.g., oil) may be relatively quickly collected and removed from practically any body of water 30. Debris 34 can thus be separated from sea water 38 and collected as it moves across or in the vessel 10 and / or as sea water 38 is discharged from the vessel 10 so that large amounts of floating debris (e.g., oil) may be relatively quickly collected and removed from practically any body of water 30.[000311] Referring back to Figures 1 & 2, as the exemplary cargo compartments 60 are being emptied of sea water and at least partially filled with debris, if desired, liquid may be added to or removed from one or more of the other compartments 80, 84, 86, 88 in the vessel 10, such as to maintain the desired height of the vessel 10 in the body of water 30 (e.g., for debris collection). For example, sea water may be added to and removed from one or more of the ballast tanks 80 on either, or both sides, of the vessel 10 as needed throughout the above debris recovery operations to maintain or refine the height of the vessel 10 in the body of water 30.[000312] In some situations, the vessel 10 may be moved in a forward direction (e.g., arrow 16, Figure 2) through the debris field 36 at any desired speed, or at varying speeds, throughout, or at certain times, during the debris recovery operations. This may be desirable,for example, for strategic positioning of the front end 42 of the vessel 10 relative to the debris field or oil spill area 36 (e.g., like moving a vacuum cleaner over a dirty rug) as the circulation pump(s) 184 actively move liquid through the fluid removal system 158 as described above, to urge or assist in directing preferably floating debris and some water into the front cargo compartment 62 and through the other compartments 60, thus enhancing the active flow action caused by the circulation pump(s) 184, to cause the passive flow of liquid through the fluid removal system 158 when the circulation pumps 184 are not used, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In various embodiments, the vessel 10 may be eased through the debris field 36 in the forward direction at a steady, slow speed during debris recovery operations. However, forward movement of the vessel 10 is not necessary in all embodiments.[000313] Also, during the debris recovery operations, if desired, the position of one or more of the exemplary open gates 110 may be varied as needed to affect or control the flow of liquid into the cargo compartments 60. For example, one or more of the gates 110 may be moved into one or another partially open position, such as to provide the optimal flow rate and / or liquid content (e.g., primarily oil or other floating debris) of the flowing liquid. If desired, the height of any of the open gates 110 relative to their associated openings 100 may be dynamically adjusted during debris recovery operations, such as via an electronic controller or computer-based control system (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140). One or more variables, such as the weight, density and viscosity of the oil and / or other debris, substances or material in the sea water, may affect and be considered in varying the position of one or more gates 110 to achieve a desired flow rate and / or content of the liquid passing through the openings 100.[000314] Still referring to Figures 1 & 2, when debris recovery operations are completed, the exemplary fluid removal system 158 and all the cargo compartments 60 may be fluidly isolated from the body of water 30. For example, all the gates 110 and all valves 174, 188 may be closed and the circulation pumps 184 turned off. If desired, all the gates 110 and / or cargocompartments 60 may be substantially sealed. In some embodiments, all the gates 110 and / or cargo compartments 60 may be completely (100%) sealed. The exemplary elongated boom(s) 190 may be moved to a stowed position and the vessel 10 transported to a desired location for offloading the contents (preferably primarily debris) in the cargo compartments 60. If desired, one or more other compartments on the vessel, such as the ballast tanks 80, may be emptied, such as to raise the height of the vessel 10 in the body of water 30 as it leaves the debris field 36. This may be desirable, for example, to minimize further debris (e.g., oil) contamination of the exterior surface of the side shell of the vessel 10 and / or allow cleaning / removal of any debris (e.g., oil) adhered thereto.[000315] The contents of the exemplary cargo compartments 60 may be offloaded in any suitable manner. For example, the contents of the cargo compartments 60 may be offloaded to containers on one or more other vessels or onshore. In some embodiments, the debris (and some water) may be offloaded through the openings 100 or other openings (not shown) in the cargo compartments 60, such as via one or more hoses or other components. In other embodiments, the debris (and some water) may be offloaded through the debris recovery system 58 (e.g., the fluid removal system 158). If desired, the tug 14 used with a first exemplary vessel 10 as described above may be used to take a second similar vessel 10 to the debris field 36 to recover debris while the first vessel 10 is being offloaded, and so on.[000316] It should be noted that variations of the embodiments of Figures 1-22 may include more, fewer or different components, features and capabilities as those described or shown herein. Further, any of the details, features, components, variations and capabilities of other embodiments discussed or shown in this patent or as may be apparent from the description and drawings hereof, are applicable to the embodiments of Figures 1-22, except and only to the extent they may be incompatible with any features, details, components, variations or capabilities of the embodiments of Figures 1-22. Accordingly, other than withrespect to any such exceptions, all of the details and description provided in this patent with respect to the other embodiments or as may be shown in the appended drawings relating thereto or which may be apparent therefrom, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties with respect to the embodiments of Figures 1-22.[000317] Referring now to Figures 23-40, the debris recovery system 58 of the vessel 10 (e.g., barge 12) may include a single chamber 60 (e.g., front cargo compartment 62). As shown in Figure 24, one exemplary opening 100 (e.g., intake opening 102) is provided in or proximate to the front bulkhead 92 to allow water and debris to enter the exemplary chamber 60 from the body of water 30. In this instance, the intake opening 102 is shown extending upwardly from the recessed front deck 56 with no upper boundary and generally across the width of the chamber 60. Thus, the upper end 74 of the exemplary chamber 60 at the front end 42 of the vessel 10 is essentially open to allow debris 34 and probably some water 38 to wash, or flow, from the body of water 30 across or over the recessed front deck 56 and into the chamber 60. However, the debris recovery system 58 may instead include more than one chamber 60 and / or intake opening 102, and the intake opening(s) 102 may have any other desired configuration and location(s).[000318] To illustrate that the debris recovery system 58 may be configured to recover a wide (potentially unlimited) variety and size of debris, the debris shown being recovered includes both small-sized and large-sized debris 40, 41. Thus, the debris recovery system 58 is not limited by type of debris or contaminants being collected, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000319] As shown in Figures 23 & 25, the exemplary debris recovery system 58 includes a fluid removal system 158 configured to allow the drainage of sea water 38 from the chamber 60 (e.g., at its lower end 76) and, at the same time, to draw in debris (and often some water)from the body of water 30 to at least partially fill the chamber 60, such as described elsewhere herein. In this embodiment, the fluid removal system 158 is shown including two sets of suction conduits 160 drawing water from the same (e.g., single) chamber 60, along with associated circulation pumps 184 (having one or more associated motors 186, such as hydraulic motors driven by a diesel engine), discharge pipe sections 182, discharge openings 181, valves and other components such described elsewhere herein. However, any other arrangement of parts could be used (e.g., only one, more than two or no suction conduits 160).[000320] Referring to Figures 23-25, during use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58, at least one circulation pump 184 will create suction to concurrently (i) draw debris (and probably some water) from the body of water 30, through the intake opening 102, over the IFR(s) 140 (when included) and into the chamber 60 and (ii) draw water 38 from the chamber 60 into the associated suction conduit(s) 160 (e.g., and eject it from the vessel 10). When IFRs 140 are included, the suction created by the exemplary circulation pump(s) 184 may at least slightly lower the liquid level rearward of the IFR 140 relative to the liquid level forward of the IFR 140 causing the liquid forward of the IFR 140 to move rearward, typically increasing the volume and cascading movement (rushing) of various types of small-sized debris over the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 and utilizing any cohesive properties (intermolecular attractive forces) of the debris (e.g., oil) to rapidly draw the debris in (e.g., capturing all or virtually all of the debris 34 in the debris field 36).[000321] Generally, in many embodiments, the less water 38 that is drawn into the debris recovery system 58 from the body of water 30 during debris collection operations in a debris field 36, the quicker and greater the volume of the debris 34 that can be ingested, along with other potential benefits, such as less emulsification, more space onboard for debris, more efficient, effective, extensive and quicker debris collection. Likewise, the more debris 34 that is taken in from the body of water 30 can often provide any or all the same benefits. Theseobjective can often be achieved, for example, by limiting inflow from the body of water 30 to the uppermost layer(s) of the body of water 30 (where the floating debris resides) as much as possible.[000322] Referring to Figure 23, in accordance with an independent aspect of the present disclosure, one way to help regulate or limit ingestion to the uppermost layer(s) of the body of water 30 (where the debris is) may be to spread-out the intake surface area via a long front edge(s) 142 of the IFR(s) 140 and / or or long intake opening(s) 102. For example, the front edge(s) 142 of the IFR(s) 140 and / or length of the intake opening(s) may extending at least substantially across the entire width of the chamber 60, inflow chamber 310 or other area of the vessel (or to some desired lesser extent). In some instances, expanding, or spreading out, the intake surface area during debris recovery can effectively spread out, and thus generally decrease, the pulling forces of the suction pressure of the system 58 along the intake. Reducing the pulling forces at any point can reduce the depth or thickness of water / debris being sucked in from the body of water 30 at each point, often resulting in less water drawn in (e.g., when the top layer(s) is mostly or all debris). At the same time, spreading the intake across a wider or longer area may expand the reach for ingesting more of the top layers (e.g., mostly debris), helping optimize debris recovery.[000323] Referring to Figures 23 & 24, another feature to potentially help regulate or limit ingestion to the uppermost layer(s) of the body of water 30 is by providing a continuous and / or consistent front edge 142 of the IFR(s) 140 across an intake opening 102 (or continuous and / or consistent front edge of the intake opening 102 when no IFRs 140 are included). Continuity and consistency in such front edge(s) may remove at least some variability in the rate and volume (and thus depth and makeup) of water / debris that flows thereover. For example, in some instances, a single IFR 140 extending across an entire intake opening 102 (e.g., from wall to wall) can provide one continuous and consistent front edge 142, whereas theinclusion of one or more gaps between the IFR(s) 140 and any side wall(s), or two adjacent, side-by-side IFRs 140 each extending across part of the width of the intake opening 102, may provide undesirable variability in the rate and volume (depth and makeup) of the intake. Accordingly, in various embodiments, the use of a single IFR 140 (e.g., extending wall to wall) across an intake opening 102 can help optimize debris recovery. These features (of this and the preceding paragraph, independently and collectively) are sometimes referred to herein as “inflow optimization” and can be applied, as desired, to any embodiments of the present disclosure.[000324] Referring now to Figures 23-25, the debris recovery system 58 may include a single at least partially buoyant IFR 140 configured to be positionable to at least substantially (i) regulate, or limit, the inflow of debris (and typically some water) into the chamber 60 from the body of water 30 to that debris (and maybe some water) which is disposed at or near the surface 32 of the body of water 30 and which passes through the intake opening 102 over the IFR 140 during use of the debris recovery system 58, (ii) dampen or reduce the size of, or turbulence caused by, waves in the liquid passing through the opening(s) 100, (iii) maintain a steady flow of debris / water through the opening(s) 100, (iv) take advantage of the cohesive properties (intermolecular attractive forces) of the debris (e.g., oil) to rapidly draw in all or virtually all of the debris in the debris field, (v) for any other desired purpose(s) or (vi) a combination thereof. In other embodiments, more than one IFR 140 may be used (e.g., side- by-side and / or one forward of another or any other configuration) to achieve the same or different objectives.[000325] Referring to Figure 29, in another aspect, the exemplary IFR 140 may be configured to at least substantially regulate, or limit, inflow into the chamber 60 to debris (and water) that passes over the IFR 140 and disposed at or near (or comes from) the surface 32 of the body of water 30 by providing resistance to the water / debris passing through the opening100, constraining the amount of water / debris able to pass into the compartment 60 to the top layer(s) (e.g., the least dense or most buoyant liquid / debris) moving through the intake opening 102. This is sometimes referred to herein and in the appended claims as the “intake resistance”, “ability to constrain the inflow of fluid / debris into the cargo compartment(s) 60” and variations thereof.[000326] In many embodiments, the (e.g., ideal) intake resistance and / or suction of one or more circulation pumps 184 may cause debris (e.g., oil) to rush or cascade over the front edge 142 of the exemplary IFR 140 and into the chamber 60. In the case of oil and other debris with similar relevant properties, the exemplary IFR 140 may be configured to benefit from the cohesive property (intermolecular attractive forces) of the debris and / or overcome the adhesion of water and debris, facilitating or encouraging the inflow (and even increased velocity) of mostly, or all, debris and little water. By analogy, the exemplary IFR 140 may be used to act similarly as holding a ladle, or spoon, on the surface of soup having a layer of oil or grease on top and applying downward pressure sufficient to cause or allow (up to the entire volume of) oil or grease to rush or cascade into the ladle or spoon (referred to sometimes herein as the “ladle effect”). In such instances, as small-sized debris is drawn into the exemplary vessel 10, due to the cohesive property of the debris (e.g., oil), the debris passing over the IFR 140 may effectively pull the surrounding debris across the surface 32 of the body of water 30 into the vessel 10 (e.g., potentially pulling an entire congruous area or volume of debris into the vessel 10).[000327] Still referring to Figure 29, when the debris 40 on the surface 32 of the body of water 30 is thin, even as thin as just a sheen, the exemplary IFR 140 may be positioned to cause a very thin layer to pass over the front edge 142 thereof, increasing the volume and cascading movement (rushing, ladle effect) of the debris as it falls over the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 (e.g., due to the cohesive nature of the small-sized debris and conditions caused by the suctionof the circulation pump(s) 184 of at least slightly lowering the water level rearward of theIFR(s) 140 below the water level forward of the IFR(s) 140), which may accelerate the recovery of the small-sized debris and the amount of debris recovered. In fact, the use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may result in recovery of substantially all the small-sized debris on or near the surface of the body of water in the subject debris field(s) 36 or debris collection area 30.[000328] Referring back to Figure 25, in another aspect of many embodiments, the debris recovery system 58 will not at least substantially mix or emulsify the incoming debris and water (e.g., due to the intake resistance and / or wave dampening effect caused by the IFR 140, utilizing one or more controllable variables, provide and / or maintain a liquid-sealed system, such as described below, or other factors), allowing the debris to rise above the water in the chamber 60. Often, the exemplary chamber 60 will contain a defined layer of debris on top of the water and may include an intermediate layer of mixed debris and water.[000329] With various embodiments of the present disclosure, on-board separation of debris and water may be easy, achievable and not overly onerous or time-consuming, allow substantial volumes of (acceptably clean) water to be discharged from vessel 10 (e.g., to the environment) and thus free up more on-board space for debris, allow the ultimate waste collected to have a high ratio of debris to water (e.g., 95 or more parts debris to 1 part water), other benefits or a combination thereof. For example, the less water that is ultimately included with the collected debris (collectively, the “waste”), (i) the more space will be available for collecting and storing the waste, and (ii) the less waste that needs to be stored, transported and dealt with, freeing up more space, effort and expense in storing, handling and treating debris.[000330] Now referring back to Figure 23, depending on the particular type and conditions of use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58, the rate of inflow and volume of incoming debris (and some water), the debris-water ratio entering the vessel 10 and / or theposition, movement and / or intake resistance of each IFR 140 (if included), may be regulated and varied as desired by selectively controlling one or more “controllable” variables. Some potential examples of controllable variables are the (i) height, width and length of the chamber 60 and / or trunk(s) 372 (e.g., Figures 96, 101, 104, 137), which can be predesigned or selectively adjustable (e.g., with one or more removable portions, such as the extension 662, Figure 131), (ii) direction and speed of movement of the vessel 10, (hi) buoyancy of one or more IFRs 140 and / or use of one or more IFR variable buoyancy mechanisms (such as described below), (iv) activity, such as the amount of suction, within the chamber 60 or other part of the vessel (e.g., varying suction with the use of one or more variable speed circulation pumps 184 and / or multiple circulation pumps 184, manipulating one or more of valves (e.g., valves 174, 188) in the fluid removal system 158), (v) off-loading of debris from the vessel 10 (e.g., through one or more debris pumps 380, Figure 41, 52, 85, 104, 138), or a combination thereof. Depending upon the particular embodiment of the debris recovery system 58 and conditions of use thereof, any one or more of the controllable variables may be evaluated and / or varied as desired (e.g., in real-time, on an ongoing basis, automated with the use of one or more electronic controllers (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140)).[000331] Jumping briefly to Figures 110 & 111, in certain embodiments, selectively varying the cross-sectional surface area of one or more portions of the flow path of debris between the intake opening(s) 102 and collection chamber 60 (and / or circulation pump inlet 164) may be a controllable variable. This may be desirable in some situations, to increase or decrease the velocity of incoming debris 34 and / or for any other purposes. For example, when incoming debris particles 40 are heavier or larger (e.g., beads) than floating oil or other liquids or substances, it may be beneficial to increase velocity to help them make it to the chamber 60(e.g., without stopping or clogging-up along the way).[000332] The cross-sectional surface area of one or more portions of the flow path of debris 34 between the intake opening(s) 102 and collection chamber 60 (and / or circulation pump inlet 164) may be varied in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, this may be accomplished when an inflow tunnel 312 (e.g., through which all incoming debris and typically some water must pass) extends at least partially between the intake opening(s) 102 and cargo compartment(s) 60. In the illustrated vessel 10, incoming debris (and possibly also water) passes from the body of water 30, through the intake opening 102, down through the inflow tunnel 312, then through the passageway 100 and into the chamber 60. The exemplary inflow tunnel 312 can also be characterized as the inflow chamber 310, but it could be in, or part of, the inflow chamber 310, passageway(s) 100 or other area. Thus, other than being located at least partially between the intake opening(s) 102 and cargo compartment(s) 60, the precise nature, form and location of inflow tunnel 312 is not limiting upon the present disclosure, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000333] Still referring to Figures 110 & 111, the cross-sectional surface area of one or more portions of the inflow tunnel 312 (or other area) may be selectively varied, for example, by at least partially varying the width of the tunnel 312 along at least part of the tunnel 312. Narrowing at least part of a width of the tunnel 312, or choking down the size of the tunnel 312, may typically increase the velocity of incoming debris 34, whereas expanding the tunnel width may decrease velocity.[000334] The width of at least part of the inflow tunnel 312 can be varied in any suitable manner. For the reader’s convenience, the width of the tunnel 312 extending between front and rear tunnel walls 313, 314 (e.g., vertical wall 90) is referred to herein as the front- to-rear width 315 (Figure 114) and the width 323 between side walls 329 is referred to herein as thelongwise-width 323 (Figure 109). Examples will now be described with respect to the front- to-rear width 315, but could apply similarly to the longwise-width 323. For one example, at least one of the front and rear walls 313, 314 or one or more components associated therewith (e.g., bladders, accordion-portions), may be selectively expandable and retractable in the tunnel 312 to vary the width 315. For another example, one side of the front and / or rear tunnel wall 313, 314 may have one or more protrusions and the wall 313, 314 may be reversible. Upon reversing such wall 313 and / or 314, when facing the side with the protrusion(s) into the tunnel 312, the protrusions will occupy space in the tunnel 312 not occupied when the other side faced into the tunnel 312. For yet further examples, one or both walls 313, 314 may be selective moveable into and out of the width 315 to narrow and widen the tunnel 312, or may be entirely switched out with a replacement wall 313, 314 having a different thickness.[000335] Referring again to Figures 110 & 111, for still another example, one or more spacers 324 may be selectively provided into and removed from the inflow tunnel 312 to vary its width. The spacer(s) 324 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction, components and operation. In some embodiments, the spacer 324 may be a block of material(s) that is neutrally-buoyant so it does not affect the attitude, position or buoyancy of the vessel 10. For another example, the spacer 324 may be constructed of aluminum, plastic, other material having a weight at or close to water, and / or any other suitable material(s).[000336] Likewise, the spacer(s) 324 may have any desired size (e.g., length, width and thickness) and location. For example, the spacers 324 may extend across substantially the entire length 327 (Figure 114) and longwise-width 323 of the inflow tunnel 312 (Figure 109) or some lesser amount. In the embodiment of Figures 110 & 111, the spacers 324 extend across the entire longwise-width of the inflow tunnel 213 and most of its length 327. If desired, different sized spacers 324 may be available to provide different options. For example, a first spacer 324a may have a first thickness 326a (e.g., 2”) and a second spacer 324b a differentthickness 326b (e.g., 3”). However, the spacers 324 may have any other thickness (e.g., 1”, 4”, etc.) and other dimensions. In some instances, the spacer 324 may have one or more tapered ends 325, such as to assist in providing the desired flow of incoming debris (and some water), avoid contact with the IFR 140 or other components, for any other purposes or a combination thereof.[000337] Still referring again to Figures 110 & 111, the spacers 324, when included, may be provided in the inflow tunnel 312 (or other area in the vessel 10) in any suitable manner. For example, the spacers 324 may have a mateable connection (e.g., snaps, sliding connectors) with one or both walls 313, 314 or be clipped, hung or otherwise removably engaged (e.g., pins, bolts, etc.) therewith. Thus, the mechanisms and techniques for providing the spacers 324 in the inflow tunnel 312 (or other location) are not limiting upon the present disclosure, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000338] Now back to Figure 23, one or more “non-controllable” variables that can influence the rate of inflow or volume of incoming debris (and some water) and the debriswater ratio entering the chamber 60 or other part of the vessel 10 and / or the position (and movement) of each IFR 140 and its intake resistance may be factored in (e.g., in real-time, on an ongoing basis, automated with the use of one or more electronic controllers, etc.) when deciding on the manipulation or use of one or more controllable variables. Some potential examples of non-controllable variables include environmental factors (e.g., wind, rain, wave action, sea conditions, etc.), the type or nature (e.g., density, viscosity) of liquid in the body of water 30 and / or the chamber 60 (e.g., fresh verses salt water) and the type, thickness, composition and depth of the debris 34 in the body of water 30, as well as the size or varying sizes of debris 34 at the debris field 36 or debris collection area 30, all of which may be changing on occasion or on an ongoing basis during operations.[000339] Referring again to Figures 23-26, in another aspect and as mentioned above, theIFR 140, when included, may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation. Some examples of IFRs 140 are a “pivoting”-type IFR (e.g., Figures 23-34, 40-46) and a “sliding”-type IFR (e.g., Figures 35-39). In this and other embodiments, the IFR 140 is an at least partially buoyant, pivoting-type IFR 140, extends into the chamber 60 across the width of the chamber 60 and is pivotable relative to the vessel 10. For example, the pivotingtype IFR 140 may be pivotably coupled to the vessel 10 proximate to the front end 42 thereof. Referring specifically to Figure 26, the pivoting-type IFR 140, at or near its rear end 140a, may be pivotably coupled to the bulkhead 92, front recessed deck 56 or other portion(s) or component(s) of the vessel 10. The exemplary pivoting-type IFR 140 is thus pivotable relative to the level, or surface, 172 of adjacent liquid / debris in the vessel 10 (e.g., chamber 60), as indicated with arrows 78.[000340] In this embodiment, as well as other embodiments (e.g., Figures 46, 55, 62, 98, 105, 1 14), the debris recovery system 58 is designed so that the rear end 140a of the pivotingtype IFR 140 will be below the surface 32 of the body of water 30 and the surface of debris / water entering the intake opening(s) 102 60 during debris recovery. It should be noted, however, that the pivoting-type IFR 140 may be positioned so that its rear end 140a is not below the surface 32 of the body of water 30 or the surface of debris / water entering the chamber 60, and may be coupled to the vessel 10 in any other desired manner (e.g., not across the entire width of the chamber 60 or other part of the vessel 10) and location.[000341] Still referring to Figure 26, the front end 140b of the illustrated pivoting-type IFR 140 is typically free-moving up and down (e.g., in the chamber 60, arrows 78, see also, Figures 34, 41, 52, 55, 62, 96, 99, 137). In various figures, exemplary pivoting-type IFRs 140 are shown in multiple potential positions (e.g., Figures 25, 30, 35, 38). Furthermore, the pivoting-type IFR 140 is typically sufficiently buoyant so that its front end 140b can float at ornear the internal waterline, or surface, 172 of adjacent water / debris in the vessel 10 (e.g., collection chamber 60, inflow chamber 310 (e.g., Figures 46, 74, 98, 106)) during use of the debris recovery system 58.[000342] Referring now to Figures 27 & 28, the pivoting-type IFR 140 may have any suitable form, configuration, components, construction and operation. For example, the carrier 146 of the IFR 140 may include at least one flat, rigid plate 150 and the float 144 may include at least one buoyancy chamber 152 coupled to the plate 150, such as by welding, connectors (e.g., bolts), etc., proximate to the front end 140b of the IFR 140 to provide the desired buoyancy of the IFR 140 or at another desired location. The plate 150 and buoyancy chamber 152 may be constructed of metal (e.g., aluminum, steel), wood, plastic, any other suitable material or combination thereof. If desired, the carrier 146 may include multiple plates 150, one or more support or frame members (e.g., to provide desired rigidity, sturdiness, durability, etc.), or may be semi-rigid, flexible or pliable, perforated, non- flat, convex or concave or have any other form, configuration and components. The IFR 140 may include multiple side-by- side adjacent sections (e.g., two or more sets of carriers 146 and corresponding floats 144), such as to accommodate or provide flexibility in response to side-by-side rocking or rolling of the vessel 10 and / or for any other purposes.[000343] In some embodiments, the pivoting-type IFR 140 may not include any separate floats 144 (e.g., buoyancy chambers 152) and any other suitable component(s) may be included to provide the desired buoyancy of the IFR 140. For example, the carrier 146 may include one or more buoyancy sections, cavities or chambers, and may be at least partially inflatable. For another example, the IFR 140 (e.g., carrier 146) may include foam or other material with flotation properties to provide the desired buoyancy or uplift of the front end 140b or other portion thereof. For yet another example, the IFR 140 may be, or include, one or more bladder bags coupled to the vessel 10 proximate to the front end 42 thereof and configured to providethe desired intake resistance. If desired, the bladder bag(s) may be fixed buoyancy or variable buoyancy (e.g., similarly as described below).[000344] Still referring to Figures 27 & 28, the exemplary carrier 146 includes one or more seal members 155 or other components to provide or encourage at least substantial sealing engagement of the pivoting-type IFR 140 with the chamber 60 during use of the debris recovery system 58. The seal members 155 may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation. For example, the seal members 155 may include one or more elongated gaskets 156 coupled to the carrier 146 (e.g., with connectors (e.g., bolts), epoxy or other glue, opposing mating portions, by friction fit, or a combination thereof) extending along the side edges 146a, 146b of the carrier 146 to sealingly engage the interior opposing side walls 82 (e.g., Figures 24, 31) of the chamber 60 or one or more other components adjacent thereto during use of the debris recovery system 58.[000345] One or more seal members 155 (e.g., elongated gaskets 156) may also extend along the front edge 146c of the carrier 146 (see also Figures 31 , 38). This may be useful, for example, to at least substantially sealingly engage the IFR 140 with the underside of the top deck 54 or other component(s) on the vessel 10 to at least substantially prevent the loss of liquid / debris from the chamber 60 through the opening(s) 100 before or after debris recovery operations, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof.[000346] If desired, one or more seal members 155 (e.g., elongated gaskets 156) may be provided along the rear edge 146d of the exemplary carrier 146, such as to at least substantially seal any gap between the IFR 140 and the bulkhead 92 or other component, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. One or more seal members 155 may instead or additionally be provided on the bulkhead 92, side wall(s) 82 of the chamber 60 or other components of the vessel 10 to at least substantially sealing engage the IFR 140, for any otherpurpose(s) or a combination thereof. However, other embodiments may include fewer or no seal members 155 or different variations of sealing components.[000347] Referring again to Figures 27 & 28, the exemplar)' pivoting-type IFR 140 may be pivotably coupled to the vessel 10 in any suitable manner. In this example, the carrier 146 includes multiple receivers 162 (e.g., pipe sections) at or proximate to the rear end 140a of the IFR 140 that fit and freely rotate over one or more hinge pins 148 anchored to the vessel 10 (e.g., the front recessed deck 56 (e.g., Figure 26) or adjacent component(s)). However, any other suitable components may be used to provide the desired pivotable movement of the pivoting-type IFR 140 relative to the vessel 10. For example, the pivoting-type IFR 140 may instead include one or more pivot pins pivotably engaged with the vessel 10, or a different variation of corresponding pivotably mating portions or structures may be provided on the IFR 140 and vessel 10.[000348] Still referring to Figures 27 & 28, the buoyancy chamber 152, when included, may have any desired form, configuration, construction and operation. The exemplary buoyancy chamber 152 includes at least one cavity provided therein for containing air (and / or other gases or buoyant material / liquid) so that it floats on liquid. As used herein and in the appended claims, the terms “air” and variations thereof are meant to include any type and combination of gas(es) and air. The illustrated buoyancy chamber 152 is shown coupled to the plate 150 proximate to the front end 140b of the IFR 140 and extends across almost the entire width of the carrier 146 to provide the desired buoyancy of the IFR 140, intake resistance, for any other suitable purpose(s) or a combination thereof. For example, the location of the buoyancy chamber 152 proximate to the front end 140b of the IFR 140 may be farthest from the pivot mechanism(s) at the rear end 140a, such as to provide the greatest leverage advantage for the IFR 140 (see e.g., Figure 26) other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. It should be noted that the buoyancy chamber 152 may be coupled to the carrier 146 or IFR 140 in any othersuitable manner, at a different location on the carrier 146 and have any other desirable configuration, components and operation, and / or multiple buoyancy chambers 152 may be included to provide the desired buoyancy, movement, positioning and / or intake resistance of the IFR 140, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof.[000349] Referring again to Figures 23-29, the illustrated pivoting-type IFR 140 is an example of a “fixed-buoyancy” IFR 140 because it does not possess any mechanisms for varying the buoyancy thereof. Accordingly, the internal cavity(ies) of the exemplary buoyancy chamber 152 is / are sized to hold sufficient air to provide the desired buoyancy of the exemplary pivoting-type IFR 140. For example, referring to Figure 26, the buoyancy chamber 152 may be sized and situated to position the pivoting-type IFR 140 so that the front edge 142 thereof will be above the surface 172 of the adjacent water and / or debris in the vessel 10 (e.g., within the chamber 60) in a “rest” or “non-operating” position (e.g., when no suction is provided in the chamber 60) after the chamber 60 has been filled with water and before the start of debris recovery operations. Figure 26 thus reflects an exemplary “rest” position (see also Figures 32, 35).[000350] For another example, referring to Figure 29, the buoyancy chamber 152 may be sized and situated to position the pivoting-type IFR 140 so that the front edge 142 thereof will be below the surface 172 of the water and / or debris in the chamber 60 during debris recovery operations as the vessel 10 moves forward and / or suction (e.g., via circulation pump(s) 184) has commenced in the chamber 60. The position of the exemplary pivoting-type IFR 140 in Figure 29 thus reflects an exemplary ideal operating position to provide the desired intake resistance (see also Figures 33-34). In at least one operating position of the illustrated IFR 140, the debris 34 (e.g., oil) may ideally cascade, or rush, over the front edge 142 thereof and rise in (and, in some cases, fill) the chamber 60 as water 38 is being removed therefrom (see also Figures 33-34, 46, 74, 106).[000351] In various embodiments, the position of the IFR 140 often may tend to remain relatively static during debris recovery operations (e.g., in the position of Figures 29, 33) when the controllable and non-controllable variables remain constant. However, in various instances, the exemplary IFR 140 may reciprocate, flutter, float or adjust position in real-time throughout or intermittingly during operations.[000352] Referring to Figures 26 & 32, if desired, the IFR 140 may have an “extended” or “closed” position, such as to close off the front end of the chamber 60 or the intake opening 102, situate the front end 142 thereof high enough to contact, engage to at least substantially sealingly engage the underside of the top deck 54 of the vessel 10 (or other component(s) on the vessel 10) to at least substantially prevent the loss of liquid / debris from the chamber 60 through the intake opening(s) 102 before or after debris recovery operations, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. For example, the “rest position” as described above with respect to Figures 26, 32 may also serve as the “extended” position. For another example, the IFR 140 may float or be movable (e.g., manually or with a positive movement device, such as one or more mechanical or pneumatic drivers (e.g., as described above with respect to the exemplary gates 110), etc.)) to a higher position (e.g., Figures 35 & 40).[000353] In Figure 40, the illustrated IFR 140 biasingly engages an IFR catcher 300 provided on the vessel 10 to establish or secure it in a closed position. The IFR catcher 300, when included, may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. In this example, the IFR catcher 300 includes a first stop 302 configured to at least substantially sealingly engage the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 and a second stop 304 configured to engage the upper front surface of the IFR 140. The illustrated first and second stops 302, 304 are elongated sections of angle iron coupled to the underside of the top deck 54 and / or the side walls 82 of the chamber 60. However, the stops 302, 304 may have any other suitable form, configuration and operation. In other embodiments, the IFR 140 may be releasably securable to the IFR catcher300 (e.g., with one or more hooks, latches, magnets, mechanical connectors) to secure the IFR140 in the extended position (e.g., to prevent debris from sloshing out of the chamber 60 during transport after debris recovery operations). For another example, the “closed” position of the IFR 140 and techniques for moving it into and out of a “closed” position may be similar to that described above for the gates 110 and shown in Figures 1-22.[000354] Now referring to Figures 35-39, an exemplary sliding-type (fixed-buoyancy) IFR 140 is shown. The illustrated sliding-type IFR 140 (a.k.a. gate 110) is at least partially buoyant and situated in an upright position so that the entire IFR 140 is movable up and down (as indicated with arrows 294) relative to the chamber 60, bulkhead 92 and intake opening 102 to provide the desired intake resistance. In this example, when installed, the sliding-type IFR 140 is perfectly vertical (e.g., relative to a centerline of the vessel 10) or nearly perfectly vertical. However, in other embodiments, the sliding-type IFR 140 may be angled or substantially vertical. Thus, the precise orientation of the sliding-type IFR 140 is not limiting upon the present disclosure and appended claims, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom, so long as the IFR 140 is movable up and down and has one or more of the capabilities provided herein or which is evident from this disclosure and the appended drawings and claims.[000355] The sliding-type IFR 140 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. For example, as shown in Figure 36, the IFR 140 may include at least one carrier 146 (e.g., plate(s) 150) and at least one float 144 (e.g., buoyancy chamber(s) 152) of the same type and having the same features as described above and shown in the appended drawings with respect to the exemplary pivoting-type IFR 140, except those details relating to the pivotability thereof or other features incompatible with any features, details, components, variations or capabilities of the sliding-type IFR as described and shown herein. Accordingly,other than with respect to any such exceptions, all of the disclosure and details in this patent with respect to the carrier 146 and float 144 (e.g., the buoyancy chamber 152) of the exemplary pivoting-type IFR 140 (except that relating to the pivotability thereof) are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. For example, the sliding-type IFR 140 may include multiple side-by-side adjacent sections (e.g., multiple sets of carriers 146 and corresponding floats 144) such as to accommodate or provide flexibility in response to side-by-side rocking or rolling of the vessel 10.[000356] Similarly as described above, the sliding-type IFR 140 may not include any separate floats 144 (e.g., buoyancy chambers 152), but possess other suitable component(s) to provide the desired buoyancy. For example, the carrier 146 may include one or more buoyancy sections, cavities or chambers, and may be at least partially inflatable. For another example, the sliding-type IFR 140 (e.g., carrier 146) may include foam or other material with flotation properties to provide the desired buoyancy or uplift of the front end 140b or other portion thereof. For yet another example, the sliding-type IFR 140 may be, or include, one or more bladder bags coupled to the vessel 10 proximate to the front end 42 thereof and configured to provide the desired intake resistance. If desired, the bladder bag(s) may be fixed buoyancy or variable buoyancy.[000357] Still referring to Figure 36, if desired, the carrier 146 of the exemplary the sliding-type IFR 140 may include multiple plates 150, one or more support or frame members, such as to provide rigidity, sturdiness, durability, etc. to the plate(s) 150, or may be semi-rigid, flexible or pliable, perforated, non-flat, convex or concave or have any other form, configuration and components. In various embodiments, the IFR 140 includes left and right side frames 282, 283 and top and bottom edge frames 284, 285. The frame members 282-285 may, for example, extend inwardly from the plate 150 around the perimeter thereof, such as toprovide stiffness to the IFR 140, assist in guiding the movement of the IFR 140, for any other suitable purpose(s) or a combination thereof.[000358] Referring to Figures 35-37, one or more guide pins 288 are shown protruding outwardly from each of the exemplary side frames 282, 283 and configured to move freely up and down (arrows 294) within respective left and right guide rails 290, 292. The guide pins 288 and guide rails 282, 292 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. In this example, as shown in Figure 36, two guide pins 288 are provided on each side of the sliding- type IFR 140, but only one or more than two (e.g., 3, 4, 5, etc.) may be included. For example, the guide pins 288 may include a circular plate rigidly coupled (e.g., by weld and / or mechanical connectors) to a pipe section, which is rigidly coupled (e.g., by weld and / or mechanical connectors) to the side frames 282, 283 of the IFR 140. In other embodiments, the guide pins 288 may include a rotatable or non-rotatable wheel or other guide mechanism(s).[000359] As shown in Figure 37, the exemplary guide rails 290, 292 each include a pair of elongated sections of angle-iron rigidly coupled (e.g., by weld and / or mechanical connectors) to the side walls 82 of the chamber 60 or other part(s) or component(s) of the vessel 10. And the exemplary sliding-type IFR 140 slides freely up and down within the guide rails 290, 292, which define and limit the path of the IFR 140 (e.g., Figure 35). The guide rails 290, 292, when included, may be oriented perfectly or near-perfectly vertically, substantially vertically or have another desired orientation. Thus, the precise orientation of the guide rails 290, 292 is not limiting upon the present disclosure and appended claims, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000360] Referring specifically to Figure 35, the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may be designed so that the sliding-type IFR 140 is free-moving up and down (e.g., in the chamber 60, e.g., arrows 294). The front end 140b thereof will ideally float at or near thesurface 172 of adjacent liquid (e.g., in and / or moving into the first chamber 60) during use of the debris recovery system 58 to provide the desired intake resistance. Specifically, the front end 140b of the exemplary sliding-type IFR 140 is shown extending across the intake opening 102 so the debris can flow, or cascade, over the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 as desired and similarly as described and shown herein with respect to the pivoting-type IFR 140. Figure 35 thus shows an exemplary optimal operating position of the IFR 140 during debris recovery operations. The IFR 140 shown in shadow in Figure 35 illustrates an exemplary extended, or closed, position of the IFR 140, similarly as described above.[000361] Referring now to Figures 38 & 39, if desired, the exemplary sliding-type IFR 140 may include one or more seal members 155 or other components to provide or encourage at least substantial sealing engagement of the IFR 140 with the chamber 60, bulkhead 92 and / or other components. The seal members 155 may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation. For example, the seal members 155 may include one or more elongated gaskets 156 are shown coupled to the carrier 146 (e.g., with connectors (e.g., bolts), epoxy or other glue, opposing mating portions, by friction fit, or a combination thereof) and extending along the side edges 146a, 146b of the carrier 146 (e.g., along the outside surfaces of the left and right frames 282, 283) to at least substantially sealingly engage the left and right guide rails 290, 202, respectively, or one or more other components adjacent thereto. In many embodiments, one or more elongated gaskets 156 may extend along the front edge 146c of the carrier 146. If desired, one or more seal members 155 (e.g., elongated gaskets 156) may also be provided along the rear edge 146d of the carrier f46. One or more seal members 155 may instead or additionally be provided on the bulkhead 92, side wall(s) 82 of the chamber 60 or other components of the vessel 10 for the same purpose. For example, one or more elongated gaskets 156 is shown coupled to the inner wall of the bulkhead 92 across substantially the entire width of the intake opening f02 and / or chamber 60, such as to at least substantially seal thegap 296 (e.g., Figure 37) between the bulkhead 92 and the sliding-type IFR 140, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof.[000362] If desired, the sliding-type IFR 140 may be positioned within the chamber 60 with the guide pins 288 inserted into the respective rails 290, 292 before the top deck 54 (or at least the foremost section of the top deck 54) is secured to the vessel 10. If the exemplary debris recovery system 58 includes a variable buoyancy system 250 (such as described below), the variable buoyancy system 250 may be used to selectively position the front end 140b of the sliding-type IFR 140 as desired. Otherwise, the debris recovery system 58 can be used to provide the desired intake resistance similarly as described above with respect to the pivotingtype IFR 140.[000363] Referring now to Figures 30-34 & 40, the debris recovery system 58 may include one or more internal mechanisms for varying the buoyancy of one or more IFRs 140. An IFR 14 having a variable buoyancy capability is sometimes referred to herein as a “variablebuoyancy” IFR 140. Thus, the IFR 140 may be a variable-buoyancy, pivoting-type IFR (e.g., Figures 43, 55), fixed-buoyancy, pivoting-type IFR (e.g., Figures 9-11, 13, 26-29), variablebuoyancy, sliding-type IFR, fixed-buoyancy, sliding-type IFR (e.g., gate 110, Figures 4-8; Figures 35-39) or have any other configuration.[000364] In various embodiments, the debris recovery system 58 includes a variable buoyancy system 250 associated with one or more variable-buoyancy IFRs 140 and configured to allow the selective insertion and removal of gas, liquid or a combination thereof into / from the IFR 140 to influence its buoyancy. For example, when it is desirable to decrease the buoyancy of the IFR 140, air may be allowed to escape from the exemplary buoyancy chamber 152 and be replaced by liquid in the chamber 60 (e.g., Figure 33). Conversely, when it is desirable to increase the buoyancy of the illustrated IFR 140, additional air may be injected into the buoyancy chamber 152 to displace liquid out of the buoyancy chamber 152 (e.g., Figure34). In embodiments of variable buoyancy IFRs 140 not including buoyancy chambers 152 (e.g., having one or more bladder bags, removable floats, etc.), the variable buoyancy system 250 could involve other (e.g., inflatable, detachable) components.[000365] The variable buoyancy system 250 may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation. For example, referring to Figures 30 & 31 , the buoyancy chamber 152 may include four water exchange openings 154 (e.g., formed in the bottom 153 of the buoyancy chamber 152 and always open) to allow liquid from the chamber 60 to be able to enter the buoyancy chamber 152. However, any other suitable form, configuration, quantity (e.g., 1-3, 5 or more) and location of the water exchange openings 154 may be used.[000366] The exemplary variable buoyancy system 250 includes at least one air exchange conduit 254 (e.g., flexible hose, steel pipe, etc.) fluidly coupled to the buoyancy chamber 152 and configured to allow the selective insertion and removal of air (and / or gas(es)) into the buoyancy chamber 152. For example, one or more air compressors 258 may be provided on the vessel 10 for selectively suppling compressed air into the buoyancy chamber 152 via the air exchange conduit 254, such as through one or more risers 262 (e.g., steel pipe, flexible tubing, etc.). However, any other arrangement of components may be used to selectively provide air in the buoyancy chamber 152.[000367] Still referring to Figures 30 & 31, if desired, since the variable buoyancy IFR 140 may move relative the vessel 10 (e.g., arrows 78), one or more flex connectors 266 may be strategically placed between the air exchange conduit 254 and riser 262 to allow movement of the air exchange conduit 254 (with the IFR 140) relative to the riser 262 (and / or other components) without disconnecting or damaging the air exchange conduit 254, buoyancy chamber 152 and / or other components. The flex connector 266 may have any suitable form, configuration and operation. For example, the flex connector 266 may be a flexible hose or expansion joint.Ill[000368] In many embodiments, the variable buoyancy system 250 also includes one or more discharge conduits 270 (e.g., to the atmosphere) fluidly coupled to the buoyancy chamber 152 to allow air to be selectively discharged therefrom. For example, the riser 262 may be fluidly coupled to both the air compressor 258 (e.g., via air supply branch 260) and at least one air discharge conduit 270, such as at a T-connector 272. The variable buoyancy system 250 may also include at least one relief valve 276 and / or at least one fill valve 278 that may be actuated to allow / disallow air to be selectively supplied into the buoyancy chamber 152 from the air compressor 258 (or other source) and discharged out of the buoyancy chamber 152 via the discharge conduit 270. One or more check valves 280 may be included in the variable buoyancy system 250 (e.g., in the supply branch 260 and / or one or more discharge conduits 270), such as to allow only one-way air flow in desired sections of the variable buoyancy system 250.[000369] Referring now to Figures 32-34, an example use of the variable buoyancy IFR 140 will now be described. Figure 32 represents a potential start, or rest, position of the exemplary variable buoyancy IFR 140 after the chamber 60 has been filled with water and before the start of debris recovery operations. In this example, the buoyancy chamber 152 is filled with air (e.g., naturally, by injecting air therein such as described above or otherwise) so that the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 is positioned above the surface 172 of the adjacent water (e.g., within the chamber 60), representing an exemplary rest or non-operating position of the IFR 140.[000370] Referring specifically to Figure 33, if it is desired to decrease the buoyancy of the IFR 140 (e.g., move the exemplary IFR 140 down into a lower position relative to the level 172 of the adjacent water / debris in the chamber 60) with the use of the variable buoyancy system 250, the exemplary fill valve 278 is closed and the relief valve 276 opened, allowing a desired volume of air to escape from buoyancy chamber 152 and be replaced by liquid flowingup into the buoyancy chamber 152 through the water exchange opening(s) 154. When the desired position of the exemplary IFR 140 is achieved, the illustrated valve 276 may be closed. This may be desirable in various scenarios, such as to establish or maintain the optimal operating position of the IFR 140 and / or optimal intake resistance when the forward movement of the vessel 10 and / or suction pressure (e.g., via the circulation pumps 184 and / or in the relevant suction conduit(s) 160) in the cargo compartment(s) 60 is reduced or stopped, when the thickness of the debris (e.g., oil) in the body of water 30 increases and it is desired to allow more debris to enter the chamber 60, upon the occurrence of one or more other events, variables or situations, for any other purposes or a combination thereof.[000371] In Figure 33, some liquid has entered the buoyancy chamber 152, positioning the IFR 140 lower in the chamber 60 as comparted to its rest position in Figure 32. Figure 33 thus illustrates the exemplary buoyancy chamber 152 partially flooded and the IFR 140 in an exemplary operating position. In this example, suction in the chamber 60 has also commenced and / or the vessel 10 is moving in the forward direction, and debris (e.g., small-sized debris 40, large-sized debris 41, some mixed debris / water) is shown flowing or cascading over the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 into the chamber 60 as water 38 is being removed therefrom.[000372] Referring now to Figure 34, there may be various situations in which it is desirable to increase the buoyancy of the IFR 140 with the use of the exemplary variable buoyancy system 250. For example, as the chamber 60 becomes more filled with oil (and / or other low density debris), the IFR 140 will tend to float lower in the chamber 60 and it may be desirable to raise up the IFR 140 (e.g., to establish or maintain the optimal operating position of the IFR 140 and / or optimal intake resistance). For other examples, upon moving the vessel 10 forward from a stationary position, increasing the forward speed of the vessel 10, initiating or increasing suction pressure (e.g., via the circulation pumps 184 and / or in the relevant suction conduit(s) 160) in the cargo compartment(s) 60, increased wind or wave action (e.g., wherefluid pressure provides increased push on the IFR 140), the occurrence of one or more other events, or a combination thereof, it may be desirable to increase the buoyancy of the IFR 140 (e.g., to establish or maintain the optimal operating position of the IFR 140 and / or optimal intake resistance).[000373] To increase buoyancy of the IFR 140 using the exemplary variable buoyancy system 250, the relief valve 276 is closed, the fill valve 278 opened and the desired volume of air is injected into the buoyancy chamber 152 from the air compressor 258 (or other source) to push out the desired volume of liquid from inside the buoyancy chamber 152 through the water exchange opening(s) 154. When the desired position of the IFR 140 is achieved, the exemplary valve 274 may be closed. Figure 34 thus shows a less partially flooded buoyancy chamber 152 than in Figure 33. However, any other technique and components may be used to vary the buoyancy of the IFR 140.[000374] In some embodiments, the variable buoyancy system 250 may be useful on an ongoing basis to continually, or as necessary, selectively adjust the position of the IFR(s) 140 in the cargo compartment(s) 60 to influence (e.g., improve) the efficiency and effectiveness of debris collection operations (e.g., collect as much debris as quickly as possible), establish or maintain the optimal operating position of the IFR 140 and / or optimal intake resistance, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. If desired, the use of the variable buoyancy system 250 may be automated with the use of one or more electronic controllers (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140), such as for real-time, continuous or automatic adjustment of the buoyance of one or more IFR(s) 140. Further, the variable buoyancy system 250 may be used in conjunction with one or more other controllable or non-controllable variables, as mentioned above.[000375] lumping briefly to Figure 57, in another independent aspect of the present disclosure, when included, the variable buoyancy system 250 associated with one or more variable buoyancy IFRs 140 may have a closed-loop system to help prevent the buoyancychamber 152 and / or other components from becoming clogged with, or damaged by, debris and / or for any other purposes. For example, the exemplary system 250 may be designed not to use the water from the cargo compartment(s) 60 or other locations (e.g., in remote debris recovery arrangement(s) 420, Figure 58) that may contain debris.[000376] Any suitable components and techniques may be used to provide a closed-loop variable buoyancy system 250. For example, the buoyancy chamber 152 may not utilize water exchange openings (e.g., openings 154, Figure 30) that allow liquid from the inflow chamber 310, cargo compartment (not shown) or other chamber within which incoming debris will flow to enter the buoyancy chamber 152. Instead, one or more exemplary liquid exchange conduits 452 (e.g., flexible hose, steel pipe, etc.) or other component(s) may be fluidly coupled between the buoyancy chamber 152 and one or more liquid (preferably clean water) storage sources to change the buoyancy of the associated IFR 140. If desired, the exemplary liquid exchange conduit(s) 452 may enter the buoyancy chamber 152 at or near the bottom thereof, or lower than the entry point(s) of the air exchange conduit 254, to help encourage quick and easy flow of the liquid into and out of the buoyancy chamber 152 to vary the buoyancy of the IFR 140 as desired and / or for any other purposes.[000377] Still referring to Figure 57, the liquid source may have any suitable form, construction, operation and location. For example, the liquid source may include one or more liquid (clean water) holding tanks 502 provided in or on the vessel 10 or other location (e.g., remote debris arrangement 420, Figure 58) along with any necessary associated components (e.g., motor, fluid pump, valves, etc.). In various embodiments, the holding tanks 502 are reservoir chambers 455 (e.g., Figure 54) built into or provided on the vessel 10 near the chamber (e.g., inflow chamber 310) where the IFR 140 resides. The choice liquid can thus be cycled from the exemplary holding tank(s) 502 into and out of the exemplary buoyancychamber(s) 152 as desired via the liquid exchange conduit(s) 452, such as through one or more risers 262 (e.g., steel pipe, flexible tubing, etc.) or other components.[000378] In an exemplary operation, the buoyancy of the IFR 140 may be increased by selectively injecting compressed air into the buoyancy chamber 152 via one or more air compressors 258 (or other sources), similarly as described above with respect to other embodiments, but in this case to push water (or other liquid) out of the buoyancy chamber 152 and into the holding tank(s) 502 (or other destination). To decrease buoyancy of the exemplary IFR 140, for example, air (or other gas) can be selectively vented out of the buoyancy chamber 152, allowing the desired volume of water or other liquid to passively drop (e.g., via gravity) or be driven (e.g., via pump, motor, etc.) into the buoyancy chamber 152. However, any other arrangement of components may be used to selectively provide liquid and gas into and out of the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 of one or more variable buoyance IFRs 140.[000379] Jumping now briefly to Figures 112-113C, in some embodiments, the buoyancy of the (pivoting-type or sliding-type) IFR 140 may be selectively varied mechanically, such as by adding and removing one or more floats 144 or weights 147 (e.g. Figure 28) to and from the IFR 140 or in any other suitable manner. For example, adding one float 144 to the IFR 140 could increase its buoyancy to a certain extent, adding two floats 144 could increase buoyancy of the IFR 140 to a greater extent and so on. The converse should be true when removing one or more floats 144. When adding and removing weights 147, the opposite should occur (adding weights 140 decreases, while removing weights 140 increases, IFR buoyancy). In some embodiments, floats 144 (or weights 147) can be added and removed without disconnecting the IFR 140 from the vessel 10 (e.g., Figure 114). For example, the floats 144 or weights 147 may be (e.g., manually) engaged (e.g., clipped, snapped) onto and off the carrier 146. If desired, different individual floats 144 and / or weights 147 can be specifically designed to provide a desired amount of buoyancy.[000380] A mechanically variable buoyancy IFR 140 may have any suitable form, configuration, components and operation. In Figures 112- 113c, the illustrated carrier 146 of the IFR 140 includes a base plate 150 and float receiver 151 coupled together in any suitable manner, such as with connectors (e.g., bolts, pins, clips), by weld or otherwise. In other embodiments, the base plate 150 and float receiver 151 could be a single, or integral, component. If desired, one or more hinges 149 (e.g., pin 148, Figure 28, piano hinge 159,) may be provided at or near the rear end 140a of the IFR 140 (e.g., for engagement with the vessel 10). In the illustrated version, the hinge pin 150 is welded to the base plate 150.[000381] Still referring to Figures 112-113c, the exemplary float receiver 151 has at least one float engagement portion 151a where up to three floats 144 may be snapped into and out of engagement. However, the IFR 140 may be configured to take any other desired number of floats 144 (e.g., 2, 4, 5, etc. ), which may be releasably engaged therewith in any other suitable manner (e.g., by cotter pins, bolts, clips, Velcro, etc.). The removable floats 144 may be engaged with the IFR 140 at any location. In this example, the floats 144 are coupled to the underside of the float receiver 151, and at the front end 140b of the IFR 140 (e.g., where buoyancy is typically desired). The exemplary float receiver 151 has curved front end 151b that forms one or more pockets 151c where the floats 144 can be seated and a solid, smooth front edge 151c forming the front edge 142 of the IFR 140. However, any other configuration may be employed.[000382] In some configurations using one or more weights 147 to vary the buoyancy of the IFR 140, the IFR 140 may otherwise have a fixed buoyancy (e.g., Figures 27-28, 36). For example, the IFR 140 may have one or more fixed buoyancy floats 144 that are not removable, so that buoyancy can be changed only by adding or removing weights 14 (e.g., Figure 28). In other configurations, the IFR 140 may include one or more variable buoyancy floats 144 and / or one or more removable weights 147 and / or floats 144. It should be noted that any of theembodiments of the IFR 140 described or shown (e.g., Figures 1-140) throughout this patent may be equipped to function as a variable-buoyancy IFR 140.[000383] It should be noted that variations of the embodiments of Figures 23-40, 57 and 110- 113C may include more, fewer or different components, features and capabilities as those described or shown herein. Further, any of the details, features, components, variations and capabilities of other embodiments discussed or shown in this patent or as may be apparent from the description and drawings hereof, are applicable to the embodiments of Figures 23-40, 57 and 110-113C, except and only to the extent they may be incompatible with any features, details, components, variations or capabilities of the embodiments of Figures 23-40, 57 and 110-113C. Accordingly, other than with respect to any such exceptions, all of the details and description provided in this patent with respect to the other embodiments or as may be shown in the appended drawings relating thereto or which may be apparent therefrom, are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties with respect to the embodiments of Figures 23-40, 57 and 1 10-1 13C.[000384] Now referring to Figures 41-51, the debris recovery system 58 may include at least one IFR 140 situated within or adjacent to at least one inflow chamber 310 forward of and fluidly coupled to at least one chamber 60 on the vessel 10. When included, the inflow chamber 310 may have any suitable form, configuration, construction and location. Referring specifically to Figures 41 & 42, in this example, the debris recovery system 58 includes a single chamber 60, and a single inflow chamber 310 containing a front IFR 140c and a rear IFR 140d. Other embodiments may include more or fewer IFRs 140 in any configuration (e.g., front- to- rear and / or side-by-side) or location, more than one inflow chambers 310 and / or cargo compartments 60 or a combination thereof.[000385] An example (small-sized) vessel 10 of various embodiments (e.g., useful in offshore and some onshore waterways) may have an approximate length of thirty-two feet(32’), an approximate width of ten feet (10’) and an approximate depth of four & % feet (4.75’) and be configured to effectively recover debris in waterways that may have up to approximately twelve inch (12”) waves (e.g., inland waterways and shallow off-shore locations). As discussed above, the vessel 10 may be self-propelled, propelled by one or more other vessels or in any other manner, or may be stationary. In some embodiments, the vessel 10 may be self-propelled with two propel units 19 (Figure 42) powered by one or more power units. For example, two MJP Ultrajet 251 units sold by Marine Jet Power, Inc., each having a 250 mm diameter impeller and joy stick control may be used as the propel units 19 and powered, for example, by a General Motors Marine Diesel VGT500 as the power unit.[000386] In an independent aspect of the present disclosure, in various embodiments, a substantially, or completely, submerged flow path (e.g., liquid-only, entirely or substantially void of gas) can be provided at least from the intake opening(s) 102, through the inflow chamber(s) 310 (if included) and one or more passageway (s) 100 to the suction pumps 184 during debris collection operations, which is sometimes referred to herein as a “liquid-sealed system”. In various embodiment, a substantially, or completely, submerged (liquid-only) flow path may also extend to one or more discharge ports 356 and / or debris pump inlets 382 (described below), when included. A liquid-sealed system may be desirable, for example, to optimize the effort of the suction and / or debris pumps 184, 380 and / or IFRs 140 (when included), help ensure only debris is removed by one or more debris pumps 380, provide optimal or maximum inflow of debris at the intake openings 102, help provide and / or control a desired rate and velocity of incoming debris, optimize system performance and efficiency, help prevent sloshing and / or emulsification of debris / liquid in the cargo compartment(s) 60 and / or other areas on the vessel 10, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, with an exemplary liquid-sealed system, the ratio of suction pressure (or liquid velocity) at the suction pumps 184 to suction pressure (or liquid velocity) at the intake openings102 or IFRs 140 can be optimized, such as approximately 1:1 minus the friction loss from fluid / debris travelling therebetween. This may be achievable, for example, by creating and maintaining a vacuum and / or one or more air-tight or fluid-sealed spaces at, around or between the circulation pumps 184, debris pumps 380 and passageways 100 (and possibly other components), so debris 34 flows substantially entirely through liquid, and / or any gas entering the debris flow path during operations can be removed.[000387] Referring still Figures 41 & 42, the exemplary inflow chamber 310 is shown separated from the chamber 60 by at least one (front) vertical wall 90 and fluidly coupled to the chamber 60 by at least one (front) passageway, or opening, 100 that allows fluid (and debris) flow past the vertical wall 90. Each passageway 100 between the inflow chamber(s) 310 and cargo compartment(s) 60 may be fully submersed in liquid (e.g., Figure 46) during operations, such as to allow a vacuum to be created / maintained in the chamber 60 and / or help provide a liquid-sealed system, for one or more other purposes or a combination thereof. For example, the lower end 91 of the vertical wall 90 may not extend down to the hull, or lower plate, 55 of the vessel 10 or other part(s) of the vessel 10 that forms or serves as the bottom 83 of the chamber 60 and / or inflow chamber 310. In such instance, the exemplary front passageway 100 may be the entire space 101 extending below the lower end 91 of the vertical wall 90.[000388] In other examples, one or more front passageways 100 may comprise only a part of the space 101 formed, or provided in, or proximate, to the lower end 91 of the exemplary vertical wall 90 (which may extend to the bottom 83 of the compartment 60, hull 55 or other component) or be provided elsewhere (e.g., formed in the wall 90 closer to its lower end than its upper end). In yet other embodiments, the exemplary passageway(s) 100 between the chamber 60 and inflow chamber 310 may be provided in one or more suction conduits 160 (e.g., similarly as described above and shown in various appended figures (e.g., Figures 1-2,13-20)) extending therebetween or therethrough. Accordingly, the compatible features of the suction conduit 160 as described and shown elsewhere herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference for these embodiments. Additionally, the form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation of the passageway(s) 100 fluidly coupling the inflow chamber(s) 310 and cargo compartment(s) 60 is not limited or limiting upon the present disclosure, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom. If desired, a selectively moveable gate (e.g., gate 110, Figure 47; see also Figures 3-18) may be associated with hefront passageway(s) 100 to selectively seal off or fluidly isolate the inflow chamber(s) 310 from the cargo compartment(s) 60 as desired, serve as a “sliding”-type IFR 140 (e.g., Figures 35-39), for any other purposes or a combination thereof.[000389] Still referring to Figures 41 & 42, for debris recovery operations, the exemplary debris recovery system 58 is designed so that debris (and some liquid) enter the vessel 10 from the body of water 30 via the inflow chamber(s) 310 at one or more intake openings 102 forward of the IFR(s) 140, when included (e.g., at or proximate to the front end 42 or the mouth 43 of the vessel 10 (e.g., Figure 137( or other locations (e.g., Figures 74 & 104)). Any desired number, form and configuration of intake openings 102 may be included. For example, the intake opening 102 may be the entire space 102a extending between front edges of at least one inflow chamber cover 316 (and / or other vessel component(s), such as the top deck 54) and the hull 55 (and / or other vessel component(s), such as one or more recessed front decks 56) and the opposing side walls 96 that define the inflow chamber 310.[000390] In other embodiments, one or more intake openings 102 may, for example, comprise only part of the space 102a, or may be formed in a front bulkhead or vertical wall of the vessel 10 (e.g., similar to other embodiments described above, e.g., Figure 3). In yet otherembodiments, the intake opening 102 may have no upper boundary, such as similar to the embodiment of Figures 23-26. Thus, the form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation of the intake opening(s) 102 is not limited or limiting upon the present disclosure and claims, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom.[000391] The recessed front deck(s) 56, when included, may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. In some embodiments, the recessed front deck 56 may be provided at or near the front 42 of the vessel 10 forward of the front IFR 140c. For example, the recessed front deck 56 may extend between (or near) the front edge 55a of the hull 55 and a front IFR support wall 320. If desired, the recessed front deck 56 may include a wave diminishing surface 57 that slants downwardly toward the front end 42 of the vessel 10 to assist in dampening or reducing the impact, size, action of waves / turbulence in the body of water 30 (e.g., like a beach) or otherwise caused by fluid / debris entering the inflow chamber 310, encourage only the top layer(s) of liquid / debris (e.g., oil 34, debris, algae, oily water) to pass through the intake opening(s) 102, limit the flow of sea water through the intake opening(s) 102, for any other desired purpose(s) or a combination thereof. However, the recessed front deck 56 may have different features or not be included in various embodiments.[000392] Still referring to Figures 41 & 42, when included, the inflow chamber cover(s) 316 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. For example, the inflow chamber cover 316 may be at least partially transparent, or see-through, to allow one or more operators on the vessel 10 to observe one or more conditions in the inflow chamber 310 (e.g., the effect of one or more controllable variables and / or the existence and effect of one or more non-controllable variables (e.g., thenature, action, turbulence and / or content of water, amount and / or type of debris entering, within and / or flowing through the inflow chamber 310)), one or more components in the inflow chamber 310, such as the position, intake resistance and / or effectiveness of each IFR 140, in order to determine if, when and what adjustments should be made (e.g., to the IFRs 140, suction pressure from the circulation pump(s) 184, vessel speed, state and speed of the debris pump(s) 380) during operations, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In various configurations, the inflow chamber cover 316 may be at least partially perforated, constructed at least partially of grating, mesh, clear fiberglass or other at least partially transparent material(s), other suitable material or a combination thereof. In this exemplary embodiment, the inflow chamber cover 316 includes a metallic grate.[000393] Referring now to Figures 48 & 49, the inflow chamber cover 316 may also or instead be used to at least temporarily store debris 34 that cannot be processed via the debris recovery system 58 or for which an operator does not want to so process (e.g., animals, largesized debris 41 , etc.), sometimes referred to herein as the “undesirable debris”. For example, when undesirable debris is encountered during operations (e.g., as or before it enters the inflow chamber 310), it may be grabbed (e.g., with a manually-operated or automated gaff or grabber) and placed atop the inflow chamber cover 316 for later disposal, preventing the undesirable debris from clogging the intake opening(s) 102, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. If the inflow chamber cover 316 is perforated, placement of the undesirable debris upon the cover 316 may allow any small-sized debris 40 (e.g., oil 34, algae bloom) carried by or on it and which is small enough to fit through the perforations in the inflow chamber cover 316 to pass or drip into the inflow chamber 310 or other location for recovery and processing. If desired, one or more front portions 317 and / or side portions of the inflow chamber cover 316 may be angled upwardly, such as to prevent undesirable debris placed thereupon from rolling off the vessel 10. However, the inflow chamber cover(s) 316 may have any other configuration,components and operation and is not required. It should be noted that, in any embodiment, one or more debris processors (e.g., processors 550a, 550b, Figures 55-56) or other components of a debris processing system 530, such as described below or shown in Figures 55-56, may be provided on the vessel 10 for processing some or all of the undesirable or other debris.[000394] Still referring Figures 48 & 49, one or more front doors 328 may be provided on the vessel 10 (e.g., to selectively close off or block the intake opening(s) 102 during transit or storage of the vessel or any other desired time). The front door(s) 328 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. In the present embodiment, the front doors 328 include a pair of sideways pivoting gates 330 situated at the front 42 of the vessel 10 and selectively moveable between at least one closed position (e.g., Figure 41) and at least one open position (e.g., Figures 42-46, 48-51). The illustrated gates 330 are pivotably coupled (e.g., via one or more hinges 332) at or proximate to the respective front edges 97 (e.g., Figure 42) of the side walls 96 that form the inflow chamber 310 (or to one or more other components at or near the front end 42 of the vessel 10) and are selectively pivotable (e.g., by electric or solar powered motor, hydraulic or pneumatic power source, manually or otherwise) inwardly and outwardly relative to the vessel 10 between open and closed positions. However, the door(s) 328 (e.g., gates 330), when included, may be configured and coupled to the vessel 10 and moveable between positions in any other suitable manner and technique and / or may be automated via one or more electronic controllers (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140).[000395] In at least one closed position, the exemplary doors 328 may be configured to substantially or fully, fluidly seal the intake opening(s) 102 and the mouth 43 of the vessel 10 (e.g., to prevent wave splash from entering the vessel 10 and / or debris from escaping from the vessel 10 therethrough during transit to a debris field, for one or more other purposes or a combination thereof). In at least one open position, the exemplary gates 330 allow seawater / debris flow into the inflow chamber 310 for debris recovery operations. If desired, the door(s) 328 may be configured to funnel or encourage debris to move towards the inflow chamber 310 during debris recovery operations. In fact, the door(s) 328 may have any of the compatible features, details or capabilities of the elongated boom(s) 190 as described above and / or shown in other figures appended hereto (e.g., Figure 1). However, front doors 328 may not be included in some embodiments or may have different or additional features.[000396] Still referring Figures 48 & 49, if desired, one or more large-sized debris guards 334 may be provided at the front 42 of the vessel 10 to assist in preventing large-sized debris 41 from entering into and / or blocking the inflow chamber 310 and / or for any other purpose(s). When included, the large-sized debris guard(s) 334 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, components, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. In many embodiments, a single large-sized debris guard 334 may be configured to extend at least partially across the intake opening(s) 102 and / or mouth 43 of the vessel 10 and be at least partially perforated to allow the flow of sea water and small-sized debris 40 to pass therethrough. For example, the large-sized debris guard 334 may include grating or mesh having holes which are sized as desired.[000397] The exemplary large-sized debris guard 334 is configured to be stowed atop the inflow chamber cover 316 (e.g., during transit and / or non-use of the debris recovery system 58) and deployable therefrom to one or more positions forward of the front 42 of the vessel 10. For example, the guard 334 may be pivotably coupled to the inflow chamber cover 316 (e.g., via one or more hinge pins 339) or other component of the vessel 10 and selectively pivotable (e.g., up, over and down, e.g., along arrows 341) relative to the vessel 10 (e.g., by electric or solar powered motor, hydraulic or pneumatic power source, manually or otherwise) between at least one stowed position (334a) and at least one deployed position (334b). However, any other components and technique may be used to deploy the large-sized debris guard 334, whenincluded. For example, the large-sized debris guard(s) 334 may be coupled to one or more front doors 328, manually placed in at least one deployed position, etc.[000398] Still referring Figures 48 & 49, in a deployed position, the exemplary largesized debris guard 334 extends angularly outwardly in front of the vessel 10 and between the open front door(s) 328 (when included) so that its bottom edge 336 is preferably typically submersed in sea water 38 during debris recovery operations. For example, the large-sized debris guard 334 may include a main (e.g., rectangular) panel 335 and side (e.g., triangular) wing panels 337 in order to extend fully between the open doors 328 and across the vessel mouth 43. In some embodiments, the side wing panels 337 are pivotably coupled to the main panel 335 between at least one folded (e.g., stowed) position and at least one open (e.g., deployed) position of the side wing panels 337, such as with hinge pins 342 or one or more other coupling devices.[000399] If desired, the large-sized debris guard 334 may be selectively releasably coupled to the front door(s) 328 (e.g., gates 330), such as to increase the structural tolerance and / or strength of the doors 328 and / or guard 334, maintain the desired operating position(s) of the doors 328 and / or guard 334, for any other purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In various configurations, the side wing panels 337 may be configured to be selectively releasably coupled at or near their respective side edges 338 to the open gates 330 with retractable or releasable pins, clamps or the like. However, the large-sized debris guard 334, when included, may have any other suitable arrangement of components and operation.[000400] Referring back to Figures 41 & 42, the IFRs 140 in the inflow chamber 310 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. For example, the front and rear IFRs 140c, 140d may both be variablebuoyancy, pivoting-type IFRs 140 useful with an associated variable buoyancy system 250 (such as described and shown elsewhere herein). However, either or both of the IFRs 140c,140d may have another variable buoyancy configuration, be fixed-buoyancy and / or sliding- type IFRs 140 (such as described above and shown in the corresponding figures). The exemplary front IFR 140c is shown pivotably coupled to the front IFR support wall 320 (e.g., at the uppermost edge 56a of, and rearward of, the recessed front deck 56), while the exemplary rear IFR 140d is pivotably coupled to a rear IFR support wall 322 rearward of the front IFR 140c.[000401] Multiple IFRs 140 (e.g., the front and rear IFRs 140c, 140d) may be used in the inflow chamber 310 (or other locations on the vessel 10) to improve debris collection operations by directing or allowing mostly debris (more debris and less sea water) into the chamber 60, dampening or reducing wave action and / or turbulence in water entering the vessel 10, providing for more consistent debris recovery operations during a project (e.g., by efficiently and effectively managing the impact of controllable and non-controllable variables to provide steady inflow of primarily debris (e.g., small-sized debris) into the cargo compartment(s) 60), for any other purposes or a combination thereof. For example, in many use scenarios, the front IFR 140c may typically float primarily in sea water 38 in the inflow chamber 310 (e.g., Figure 46) and be configured to assist in dampening or reducing the impact, size, action and / or turbulence of waves that may enter the intake opening(s) 102, encourage only the top layer(s) in the sea water (e.g., small-sized debris, oily water) to pass thereby, other desired purpose(s) or a combination thereof. In such instances, the variable buoyancy system 250 (when included) of the exemplary front IFR 140c may be selectively actuated / adjusted during operations based upon the fact that the front IFR 140c floats primarily in water (high density liquid) and in response to or anticipation of direct contact with waves and water turbulence.[000402] Thus, in some embodiments, the front IFR 140c may be used to act similarly as the angled wave diminishing surface 57 of the exemplary recessed front desk 56 (whenincluded) as described above and may move drastically between positions. For example, when the body of water is calm (e.g., having a flat surface) during debris recovery operations, it may be desirable to maintain the front IFR 140c in a less buoyant (more horizontal) position. When there is turbulence on / near the surface of the body of water (e.g., due to waves), increased forward motion of the vessel, increased suction caused by the circulation pump(s) 184 (and or the debris pump(s) 380) or a combination thereof, it may be desirable to maintain the front IFR 140c in a more buoyant (angled) position.[000403] Still referring to Figures 41 & 42, the exemplary rear IFR 140d may, in many use scenarios, typically float in primarily small-sized debris 40 (e.g., oil 34, oily water, algae bloom) in the inflow chamber 310 (e.g., Figure 46) with little water turbulence (or less water turbulence than experienced by the front IFR 140c, particularly when the recessed front deck 56 and / or front IFR 140c successfully or significantly reduce the effect of wave action / turbulence in the liquid entering the inflow chamber 310 and / or allow primarily debris (e.g., small-sized debris 40) to pass to the rear IFR 140d). In at least those instances, the variable buoyancy system 250 of the rear IFR 140d (when included) may be selectively actuated / adjusted during operations based upon the facts that the rear IFR 140d floats primarily in debris (e.g., often having a lower density than sea water) and / or is subject to little or no wave action or water turbulence. The position of the exemplary rear IFR 140d may thus be finetuned (e.g., based upon the thickness and make-up of the debris floating through the inflow chamber 310, vessel speed, circulation pump 184 suction pressure) to optimize intake resistance, the cohesive properties of some small-sized debris 40, the ladle effect, for any other purposes, or a combination thereof.[000404] In at least some scenarios, the front IFR 140c of various embodiments may be characterized as being more likely to adjust position (e.g., pivot and / or be selectively pivoted in response to controllable and / or non-controllable variables) drastically in its uniqueenvironment and to achieve the desired objectives of the front IFR 140c, while the rear IFR140d may be characterized as more being more likely to adjust position (e.g., pivot and / or be selectively pivoted in response to controllable and / or non-controllable variables) by slight adjustments due to its unique environment and in order to optimize debris recovery operations. For example, the front IFR 140c of a debris recovery system 58 designed to effectively recover debris in a body of water that may have up to approximately twelve inch (12”) waves (e.g., on inland bodies of water and shallow off-shore locations) may move (e.g., pivot) within an arc of up to approximately twelve-fourteen inches (12-14”) in response to the controllable and non- controllable variables acting upon it during operations. In that scenario, the exemplary rear IFR 140d, though capable of moving within the same range of motion, may be expected to and / or selectively manipulated to move within a smaller range of motion in response to the controllable and non-controllable variables acting upon it and the desired objectives.[000405] Referring again to Figures 41 & 42, as discussed above, in various embodiments, during use of the debris recovery system 58, the buoyancy of the variablebuoyancy IFRs 140 may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of air in the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 of the IFR 140. In some embodiments, such as shown and discussed elsewhere herein, the buoyancy may be increased, for example, by blowing air from a low- pressure air compressor through piping and / or flexible hoses (e.g., flexible hoses may accommodate the movement of the IFR 140) into the buoyancy chamber(s) 152. As air is introduced into the exemplary buoyancy chamber(s) 152, liquid is pushed out of the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 through one or more openings 154 in (e.g., the bottom of) the buoyancy chamber 152. The buoyancy of the exemplary variable-buoyancy IFR 140 may be decreased by releasing air from the buoyancy chamber(s) 152 through the same flexible hoses and / or piping (e.g., through one or more vent valves). In such instances, the hydrostatic pressure around the buoyancy chamber 152 (and / or a motor, gravity or other cause) may force waterback into the buoyancy chamber 152, resulting in increased weight of the IFR 140 and a tendency for the IFR 140 to be positioned lower, relative to the surface of the liquid it floats in. Letting water into a buoyancy chamber 152, such as described above, may be referred to herein as “ballasting” the IFR 140, while forcing water out of a buoyancy chamber 152 may be referred to as “de -ballasting” the IFR 140.[000406] Some exemplary operational scenarios that may warrant adjustment to the buoyancy of one or more exemplary variable-buoyancy IFRs 140 (and / or other variables) include when the body of water is dead-calm verses having waves and / or water turbulence. In a dead calm situation, one or more of the exemplary IFRs 140 would typically not have to counter the dynamic force of waves / turbulence and can, if necessary, be ballasted to a less buoyant position. As waves or water turbulence increases, one or more of the exemplary IFRs 140 may be de-ballasted to a more buoyant position. For example, it may be desirable or necessary to (potentially significantly) de-ballast the front IFR 140c to press against and dampen or diminish the effect of the waves, and (typically) less necessary to de-ballast the rear IFR 140d or de-ballast it to a lesser degree.[000407] For another example, when conditions allow, the exemplary vessel 10 may be configured to collect debris while in transit (typically moving forward) through the debris field or fields. The transit motion of the exemplary vessel 10 may create head waves at the front 42 of the vessel 10 and intake opening 102. The head waves may, in many instances, be avoided, reduced or mitigated by increasing the suction of the exemplary circulation pumps 184 (e.g., one or more operators visually observes the water in front of the vessel 10 to see or anticipate head waves and ramps up the pumps 184 as needed, one or more sensors sends signals to an electronic controller to ramp up pumps 184). For example, the exemplary circulation pumps 184 may be configured to suck in sea water from the chamber 60 at a rate or volume that is at least slightly greater than the rate or volume of water / debris entering the intake opening 102,reducing or eliminating the existence or effect of head waves. If the maximum suction capacity of the exemplary circulation pump(s) 184 is achieved and head waves are forming, it may be desirable to slow the forward velocity of the vessel 10 to avoid, reduce or mitigate the existence or effect of the head waves. In any case, an increase in the transit motion of the exemplary vessel 10 or suction of the circulation pump(s) 184 (and / or suction of the debris pumps 380 (described below) typically to a less extent than the circulation pump(s) 184), or the existence of head waves or other water turbulence forward of the vessel 10 or any combinations thereof, will typically apply increased forces and / or friction upon the IFRs 140, which may be offset by de-ballasting one or more of the exemplary IFRs 140 to a more buoyant position. For example, it may be desirable or necessary to (potentially significantly) de-ballast the front IFR 140c, and (typically) less necessary to de-ballast the rear IFR 140d (or de-ballast it to a lesser degree than the front IFR 140c) to counter increased friction and / or forces thereupon.[000408] For still a further example, the thicker the small-sized debris 40 (e.g., oil 34) on the surface 32 of the body of water 30, the less buoyant the exemplary IFRs 140 (particularly the rear IFR 140d) may typically need to be in order to allow more debris to pass or cascade over it / them. It may therefore be desirable to (potentially significantly) ballast the exemplary rear IFR 140d and potentially also ballast the front IFR 140c (or ballast it to a lesser degree than the rear IFR 140d) depending upon the thickness of the debris 40. In scenarios with thicker debris, it may also or instead be beneficial to increase the suction of the exemplary circulation pump(s) 184 and / or transit velocity of the vessel 10 to increase debris inflow. Thus, adjustments to the buoyancy of the IFRs 140 may benefit from consideration of other controllable and non-controllable variables.[000409] In use scenarios when the small-sized debris 40 (e.g., oil 34) on the surface 32 of the body of water 30 is thin (e.g., a mere sheen), it may be desirable to de-ballast the exemplary IFRs 140 (particularly the rear IFR 140d) to make them more buoyant and cause avery thin layer of debris to pass over the front edge 142 thereof. As used herein, the terms“sheen” and variations thereof mean a very thin layer of small-sized debris (e.g., oil), such as less than 0.0002-0.005 mm floating on the water surface. Finessing the position of the exemplary IFRs 140, particularly the rear IFR 140d, to cause a very thin layer (e.g., razor or paper thin, sheen) of the small-sized debris 40 to pass over it may increase the volume and cascading movement (rushing, ladle effect) of the debris being collected as it falls over the front edge 142 of the IFR 140 (e.g., due to the cohesive nature of the small-sized debris (particles pulling other particles across the surface of the body of water 30 into the vessel 10) and / or suction of the circulation pump(s) 184 to at least slightly lower the liquid level rearward of the IFR(s) 140 relative to the liquid level forward of the IFR(s) 140) and cause the liquid forward of the IFRs 140 to move rearward and accelerate the recovery of small-sized debris and amount of debris recovered. In fact, the use of the exemplary debris recovery system 58 may result in recovery of substantially all the small-sized debris on or near the surface of the body of water in the subject debris field(s) 36. In some embodiments, the ballasting of the IFRs 140 (e.g., control of the variable buoyancy systems 250 associated therewith) and the actuation of pumps 184 may be controlled and varied as needed, in real-time and / or automatically by one or more electronic controllers (e.g., controller 688, Figure 140).[000410] Referring still to Figures 41 & 42, one or more exemplary circulation pumps 184 of the fluid removal system 158 may be situated in any desired location, such as one or more suction chambers 340 fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment(s) 60. In this example, two submersible, variable speed circulation pumps 184 are disposed in a single suction chamber 340 rearward of the chamber 60. An example of a commercial process pump that may be used as each circulation pump 184 in some embodiments is the model S8M, 8” hydraulic, submersible, axial or mixed-flow, 2,000 gallons-per-minute (GPM) high-volume pump sold by Hydra-Tech Pumps (e.g., 2 each, resulting in 4,000 GPM maximum intake ofdebris / water into the vessel 10 and water discharge from the chamber 60). Other embodiments may include only one or more than two (e.g., 3, 4, 5, etc.) circulation pumps 184, one or more banks of circulation pumps 184, one or more non-variable speed and / or non- submersible circulation pumps 184, more than one suction chamber 340, other features or a combination thereof.[000411] The exemplary suction chamber 340 is shown separated from the chamber 60 by at least one (rear) vertical wall 90 and fluidly coupled to the chamber 60 by at least one (rear) passageway 100 that allows fluid flow past the vertical wall 90. As shown in Figure 46, during debris recovery operations, the exemplary circulation pump(s) 184 is configured to create suction (e.g., in the suction chamber 340 and / or chamber 60) to concurrently (i) draw at least substantially or entirely sea water from the chamber 60, through the rear passageway(s) 100 and into the circulation pump(s) 184 (e.g., arrow 392) and (ii) draw debris (and typically some water) from the body of water 30, through the intake opening 102, into the inflow chamber 310 then over the IFRs 140 and into the chamber 60 (e.g., arrows 394). Thus, while the exemplary rear passageway(s) 100 between the chamber 60 and suction chamber 340 may effectively serve at least one common or similar purpose as the “suction conduit(s) 160” described above and shown in various appended figures (e.g., Figures 1-2, 13-20), one or more actual suction conduits 160 could be coupled to one or more of the exemplary circulation pumps 184, if desired. Accordingly, the compatible features of the suction conduit 160 as described and shown elsewhere herein are hereby incorporated herein by reference for these embodiments.[000412] Referring back to Figures 41 & 42, a single rear passageway 100 is shown extending between the exemplary suction chamber 340 and cargo compartment(s) 60, situated proximate to the lower end 76 of the collection chamber 60 and configured to typically be fully submersed in liquid (e.g., sea water) during operations (e.g., Figure 46) to allow a vacuum tobe created / maintained in the chamber 60 and / or a liquid-sealed system provided, draw at least substantially only sea water out of the chamber 60, for one or more other purposes or a combination thereof. For example, the lower end 91 of the vertical wall 90 may not extend down to the hull, or lower plate, 55 of the vessel 10 (or other part of the vessel 10) that forms or serves as the bottom 83 of the chamber 60 and / or suction chamber 340. In such instance, the exemplary rear passageway 100 may be the entire space 101 extending below the lower end 91 of the vertical wall 90 and between the walls 82, 98 that define or form the chamber 60 and suction chamber 340, respectively.[000413] In other examples, the rear passageway(s) 100 may comprise only part of the space 101, or one or more rear passageways 100 may be formed or provided in or proximate to the lower end 91 of the exemplary vertical wall 90 (which may extend to the bottom 83 of the cargo compartment and / or suction chamber 340, hull 55 or other component) or elsewhere (closer to the lower end than the upper end of the wall 90). In other embodiments, one or more suction conduits 160 (such as described above and shown in the corresponding drawings) may also or instead extend between the cargo compartment(s) 60 and the suction chamber(s) 340 (and / or circulation pump(s) 184) and / or may fluidly couple the cargo compartment(s) 60 with the suction chamber(s) 340 (and / or circulation pump(s) 184). Thus, the form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation of the passageway(s) 100 fluidly coupling the suction chamber 340 and cargo compartment(s) 60 are not limited or limiting upon the present disclosure, except and only to the extent as may be expressly specified otherwise herein or in any particular claims hereof and only for such specific references or claims and other claims depending therefrom. In some embodiments, a selectively moveable gate (e.g., gate 110, Figure 47) may be associated with the rear passageway(s) 100 to selectively seal off or fluidly isolate the suction chamber(s) 340 from the cargo compartment(s) 60 when desired and / or for any other purposes.[000414] Referring still to Figures 41 & 42, since the suction created by the exemplary circulation pump(s) 184 is configured to simultaneously remove sea water from the chamber 60 and draw debris / liquid into the inflow chamber 310 and chamber 60 (e.g., provide “active” removal of sea water from the chamber 60), substantial pumping capacity may be necessary in various debris recovery scenarios (such as mentioned above). In one exemplary application, an exemplary vessel 10 moving at approximately two knots across a debris field and having two concurrently operating suction pumps 184 without any IFRs 140 may have a rate of ingestion of water and debris up to approximately 4,000 gallons / minute.[000415] The liquid captured by the exemplary circulation pump(s) 184 may be delivered to any desired destination, such as discussed above. For example, the circulation pumps 184 may discharge liquid (e.g., entirely or substantially pure sea water) from the chamber 60 into the body of water 30 via at least one discharge opening 181. If desired, the fluid removal system 1 8 may include one or more discharge pipe (or hose) sections 182 extending from the circulation pump(s) 184 to the body of water 30 (or another vessel, storage tank, bladder bag etc.) for discharging the liquid. Any configuration of discharge pipe s 182 may be used. For example, the embodiment of Figure 118 shows first and second discharge pipe sections 182a, 182b extending to the body of water 30 from a single suction pump 184 on opposite sides of the vessel 10, such as to at least substantially negate any thrust caused by the discharge on each side, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. However, any other components and techniques may be used for moving or transporting liquid removed from the cargo compartment(s) 60 by the circulation pump(s) 184 off the vessel 10.[000416] Still referring to Figures 41 & 42, in any embodiments, the debris recovery system 58 may include a debris separation system 350 configured to assist in removing recovered debris therefrom (e.g., from one or more cargo compartments 60, vessels 10, other locations). The debris separation system 350 may have any suitable form, configuration,components and operation. In many embodiments, the debris separation system 350 includes at least one suction chamber vent 344 to allow the suction chamber 340 to be selectively at least partially vented of air / gases. For example, during flooding of the exemplary chamber 60 (and / or at any other desired times), the suction chamber vent 344 may be opened to allow air in the suction chamber 340 to escape and sea water to enter the suction chamber 340 sufficient to submerge the rear passageway(s) 100 between the suction chamber 340 and the chamber 60 and allow a vacuum to be created in the chamber 60 and / or a liquid-sealed system to be provided, for any other purposes or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the exemplary suction chamber 340 will fill with sea water 38 to sea level 33 during flooding (e.g., Figure 44) and the suction chamber vent 344 closed thereafter.[000417] In various embodiments, the escape of air from the suction chamber 340 through the suction chamber vent 344 may, if desired, be selectively controlled with at least one suction chamber vent valve 346, cap, cover or other component. When included, the suction chamber vent valve 346 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. For example, the suction chamber vent valve 346 (and suction chamber vent 344) may be selectively opened and closed manually (e.g., accessible by operators on the top deck 54) or electronically (e.g., via electronic, or computer-based, controller). In some embodiments, the suction chamber vent valve 346 may, for example, be a suitable 3", 300#, ball valve. However, other embodiments may not include a suction chamber 340 and related components.[000418] Still referring to Figures 41 & 42, the debris separation system 350 may include at least one flooding port 354 and at least one discharge port 356, both fluidly coupled to the chamber 60. The exemplary flooding port(s) 354 is / are configured to allow the chamber 60 to be selectively filled (e.g., to sea level 33, Figures 44, 105 & 124) with sea water from the body of water (e.g., by free-flooding or active filling of the cargo compartment(s) 60 prior to debrisrecovery operations). For example, a single flooding port 354 is shown formed in the bottom83 of the chamber 60 (e.g., the vessel hull 55) to provide direct fluid communication between the body of water and the chamber 60. In other embodiments, the flooding port(s) 354 may be provided at any other location(s) in the chamber 60 or elsewhere in the vessel 10 (e.g., and fluidly coupled to the cargo compartment(s) 60, such as with hoses or pipes).[000419] In various embodiments, if desired, the flow of sea water into the collection chamber 60 through the flooding port 354 may be selectively controlled with at least one flood valve 358 or other component. The flood valve(s) 358 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. For example, the flood valve 358 (and flooding port 354) may be selectively opened and closed via a manual flood valve handle 360 (e.g., accessible by operators on the top deck 54) or electronically (e.g., via electronic, or computer-based, controller). In some embodiments, the flood valve 358 may be a suitable 3”, 150#, flanged ball valve. In other embodiments, one or more other components, such as a remotely controllable cap, conduit, submersible fluid pump 376 (e.g., Figure 47) or other component be provided instead of or in addition to the flood valve 358.[000420] Still referring to Figures 41 & 42, the exemplary discharge port(s) 356 may be used to allow air (and any other gases) in the cargo compartment(s) 60 to be selectively evacuated therefrom (e.g., during flooding of the cargo compartment(s) 60 and / or during debris recovery operations). The evacuation of air from the cargo compartment(s) 60 may be desirable, for example, to allow debris floating in the chamber 60 to reach up to the upper end 74 of the chamber 60 for subsequent removal therefrom, completely fill the chamber 60 with liquid, help form a liquid-sealed system, help ensure only (or primarily) sea water is drawn by the circulation pump(s) 184 out of the cargo compartment(s) 60, allow a vacuum to be created / maintained in the chamber 60, allow only or primarily debris to be removed from the cargo compartment(s) 60 by one or more debris pumps 380, for any other purposes or acombination thereof. In various embodiments, a single discharge port 356 is provided in the chamber 60 at the upper end 74 thereof (e.g., in the top deck 54 of the vessel 10 or wall, or ceiling, 81 forming the top of the compartment 60). If desired, the exhaust of air (and / or other gases) from the chamber 60 through the discharge port 356 may be selectively controlled and / or sealed, such as with at least one valve 362 (e.g., Figures 47, 137), hatch, or cover, 622 (e.g., Figures 55, 102), door or other component. However, each among the suction chamber vent(s) 344, suction chamber vent valve(s) 346, flooding port(s) 354, flood valve(s) 358 and the discharge port(s) 356 may have any other suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation or may not be included in various embodiments.[000421] Still referring to Figures 41 & 42, the exemplary debris separation system 350 may include one or more air evacuators 366 configured to assist in the flooding and air (gas) evacuation of the chamber 60. In various embodiments, for example when the exemplary discharge port(s) 356 (e.g., disposed at or near the upper end 74 of the compartment 60) and the exemplary flooding port(s) 354 are open and each of the passageways 100 to the compartment 60 is submersed in liquid and / or closed off, a vacuum may be formed in the compartment 60 (creating a vacuum-sealed compartment 60), all or a desired lesser amount of air and other gases therein may be removed therefrom by actuation of one or more air evacuators 366 and the entire chamber 60 (or a desired lesser amount) may be filled with sea water (e.g., Figure 45). Thereafter, during debris recovery operations in some applications, the chamber 60 could be effectively sealed (and, if desired, intermittently evacuated of any gas that may enter with inflow from the inflow chamber 310), such as to help form a liquid-sealed system. In other embodiments, a liquid-sealed system may be achievable by sealing chamber60 (e.g., without the use of any air evacuators 366).[000422] When included, the air evacuator(s) 366 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. In some embodiments, the air evacuator 366 includes a vacuum pump 370 (e.g., 24-volt standard vacuum pump, hydraulic drive diaphragm pump (e.g., SELWOOD PD 75 positive displacement pump)) fluidly coupled to the discharge port 356 at at least one inlet 371 so that the vacuum pump 370 can be selectively actuated to draw air (and other gases) out of the chamber 60 and exhaust it to atmosphere (or other desired destination). In other embodiments, the air evacuator(s) 366 may also or instead include at least one submersible fluid pump 376 (e.g., Figure 47) configured to actively pump sea water 38 into the chamber 60 and push out the air and / or other gas therein. For example, as shown in Figure 47, a submersible fluid pump 376 may be fluidly coupled to one or more of the flooding ports 354 (e.g., at the lower end 76 of the chamber 60). In such instances, a selectively actuated door (e.g., gate 110) may be needed to block the passageway(s) 100 between the inflow chamber 310 and / or suction chamber 340 and the chamber 60 to help enable flooding of the chamber 60 as desired. However, the air evacuator 366 may have any other suitable form, components, configuration and operation. For example, one or more debris pumps 380 (described below) can serve as an air evacuator(s) 366 (e.g., Figures 52, 55, 87) or be used in combination, or conjunction, with one or more other air evacuators 366 (e.g., vacuum pumps 370).[000423] Referring again to Figures 41 & 42, the debris separation system 350 may include one or more debris pumps 380 configured to remove small-sized debris 40 from the chamber 60 (e.g., during or after debris recovery operations). The debris pump 380 may also be referred to herein (and other patents owned by the Assignee hereof) as an oil pump or crude oil pump (whether or not it will be used to pump oil), crude oil pump, debris discharge pump and variations thereof. Thus, the terms “debris pump”, “debris discharge pump”, “oil pump” and variations thereof are used interchangeably herein to refer to any pump having the commonquality of being capable of removing any desired debris from one or more cargo compartments 60 that are on a vessel 10. The debris pump 380 may have any suitable form, quantity, size, configuration, construction, precise location, orientation and operation. For example, the debris pump 380 may be an oil pump capable of pumping liquid, slurries and small-sized solid debris 40 (e.g., up to 1.00” or 1.50” sized particles or larger or smaller). An example of a commercial pump that may be used as the debris pump 380 in some embodiments is the Vogelsang model VX136-210Q positive displacement, self-priming, rotary lobe, 610 GPM volume pump.[000424] In some embodiments, the debris pump 380 may be variable speed, or multiple independently controllable debris pumps 380 may be included, such as to serve as a controllable variable during debris recovery operations, provide greater flexibility in the speed of off-loading the debris, for any other purpose or a combination thereof.[000425] In various embodiments, the inlet 382 to the debris pump 380 may be fluidly coupled to the chamber 60 (e.g., via the discharge port 356) at or near the upper end 74 thereof, to assist in ensuring that only (or primarily) debris that floats to the upper end 74 of the chamber 60 is removed thereby, for convenience, ease of access for maintenance, adjustment or replacement, for any other purposes or a combination thereof). In other embodiments, the inlet 382 to the debris pump(s) 380 may be fluidly coupled to the chamber 60 at a location 382a (e.g., Figure 47) in the compartment 60 spaced down from the upper wall 81 of the compartment 60 (e.g., via extension 384). In various embodiments, the inlet 382 may be positioned in the chamber 60 to be submersed in debris (and maybe also water) therein substantially throughout operations (e.g., to ensure that air / gas that may enter the chamber 60 is not sucked into the debris pump 380, help provide a liquid-sealed system and / or for any other purpose).[000426] In some configurations, the debris pump inlet 382 may be movable, such as to ensure it is submerged in debris (and / or water or other liquid) or at any other desired location of for any other purpose. For example, the inlet 382 may be on a flexible pipe fluidly coupled to the debris pump 380 and extending downwardly from a float.[000427] Referring still to Figures 41 & 42, the exemplary debris pump 380 may, if desired, be configured to off-load or deliver the recovered debris to any desired location during debris recovery operations (e.g., without at least significant, or any, interruption in debris recovery) so that, in some instances, there may be effectively no limit in the volume of debris that can be (e.g., rapidly) recovered. For example, one or more debris disposal hoses, or pipes, 386 may be coupled between the debris pump 380 and one or more other vessels (e.g., barges, ships), floating or submersed storage tanks, bags or other debris storage contain...

Claims

CLAIMS1. An autonomous system for collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on a waterborne vessel, the vessel being deployable in the body of water, the system comprising: the vessel being unmanned and including a single collection chamber having upper and lower ends and a sloping roof at the upper end thereof, the vessel further including a debris pump and a water discharge pump both fluidly coupled to the collection chamber, wherein debris and water from the body of water are collected in the collection chamber and debris, separated and separately discharged off the vessel; an electronic controller; an internal sensor disposed at least partially within the collection chamber and communicably coupled to the electronic controller, the internal sensor being configured to gather information about contents of the collection chamber and communicate such information to the electronic controller; and an external sensor associated with the body of water and communicably coupled to the electronic controller, the external sensor being configured to gather information about debris in the body of water and communicate such information to the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is configured to turn on and off the water discharge pump based at least partially upon information from the external sensor and turn on and off the debris pump based at least partially upon information from the internal sensor, both without human involvement.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the debris pump and water discharge pump are disposed in the collection chamber.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper end of the collection chamber is vaulted, has a generally inverted- funnel shape or a generally cathedral-ceiling shape.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the vessel has at least one top deck and the collection chamber has a flooding port fluidly coupling the collection chamber to the body of water and being selectively opened to allow the collection chamber to be free-flooded with water from the body of water without the need for any pumps to fill the collection chamber with water or purge the collection chamber of air, the collection chamber further including a ceiling at the upper end thereof, the ceiling being sufficiently spaced downwardly from at least one top deck of the vessel so that after the collection chamber is free-flooded with water without the need for any pumps to fill the collection chamber with water or purge the collection chamber of air, the vessel will sink in the body of water until the collection chamber is completely full of water.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein debris and water recovered from the body of water travel in a flow path on the vessel, further including an inflow regulator (IFR) releasably coupled to the vessel and extending at least partially across the flow path, the IFR having a carrier and at least two buoyant floats releasably engageable with the carrier, wherein the buoyancy of the IFR can be varied by changing the number of buoyant floats coupled to the carrier.

6. The system of claim 1 , further including an intake opening and an inflow tunnel, the intake opening fluidly coupling the collection chamber with the body of water and the inflow tunnel fluidly coupled between the intake opening and collection chamber, the inflow tunnel being at least partially formed between opposing first and second walls and having a width extending between the first and second walls, wherein all debris entering the collectionchamber from the intake opening must pass through the inflow tunnel and the width of the inflow tunnel can be selectively varied.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the width of the inflow tunnel may be varied by adding or removing one or more spacers between the first and second walls.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein water from the collection chamber is removed through an inlet of the water discharge pump, whereby the velocity of water entering the water discharge pump inlet is slowed by at least one barrier disposed at least partially in the collection chamber.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one barrier includes a suction diffuser.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the water discharge pump has an inlet fluidly coupled to the collection chamber and through which the water discharge pump removes water from the collection chamber, further including an intake opening through which debris and water enter the vessel from the body of water and a flow passageway fluidly coupling the intake opening and collection chamber, wherein the velocity of water entering the water discharge pump inlet is reduced by at least one barrier disposed at least partially between the intake opening or flow passageway and the water discharge pump inlet.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one barrier includes a perforated suction diffuser, whereby all water entering the water discharge pump inlet must pass through the suction diffuser.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the water discharge pump inlet has a cross-sectional area, whereby the suction pressure of the water discharge pump is distributed by the suction diffuser across an area greater than the cross-sectional area of the water discharge pump inlet.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the vessel has at least one pair of opposing sides and a bottom, further including first and second water discharge outlets fluidly coupled to the water discharge pump and through which water from the collection chamber is discharged by the water discharge pump off the vessel in a discharge path at least substantially parallel to the surface of water in the body, the first and second water discharge outlets being disposed proximate to the bottom of the vessel on opposing sides thereof, respectively, whereby water can be discharged from the vessel without more than minimally altering the position of the vessel and more than minimally disturbing floating debris in the body of water.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the vessel has at least first and second opposite sides, further including first and second adjustable-position flotation tanks positioned at least partially above the roof, the first adjustable-position flotation tank being closer to the first side than the second side of the vessel the second adjustable-position flotation tank being closer to the second side than the first side of the vessel, each flotation tank being moveable up and down at least partially over and relative to the roof and collection chamber.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the sloping roof includes first and second slanted sections sloping upwardly and inwardly from the first and second sides of the vessel, respectively, further wherein each adjustable-position flotation tank is independently moveable in an angled path up and down at least partially over and relative to the respective roof section associated therewith.

16. A method of autonomously collecting and separating floating debris and water from a body of water on an unmanned, waterborne vessel, the vessel being deployable in the body of water and including a single collection-separation chamber, and a circulation pump and debris pump both fluidly coupled to the collection-separation chamber, the circulation pump configured to draw water and debris from the body of water into the collection- separation chamber and discharge water from the collection-separation chamber off the vessel, the debris pump configured to discharge debris from the collection-separation chamber off the vessel, the method comprising: an internal sensor, disposed at least partially within the collection-separation chamber and communicably coupled to an electronic controller, gathering information about contents of the collection-separation chamber; the internal sensor communicating information about contents of the collectionseparation chamber to the electronic controller; an external sensor, associated with the body of water and communicably coupled to the electronic controller, gathering information about debris in the body of water; the external sensor communicating information about debris in the body of water to the electronic controller; the electronic controller turning on and off the circulation pump based at least partially upon information from the external sensor without human involvement; and the electronic controller turning on and off the debris pump based at least partially upon information from the internal sensor without human involvement.

17. A waterborne vessel useful for autonomously collecting floating debris and water from a body of water and discharging water into the body of water, the vessel comprising:a collection chamber fluidly coupled to the body of water by an intake opening; a water discharge pump having an inlet fluidly coupled to the collection chamber, the water discharge pump being configured to draw water and debris from the body of water, through the intake opening and into the collection chamber and discharge water from the collection chamber off the vessel, whereby all water discharged off the vessel by the water discharge pump must pass through the water discharge pump inlet; a perforated suction diffuser disposed at least partially between the intake opening and water discharge pump inlet, wherein all water entering the water discharge pump inlet must pass through the perforated suction diffuser and whereby the velocity of water entering the water discharge pump inlet is reduced by the suction diffuser; and at least one sensor communicably coupled to the water discharge pump and configured to gather information about debris near or inside the vessel, wherein the water discharge pump is automatically turned on and off based at least partially upon information gathered by the at least one sensor.

18. The waterborne vessel of claim 17 wherein the water discharge pump inlet has a cross- sectional area, whereby the suction pressure of the water discharge pump is distributed by the suction diffuser across an area greater than the cross-sectional area of the water discharge pump inlet.

19. The waterborne vessel of claim 18 wherein the combined cross-sectional area of all perforations in the suction diffuser is at least five times greater than the cross-sectional area of the water discharge pump inlet.

20. The waterborne vessel of claim 17 wherein the collection chamber is a sunken collection chamber.

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