Apparatus and method for the transplantation of a water-based plant

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for underwater transplantation of plants (49), comprising: a base structure (110) configured to be maintained at a fix water level relative a water surface (102) and / or a seabed (104), a plant carrier (120) arranged vertically below the base structure (110), and at least one force application member (132) configured to move a plant casing (1) from the plant carrier (120) to the seabed (104) and leaving the plant casing (1) and the root end of the plant (49) in the seabed (104).

Description

[0001] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE TRANSPLANTATION OF A WATER-BASED PLANT

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for underwater transplantation of water-based plants. In particular, it relates to an apparatus and method with which root ends of the plants are arranged in plant casings which are forced into the seabed and left therein together with the root ends of the plants.

[0004] Climate change is an issue that awakens a lot of interest from different types of industries, and there has been a lot of focus on finding ways to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. There are numerous disclosures where industries utilise chemical or biological processes to attempt to capture CO2 from the atmosphere.

[0005] Biological solutions to increase carbon capture are widely used, where the transplantation of trees and other types of CO2 capturing plants have been practiced for centuries, as the plants are capable of capturing CO2 from the atmosphere for their growth.

[0006] There have also been numerous attempts to utilise plants to increase the carbon uptake in marine environments, where marine plants have capabilities to capture CO2 from both freshwater and seawater, and where marine plants may also have positive effects on marine life in areas where marine plants grow.

[0007] There have been multiple ways of attempting to increase the occurrence of marine plants in soil situated at the bottom of a body of water, such as a lake, ocean, river, etc, by transplanting marine plants in the soil or the sediments at the bottom of the waterbed. It has been shown that by increasing the transplantation of seaweed in soils that are in bodies of water, the uptake of CO2 is increased and the aquatic environment is improved.

[0008] Furthermore, by planting water-based plants into marine environments, it is possible to increase biodiversity in the marine environment, as well as utilise marine based plants for protein production as well as utilising the marine based plants for food production.

[0009] 86909PC01 The marine environment is generally under pressure due to various factors, such as elevated nutrients and oxygen depletion. Research shows that eelgrass has a very positive impact on the marine environment. Eelgrass has the ability to absorb and bind relatively large amounts of nutrients and provides further derived environmental services such as dampening of wave strokes, CO2 capture, oxygenation of the water, increasing light / visibility, hiding place for fry, and generally increased biodiversity.

[0010] In order to benefit from the eelgrass's environmental services, eelgrass must exist locally and in large quantities. Large-scale transplantation of eelgrass is very resource-intensive and requires manual work with divers. The market is looking for new innovative solutions and methods that enable efficient large-scale transplantation that are also beneficial for the plant's self-protection and vegetative growth.

[0011] The transplantation of water-based plants, such as seaweed, or more specifically eelgrass, is often seen as problematic, and the transplantation process is very time consuming. Seaweed often has a positive buoyancy in the body of water, which means that transplanted plants must be anchored in some way to the soil or the sediment to ensure that the plant succeeds in growing its roots into the soil or the sediment for it to be able to anchor itself in the bottom of the body of water. One way of transplanting seaweed has been to tie each plant to a weight, such as a metal nail, where the plant and nail are pushed into the soil from above, and where the nail reduces the buoyancy of the plant and thereby holds the plant within the soil.

[0012] However, there are numerous problems with this type of transplantation, as the introduction of a metal nail may not be healthy for the marine environment.

[0013] Furthermore, by pushing the metal nail downwards from above, there is a risk that the exposed roots of the plant may become damaged during the introduction of the plant into the soil.

[0014] Thus, there is a need to improve the transplantation techniques, in which it may be possible to reduce the labour needed to transplant marine plants such as seaweed, and where the roots of the plant may be protected during transplantation.

[0015] Summary of the invention

[0016] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for underwater transplantation of water-based plants, the apparatus comprising:

[0017] - a base structure configured to be maintained at a fixed water level relative to a water surface and / or a seabed,

[0018] 86909PC01 - a plant carrier arranged below, such as vertically below, the base structure, the plant carrier being configured to carry a plurality of plant casings each at least partly surrounding a root end of a plant, such as one plant or a bundle of plants, to be transplanted, and

[0019] - at least one force application member each configured to, during use of the apparatus:

[0020] o move a plant casing from the plant carrier and into the seabed by applying a downwards force at a lower end of the plant casing thereby forcing at least a part of the plant casing and the surrounded root end of the plant into the seabed, and

[0021] o retract the force application member upwards out of engagement with the plant casing while leaving the plant casing and the root end of the plant in the seabed.

[0022] By "seabed" is meant any bed of a marine environment where it is relevant to perform transplantation of waterplants. It may e.g. be a sea, a river, or a lake.

[0023] The apparatus allows efficient and robust planting, or transplantation, of water-based plants. In particular, accurate vertical positioning, which is provided due to the plant carrier being arranged underneath the base structure, allows the force application member to move the plants to a desired depth in the seabed. The apparatus makes the hole in seabed and arranges the plant therein by one operation / movement of the at least one force application member thereby providing a very efficient transplantation process. Further, the apparatus allows for rapid transplantation of multiple plants by moving the apparatus relative to the seabed during operation.

[0024] It should be noted that while vertical positioning of the apparatus allows vertical transplanting of the plants, it is equally possible to arrange the apparatus in a tilted manner thereby enabling tilted transplanting of plants. Hence, plants may be transplanted at an angle different from 90° relative to the seabed. A tilted arrangement of the apparatus may be achieved along a longitudinal axis and / or along a transversal axis of the apparatus. If a tilted orientation is used, the forces arising in reaction to the forces applied by the at least one force application member may be used to push the apparatus forwards thereby improving the transplantation process.

[0025] The term "lower end" of the plant casing refers to the orientation of the plant casing when arranged ready for use and after the transplantation. This end of the plant

[0026] 86909PC01 casing may also be referred to as the "second end", and this term will be used in parts of the later description of embodiments of the plant casing. Different exemplary details, such as dimensions and materials, of the plant casings will be described below.

[0027] The fact that "the plant casing is moved into the seabed" does not exclude that an upper end of the plant casing may extend upwards from the seabed as long as a sufficient length of the plant casing is submerged in the seabed to established an anchoring holding the plant in place in the seabed until a continued anchoring is obtained by the roots of the plants which will grow further into the seabed.

[0028] The reference to a "downwards force" being applied by the at least one force application member does not exclude that the overall force is non-vertical as long as it has an angle ensuring the intended anchoring of the plant casing and the plant in the seabed.

[0029] The fact that the force exerted by the at least one force application member is applied at the lower end of the plant casing results in the plant casing being forced into the seabed without a risk of damaging the plant by compressional forces that could have been present, if the force had been applied to an upper end of the plant casing. In presently preferred embodiments, the force is applied without direct contact between the force application member and the plant so that the risk of damaging the plant is hereby lowered, such a removed. Furthermore, the plant casing forms a protection to the root end of the plant during the movement into the seabed.

[0030] In one exemplary embodiment, the at least one force application member forms part of a transplantation unit being connected to the base structure or the plant carrier. This allows for a more robust design of the apparatus. Further, a modular approach may be utilised in manufacturing the apparatus. By having the transplantation unit secured to the base structure or the plant carrier, the stroke length of the force application member can be controlled to be constant. In case the transplantation unit is attached to the plant carrier, it is possible to accurately position the apparatus only be controlling the depth at which the plant carrier is arranged.

[0031] In one exemplary embodiment, the transplantation unit comprises at least two, such as two, spaced apart force application members. Preferably the at least two force application members are spaced apart in a transverse direction, i.e. in a direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the apparatus. This allows two or

[0032] 86909PC01 more rows of plants to be transplanted simultaneously, thus increasing the operational speed of the apparatus.

[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, the transplantation unit further comprises a drive member configured to reciprocally move the at least one force application member up and down between the plant carrier and the seabed. This ensures a robust and controllable interface for transplanting the plants, at a high speed.

[0034] In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a submersion structure connecting the plant carrier to the base structure, which submersion structure is configured for adjustment of the vertical distance between the plant carrier and the base structure. This allows for a simple yet robust anchoring of the plant carrier at the desired water depth.

[0035] In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a submersion device configured to adjust the height of the submersion structure in order to change the vertical distance between the plant carrier and the base structure and thereby adjust the vertical distance between the plant carrier and the seabed. By "height of the submersion structure" is meant a vertical dimension thereof. The apparatus is thus very simple to configure for different water depths, as the submersion device may ensure that the plant carrier maintains a position of constant height, i.e. vertical distance, above the seabed.

[0036] In one exemplary embodiment, the submersion structure is in the form of a scissor mechanism and / or the submersion device comprises at least one wire attached to the plant carrier. What is referred to as "wire" could also be referred to as cable, rope, or similar member.

[0037] In embodiments comprising both a scissor mechanism and a wire, the scissor mechanism may be used to ensure that the plant carrier attached at the lower end of the scissor mechanism is kept parallel with the base structure, and the at least one wire may be used to control the distance between the base structure and the plant carrier. This arrangement enables that one wire is sufficient to control the distance, but the scope of protection also covers embodiments with more than one wire. The scissor mechanism may be designed so that the at least one wire is the only feature controlling the distance whereas the function of the scissor mechanism itself is to ensure the parallel arrangement. The submersion device and / or the scissor device

[0038] 86909PC01 itself then preferably comprises one or more sliders to allow for the movement of end parts of the scissor mechanism with respect to the parts of the base structure to which it is slidingly fastened. This does not only provide for a simple and mechanically robust solution, but it also allows the apparatus to be operational in a wide range of water depths. The scissor mechanism requires only a very small vertical space when being folded, yet it can extend to a significant height when unfolded. In an embodiment, the contraction of the arms of the scissor mechanism relates to the lowering of the submersion structure in a ratio of 1:10 to 1:25 i.e. that a substantially horizontal movement of one unit e.g. centimetres is converted to a vertical movement of 10 units. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio is 1:15 to 1:20. In this way, an efficient relation between the length of the arms and the projection towards the seabed is achieved.

[0039] In one exemplary embodiment, the base structure is configured to be attached underneath and / or be towed by a marine vessel. This provides for high-speed operation, as no manual labour is required except for what is needed to move the marine vessel.

[0040] In one exemplary embodiment, the plant carrier comprises or is configured to carry at least one plant casing supply rack for holding a plurality of the plant casings until the transplantation. This is particularly beneficial since a large amount of plant casings can be loaded to the apparatus in a single operation. Each plant casing may accommodate one or more plants to be transplanted. Further, plant casing supply racks can be pre-loaded, thereby facilitating the operation at sea.

[0041] A further advantage of using plant casing supply racks instead of individually handled plant casings is that the arrangement of the plants into the plant casings as well as the arrangement of the plant casings in the plant casing supply racks can be performed at one location, typically on-land. The subsequent transportation, handling onboard the marine vessel, and the transplantation itself can also be made more efficient.

[0042] In one exemplary embodiment, the plant carrier further comprises a plant casing loader being configured to feed plant casings to a discharge end of the at least one plant casing supply rack. This allows for automatic positioning of the next plant casing to be transplanted immediately after the at least one force application member has moved one plant casing to the seabed. Hence, high-speed operation is enabled.

[0043] 86909PC01 The plant casing supply racks may be provided with end stops which can maintain the plant casings in the plant casing supply rack until the transplantation, and which can be removed to enable the feeding of the plant casings to the discharge end. In such embodiments, the plant casing loader may e.g. be a spring-loaded member acting on the plant casings at a location previously covered by an end stop.

[0044] In one exemplary embodiment, the plant carrier is configured to hold a plurality of plant casing supply racks, preferably arranged in one or more rows. Removal of the end stops as part of the loading of the plant casing supply racks into the plant carrier makes it possible to supply the plant casings to the discharge end via one plant casing loader per row of plant casings, even if they are arranged in different plant casing supply racks.

[0045] The at least one plant carrier supply rack may be oriented in any suitable orientation, such as horizontally, vertically, or inclined.

[0046] In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a control unit configured to control the operation of the plant carrier and / or the at least one force application member. An operator may thus control the operation of the apparatus, including timing, using a single interface.

[0047] In one exemplary embodiment, the control unit is further configured to control the operation of the submersion device. An operator may thus control the operation of the apparatus, including the depth of operation, using a single interface.

[0048] In one exemplary embodiment, the at least one force application member is configured for use with plant casings having a force application part at the lower end and on an outer surface of the plant casing so that, during use, the force application member applies the downwards force to the force application part.

[0049] In one exemplary embodiment, the at least one force application member is configured for use with plant casings of which the force application part is provided by the plant casing having side walls comprising a flexible sheet which is folded at a second end to provide a force application volume into which a part of the force application member can be inserted for enabling the movement of the plant casing and the application of the downwards force.

[0050] 86909PC01 In one exemplary embodiment, the at least one force application member is shaped as a fork at a region engaging with the force application part, so that one leg of the fork can be inserted into the force application volume and another leg of the fork can engage with an outer surface of the force application volume.

[0051] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for underwater transplantation of water-based plants by use of an apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention. The method comprises:

[0052] providing a plurality of plant casings with plants on a plant carrier; positioning the plant carrier at a predetermined height above the seabed; activating the at least one force application member to move a plant casing from the plant carrier and into the seabed; and

[0053] retracting the at least one force application member upwards out of engagement with the plant casing while leaving the plant casing and the root end of the plant in the seabed.

[0054] The method allows efficient and robust planting, or transplantation, of water-based plants. In particular, accurate vertical positioning, which is provided due to the plant carrier being arranged underneath the base structure, allows the force application member to move the plants to a desired depth in the seabed. Further, the method allows for rapid transplantation of multiple plants by moving the plant carrier relative the seabed during operation.

[0055] In one exemplary embodiment, positioning the plant carrier is performed by adjusting the height of a submersion structure to which the plant carrier is attached. This allows for a simple yet robust change of the vertical distance between the plant carrier and the base structure. The method is thus very simple to configure for different water depths, as the submersion device may ensure that the plant carrier maintains a position of constant height above the seabed.

[0056] In one exemplary embodiment, the method further comprises repeating the method after moving the plant carrier relative the seabed. In this way, large scale transplantation can be performed, thus covering a large area without requiring any substantial manual labour.

[0057] In the present disclosure, reference to "plant" is made to cover various types suitable for sub-surface or underwater growth, such as seedlings, seeds, germinated seeds

[0058] 86909PC01 and / or other types of plant substances. Within the context of this application, coral is also meant to be comprised in the term "plant", as their stationary behaviour make them particularly suitable for the apparatus and method described herein. Preferably, the plant is suitable for cultivation of underwater areas with multiple plants. Thus, in the following the reference to a plant may mean any of the above.

[0059] The following is a description of different exemplary embodiments of a plant casing which can be used for the transplantation of water-based plants by use of an apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention as described above. In the following description, reference is made to a casing assembly comprising a casing and a force application member. Such a force application member is preferably the same as the force application member described above as forming part of the apparatus. As described above, a plant casing is configured to at least partly surrounding a root of a plant and thereby protect at least a part of the plant during transplantation of the plant. A plant casing may further be configured to carry a seed of a plant to be transplanted into the seabed together with the plant.

[0060] A casing assembly comprises at least one plant casing defining a casing volume for holding a part of a plant, typically a root end of the plant. In the following description, "casing" refers to "plant casing" as used in the above description. The casing comprises a first end part, a second end part, a first peripheral part and a second peripheral part, where the casing has a longitudinal axis extending from the first end part to the second end part, and a transverse axis extending from the first peripheral part to the second peripheral part, wherein the casing comprises a first side wall and a second side wall having a first inner surface and a second inner surface, respectively, defining the casing volume and a first outer surface and a second outer surface, respectively, wherein the casing volume has an opening, the opening is positioned in the first end part and / or the first peripheral part and / or in a side wall of the casing, and the second end part comprises a force application part, so that when the casing is transplanted into soil material of the seabed, the casing is pulled into the soil via the second end.

[0061] The casing may be configured to hold one or more plants within the casing volume, wherein the casing volume may be divided into one or more smaller volumes in order to separate the plants from each other while using one casing. The structure of the casing having a first end, a second end, a first transverse end and a second transverse end may be seen as a structure of the casing when the casing is introduced

[0062] 86909PC01 into the soil of the seabed. Thus, the casing may have intermediate stages e.g. during preparations of the casing prior to transplantation. As an example, the reference to the second end and the force application part may be viewed in the moments prior to introduction of the casing in the soil of the seabed.

[0063] The present casing assembly is intended to be utilised to protect the plant during transplantation and to provide an anchor to the plant after transplantation. The side wall of the casing is intended to enclose at least part of the plant, typically a root end, so that when a force is applied to the casing to introduce the casing into the soil, the casing may absorb a part of the force in order to protect the plant. This may be especially important when transplanting seedlings, as the roots of the seedlings may be delicate, and by providing the roots within the casing volume, the forces used to transplant the seedling may be diverted away from the roots in order to ensure that the roots are intact when the plant has been introduced into the soil.

[0064] In some applications not using the present invention, plants are transplanted from above, where the plant is pushed downwards into the soil, which may cause damage to the top of the plant as well as the roots of the plant if the soil is resistant to the introduction of the plant. Traditionally, this may be solved by preparing the ground prior to the transplantation of the plant by e.g. creating a furrow or by creating a depression in the soil where the plant is introduced into a furrow or a depression and where surrounding material is subsequently used to pack the transplanted soil.

[0065] However, when working in an environment such as at the bottom of a body of water the preparation may be very difficult, which means that other ways have to be utilised to protect the plant.

[0066] The casing assembly and the apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure reduces the risk that damage is done to the plant by ensuring that the force application part is located in the vicinity of the second end, and by transferring a force to the second end of the casing, it is possible to allow the second end of the casing to enter the soil before any other part of the casing, allowing the second end of the casing to create a depression for the casing in the soil. Thus, the second end is pushed into the soil using the force application part, where the second end pulls the remaining parts of the casing into the soil and thereby ensures that the force applied to the plant is a pulling force coming from the second end of the casing, i.e. a force that originates below the plant during transplantation and not a force coming from the above and pushing the plant into the soil.

[0067] 86909PC01 This ensures that the plant is protected during transplantation, that the second end of the casing breaks the ground of the soil, and that the side wall of the casing protects the plant during the introduction of the casing assembly into the ground.

[0068] The force application part may be arranged between a first casing volume and a second casing volume, where a fold on at least one side wall is arranged between the first casing volume and the second casing volume providing a force application part. This means that the casing may hold two plants, and where the first casing volume is on one side of the fold and the second casing volume may be on the opposite side of the fold, where each casing volume is configured to hold a part of a plant.

[0069] The force application part may have a force application axis, where the force application axis may be parallel to a longitudinal axis of a casing volume, and where the force application axis is arranged at a predetermined distance from the longitudinal axis of the casing volume. The force application axis may be configured to apply a force to the casing, where the connection between the force application part and the second part of the casing transfers the force from a force application axis that is distal to the casing volume axis, to the casing volume axis, thereby allowing the force to be mechanically transferred from the force application part to the remaining parts of the casing.

[0070] The casing assembly may be referred to as an anchoring assembly, because the casing assembly may be utilised to anchor a plant in soil. The anchoring may be important in relation to the fact that when the plant is transplanted into a seabed of a body of water, the plant may have a buoyancy that is positive in the body of water. Thus, if the plant is not anchored in the seabed, there is a risk that the plant may be pulled out of the seabed due to the buoyancy force of the plant in the body of water.

[0071] As described above in relation to some embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, the force application part may be arranged on an outer surface of the first side wall or the second side wall. The casing volume may be on an inner surface of the first side wall or the second side wall, where the force application part is on an outer surface of the same walls. This means that when a force is applied via the force application part, the plant, which is within the casing volume, will not be directly affected by the force. Thus, when a force application member interacts with the force application part, the force application member does not come in direct contact with

[0072] 86909PC01 the plant but only comes in direct contact with an outer surface of the first side wall and / or the second side wall.

[0073] The force application part may be in mechanical communication with the second end of the casing, so that a force applied to the force application part in the direction of the longitudinal axis may be transferred to the second end of the casing. The force application part may be in direct or indirect engagement with the second end of the casing, so that when a force is applied to the force application part, the force is transferred to the second end so that at least part of the applied force is transferred from one part of the casing assembly to another part of the casing assembly.

[0074] The first end and / or the second end may be closed. By closing the first end and / or the second end, it may be possible to protect the plant from the outside of the casing. As an example, when the second end is closed, the casing volume close to the second end is closed to the surroundings of the casing assembly, which means that if the second end is pulled into a soil surface of the seabed, the second end prevents the soil from entering the casing volume. Thus, the soil will slide along the side walls of the casing when the casing enters the soil, and so that when a force is applied to the casing to transplant the plant, the counterforce of the stationary part, i.e. the soil, will not affect the plant directly. However, the counterforce may indirectly affect the plant in that forces pressing on the side walls may squeeze the plant and the casing and thereby ensure that the casing is fixed relative to the soil when the casing has been introduced into the soil.

[0075] The first side wall and / or the second side wall of the casing may comprise a textile, such as hessian, where the textile preferably has one or more through-going openings. The textile may be configured to hold the plant, and where the outer surface of the casing may function as a friction increasing surface allowing the casing to be held by friction in the soil. The through-going openings may allow the roots to extend through the material and into the soil, so that the plant may take root in the soil without the casing preventing the growth of the roots.

[0076] Alternatively, the material of the first side wall and / or the second side wall may be a fibrous material, non-woven material, fabric, or any kind of flexible material. The flexible material may have through-going openings for allowing the roots to penetrate the material.

[0077] 86909PC01 The first side wall and / or the second side wall may comprise a biodegradable material. The biodegradable material may be configured to dissolve over a predetermined period of time so that when the roots take into the soil, the casing will disappear and leave the plant in its transplanted position.

[0078] In casings comprising a force application part, the force application part may be in the form of a third side wall, which is folded and attached to the second end of the casing so that when a force is applied, the force application member is transferred to the second end of the casing. The force application volume may be less than 50% of the size of the casing volume, or may be less than 40% of the size of the casing volume, or may be less than 30% of the size of the casing volume, or may be less than 20% of the size of the casing volume. The force application volume may have a diameter that is equal or larger than the diameter of the force application member.

[0079] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the force application volume is defined by at least part of the outer surface of the first side wall and / or the second side wall. This means that the casing volume is on one side (inner surface) of the side wall and the force application volume may be on an opposite side (outer surface) of the side wall. Thus, the force application volume may be separated from the casing volume via the side wall, so that the plant is protected from the force application member and the roots of the plant are not damaged by the force application member.

[0080] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the side wall comprises a flexible sheet and the flexible sheet is folded at the second end to provide a force application volume. The flexible sheet may be folded, where the fold defines the second end of the casing and one part of the flexible sheet on one side of the fold may define the casing volume and another part of the flexible sheet on the opposite side of the fold may define the force application part and / or the force application volume. The transverse sides of the force application part and / or the force application volume may be attached to the transverse sides of the casing volume, and the end of the second part of the flexible sheet is free, creating an opening which extends in a longitudinal direction towards the fold. Thus, the fold may create a bottom of the force application part / volume and where an application of force on the force application part will transmit the force to the second end (on the opposite side of the fold) of the casing, allowing the force application part to be pushed into the soil, and where the pushing force is transformed to a pulling force on the second end of the casing.

[0081] 86909PC01 In one or more exemplary embodiments, the length of the casing along the longitudinal axis is larger than the width of the casing along the transverse axis. Thus, the casing will have a length that is larger than the width, allowing the casing to have an elongated shape, and where the part of the casing having the transverse length is introduced into the soil. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the length of the casing along the longitudinal axis may be equal to or smaller than the width of the casing along the transverse axis. The casing may be formed in a circular shape, polygonal shape or an elliptical shape.

[0082] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the first side wall and the second side wall are defined by a sheet material, where the sheet material is folded along the second end part or the second transverse part. This means that the casing may be formed by folding a piece of sheet material, where opposing parts of the sheet material that abut each other may be attached to each other to define the casing volume and / or the opening of the casing. Thus, the production of the casing may be done by e.g. folding a sheet material having a predefined size and shape, and where parts of the sheet material are attached to each other to create a casing volume. Furthermore, the force application part may e.g. be formed by folding the casing one more time in a direction different than the first fold, and where the second fold defines the second end of the casing. Thus, the first side wall and the second side wall may be made out of the same flexible sheet material.

[0083] In one or more exemplary embodiments, the inner surface of the first side wall is attached to the inner surface of the second side wall at the first end part, the second end part, the first transverse part and / or the second transverse part. In one optional embodiment, the inner surface of the first side wall is attached to the inner surface of the second side wall which is attached to two or more of the first end part, second end part, first transverse part or second transverse part. The attachments may define a peripheral edge of the casing volume, where the end parts or the transverse parts that are not attached to its opposing side wall may define the opening of the casing volume.

[0084] The first and second aspects of the present invention may each be combined so that what has been described in relation to one of the aspects also applies to the other aspect. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

[0085] 86909PC01 Brief of the drawinqs

[0086] The apparatus and method for underwater transplantation of water-based plants according to the invention will now be described in more detail with regard to the accompanying figures. The figures show one way of implementing the present invention and is not to be construed as being limiting to other possible embodiments falling within the scope of the attached claim set.

[0087] The following is an explanation of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0088] Fig. 1 is an exemplary side view of an apparatus configured to transplant underwater plants according to one example,

[0089] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of details of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,

[0090] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of two force application members forming part of an apparatus according to one example,

[0091] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of two force application members engaging with plant casings according to one example,

[0092] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a stack of plant casings for use with an apparatus according to one example,

[0093] Fig. 6 is a diagram schematically representing a method for underwater transplantation of water-based plants according to one example,

[0094] Fig. 7 shows a top view of a plant casing in accordance with the present disclosure,

[0095] Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the plant casing as shown in Fig. 7,

[0096] Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the plant casing as shown in Fig. 7,

[0097] Fig. 10 shows a front view of a plant casing and a force application member,

[0098] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a plant casing having a plant,

[0099] Fig. 12 shows a front view of a plant casing having a plant and a force application member,

[0100] 86909PC01 Fig. 13 shows a plant casing being submerged and placed on a soil surface of a seabed in a body of water, and

[0101] Fig. 14 shows a plant casing and a plant after transplantation of the plant casing in the seabed.

[0102] Detailed description

[0103] Various exemplary embodiments and details are described hereinafter with reference to the figures when relevant. It should be noted that the figures may or may not be drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the disclosure or as a limitation on the scope of the disclosure. In addition, an illustrated embodiment needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. An aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated, or if not so explicitly described.

[0104] The following disclosure, and with particular reference to Figs. 1-5, pertains to an apparatus 100 specifically designed for the underwater transplantation of water-based plants. More specifically, the apparatus 100 is designed to plant plant casings 1 into the seabed 104. Each plant casing 1 may be prepared to hold a plant only, but it may in other applications be prepared to also hold other objects such as sand, seeds, etc. Traditional methods of underwater transplantation often rely on manual labour, which can be highly time-consuming, labour-intensive, and generally less effective for large-scale transplantation initiatives. This disclosure aims to address these limitations by providing an automated and effective solution for the robust and precise planting of plant casings 1 underwater.

[0105] With reference to Fig. 1, the apparatus 100 is configured to perform underwater transplantation of plant casings 1. The apparatus 100 is further configured to be used with a marine vessel 10, here illustrated in the form of a boat. The apparatus 100 comprises a base structure 110, a plant carrier 120, and at least one force application member 132. The base structure 110 may be mounted to the underside of the marine

[0106] 86909PC01 vessel 10 as shown in the figure, or it may be towed by the marine vessel 10. In some embodiments, the base structure 110 forms part of the marine vessel 10.

[0107] Optionally, the apparatus 100 may be configured to be mounted to an end of a boom or arm, for example forming part of construction equipment such as an excavator or similar. The boom or arm may be located on shore, or off-shore on a pram. The arm may in such examples be submerged to a desired level at which the force application member 132 operates.

[0108] The base structure 110 facilitates easy transportation and deployment of the apparatus 100 in various aquatic locations. The apparatus 100 can thus be used in diverse marine environments, from shallow coastal waters to deeper offshore regions. The base structure 110 might include features such as adjustable ballast systems, stabilising fins, or anchor points to ensure stability and proper positioning during transplantation operations.

[0109] The base structure 110 is designed to be maintained a fixed water level relative to a water surface 102 and / or a seabed 104, ensuring stability and consistent operational functionality irrespective of variations in water depth. The base structure 110 could be constructed from materials such as stainless steel, aluminium alloys, or high-strength polymers to ensure corrosion resistance and durability in a marine environment.

[0110] Optionally, the material of the base structure 110 may comprise resistant composite materials, such as carbon fibre-reinforced polymers or fiberglass. Although the base structure 110 is shown as a planar structure extending along a substantial length of the marine vessel 10, it should be noted that the base structure 110 may have any suitable shape and dimensions.

[0111] The plant carrier 120 is shown as being arranged vertically below the base structure 110. The plant carrier 120 is designed to hold a plurality of plant casings 1 prior to transplantation. The plant carrier 120 can be designed with various materials and configurations, such as modular trays, baskets, carousels, or racks made from corrosion-resistant metals, plastics, or composite materials. Alternatives for the plant carrier may involve conveyor belt systems, rotating drums, or vertical carousel

[0112] 86909PC01 systems, each providing specific advantages in terms of loading capacity, ease of handling, and protection of the plant casings 1.

[0113] The force application member 132 is configured to move the plant casing 1 from the plant carrier 120 into the seabed 104. This force application member can be implemented in various forms, such as mechanical arms or robotic grippers, being designed to handle the plant casings 1 precisely yet firmly to prevent damage during the transplantation process.

[0114] Preferably, the force application member 132 is movably supported relative to the marine vessel 10 such that the vessel 10 can maintain a certain speed during operation of the apparatus 100. More specifically, the force application member 132 should preferably be steady and not moving in any direction during the time at which the plant 49 is planted in the seabed 104. In order to achieve this, a spring biasing mechanism or similar may allow the force application member 132 to remain at the same position relative the seabed 104 although the vessel 10 is moving. The spring biasing mechanism may be arranged at any suitable location in the apparatus; for example, the spring biasing mechanism may be arranged as a moveable connection between the vessel 10 and the base structure 110. Optionally, or in combination, the spring biasing mechanism may be arranged as a moveable connection between the base structure 110 and the plant carrier 120. Optionally, or in combination, the spring biasing mechanism may be arranged as a moveable connection between the plant carrier 120 and the force application member 132.

[0115] The plant carrier 120 is connected to the base structure 110 via a submersion structure 150, which enables vertical movement of the plant carrier 120 relative the base structure 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the submersion structure 150 is in the form of a scissor mechanism. The submersion structure 150 may be provided with a submersion device 152 designed to adjust the height of the submersion structure 150. The submersion device 152 may, as shown in Fig. 1, be embedded in the base structure 110. The submersion device 152 may be implemented as any form of drive unit capable of expanding / retracting the submersion structure 150, examples including a step motor, a linear actuator, etc. By adjusting the height of the submersion structure 150, a vertical distance DI between the plant carrier 120 and the base structure 110 is altered. Consequently, a vertical distance D2 between the

[0116] 86909PC01 plant carrier 120 and the seabed 104 is also adjusted. Preferably, the submersion device 152 is configured or programmed to adjust the vertical distance DI in order to obtain a desired and preferably constant vertical distance D2.

[0117] In the shown embodiment, the submersion structure 150 is designed as a scissor mechanism, providing a robust and flexible mechanism for vertical adjustments of the height of the submersion structure 150. In such an embodiment, the submersion structure 150 may comprise both a scissor mechanism and at least one wire (not shown), so that the scissor mechanism can be used to ensure that the plant carrier attached at the lower end of the scissor mechanism is kept parallel with the base structure, and the at least one wire can be used to control the distance between the base structure and the plant carrier. This arrangement enables that one wire is sufficient to control the distance, but the scope of protection also covers embodiments with more than one wire.

[0118] Optionally, or in combination, the submersion structure 150 may be in the form of telescoping arms, rack-and-pinion systems, cable-driven hoists, or hydraulic lifts, each offering different advantages in terms of lifting or submersion capacity, precision, and operational smoothness. These alternatives can be selected or combined based on the specific requirements of the transplantation process, such as the depth of operation, the weight of the plant casings 1, and the desired speed of vertical movement.

[0119] Further details of the apparatus 100 of the exemplary embodiment in Fig. 1 are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In the shown example, two spaced-apart force application members 132 are forming part of a transplantation unit 130. The transplantation unit 130 is connected to the base structure 110 or more preferably to the plant carrier 120.

[0120] Additionally, the transplantation unit 130 comprises a drive member 140 (see Fig. 2) configured to reciprocally move the force application members 132 up and down, thereby facilitating the efficient transfer of plant casings 1 from the plant carrier 120 to the seabed 104. The drive member 140 can be an electric motor, a pneumatic cylinder, or a hydraulic piston, each offering different levels of control, power, and compatibility with underwater operations. Alternatively, the drive member 140 may be implemented by means of a stepper motor, linear actuator, etc. In the shown example, the drive member 140 comprises a toothed rod 142 and a drive mechanism 144 configured to move the toothed rod 142 up and down. In the illustrated

[0121] 86909PC01 embodiment, the two force application members 132 extend in a fork-like manner from the end of the toothed rod 142. The two force application members 132 may be synchronised such that they move up and down together, or they may be individually controlled. Optionally, the two force application members 132 are synchronised but offset in phase, for example such that one force application member 132 moves up when the other force application member 132 moves down.

[0122] Now turning to Figs. 4 and 5, further details of the plant carrier 120 of the previous figures will be described. The plant carrier 120 includes a plant casing supply rack 122 for accommodating and holding multiple plant casings 1. Hence, the plant casing supply rack 122 ensures that a sufficient supply of plant casings 1 is readily available for continuous transplantation operations. The plant casing supply rack 122 can be designed with various configurations, such as tiered shelves, rotating drums, or linear conveyors, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of plant casings 1. In the shown example, the plant casing supply rack 122 is in the form of two parallel magazines, wherein each magazine is configured to store a plurality of plants casings 1.

[0123] Additionally, the illustrated plant carrier 120 is equipped with a plant casing loader 124 that feeds plant casings 1 to a discharge end 126 of the plant casing supply rack 122. A steady flow of plant casings 1 is thereby maintained for efficient transplantation. Optionally, the plant casing loader 124 may comprise a vibratory feeder, a screw conveyor, or a robotic pick-and-place system. In a most simple form, the plant casing loader 124 comprises a spring urging the plant casings 1 to move towards the discharge end 126.

[0124] In one example, correct positioning of the plant casings 1 is provided by a wire track which interconnects the up-and-down motion of the force application member(s) 132 with the forward motion of the plant casings 1. The forward motion may for example be controlled by a wheeled carrier with a certain mass that pushes the plant casings to be tilted downwards in a direction towards the force application members 132.

[0125] The apparatus 100 is preferably controlled by one or more control units 160 (see Fig.

[0126] 1). The control unit 160 may be formed by one or more control units being programmed to send and receive control signals to the apparatus 100. The control

[0127] 86909PC01 unit 160 may for this purpose comprise a receiving unit and a transmitting unit, whereby at least one of the receiving unit and the transmitting unit is arranged remote from the apparatus 100, such as onboard the marine vessel 10.

[0128] The control unit 160 is typically configured to control the operation of one or more of the submersion structure 150, the plant carrier 120, and the force application members 132. The control unit 160 can be implemented using various types of controllers, such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), microcontrollers, or industrial computers, each offering different levels of processing power, programmability, and integration capabilities. The control unit 160 may comprise features such as wireless communication modules, sensor interfaces, and user interfaces for real-time monitoring and control of the transplantation process. In embodiments that comprise the submersion device 152, the control unit 160 is preferably also configured to control the vertical adjustments of the submersion structure 150.

[0129] Now turning to Fig. 6, a method 200 for underwater transplantation of water-based plants 1 will be described. The method 200 is preferably performed using an apparatus 100 as described above with reference to Figs. 1-5. The method 200 comprises providing 202 a plurality of plant casings 1 with plants 49 on a plant carrier 120, and positioning 204 the plant carrier at a predetermined height above the seabed 104. Positioning the plant carrier 120 is preferably performed by adjusting 206 the height of a submersion structure 150 to which the plant carrier is attached. The method 200 further comprises activating 208 the at least one force application member 132 to move a plant casing 1 from the plant carrier 120 to the seabed 104, and retracting 210 the at least one force application member 132 upwards out of engagement with the plant casing 1 while leaving the plant casing 1 and the root end of the plant 49 in the seabed 104. The method 200 may be repeated after moving the plant carrier 120 relative the seabed 104.

[0130] The disclosure offers numerous advantages, some of which apply to only some embodiments of the invention. By automating the transplantation process, the apparatus 100 significantly reduces the need for manual labour, minimising human error and increasing operational efficiency. The use of moveable force application members 132 and a dedicated drive member 140 ensures the accurate and consistent

[0131] 86909PC01 placement of plant casings 1 into the seabed 104, promoting healthier plant growth. The adjustable submersion structure 150 allows the apparatus 100 to operate at varying depths, making it adaptable to different marine environments and plant species requirements. Additionally, the ability to attach the base structure 110 to a marine vessel 10 enhances the versatility and ease of deployment of the apparatus 100. Further, the apparatus 100 may be utilised to ensure a continuous supply of plant casings 1 during the transplantation process, thereby reducing downtime and maximising productivity.

[0132] Various alternatives and equivalents to the described components and configurations can be envisioned within the scope of this disclosure. For instance, the force application members 132 may be designed with different mechanisms or materials to suit specific operational needs or environmental conditions. Similarly, the submersion structure 150 could be implemented using alternative submersion mechanisms, such as hydraulic lifts, telescoping arms, or cable-driven hoists, to achieve the desired vertical movement. The control unit 160 could be enhanced with advanced features, such as remote monitoring and control capabilities, integration with GPS for precise location tracking, and adaptive algorithms for optimising transplantation patterns based on real-time environmental data.

[0133] The following is a description of different exemplary embodiments of a plant casing 1 which can be used for the transplantation of water-based plants by use of an apparatus 100 according to the first aspect of the invention as described above. The following description represents embodiments of the plant casing 1 which can also be used for manual transplantation, and therefore the force application member has been given another reference number, 45, than in the above description. However, the plant casing 1 and the following description thereof can be used with an apparatus 100 according to the present invention.

[0134] Figs. 7- 10 show a plant casing 1 for a plant, where the plant casing has a first end part 3 and a second end part 5, a first peripheral part 7 and a second peripheral part 9, where the plant casing has a longitudinal axis A extending from the first end part 3 to the second end part 5, and a transverse axis B extending from the first peripheral part 7 to the second peripheral part 9.

[0135] 86909PC01 The plant casing 1 may have a first side wall 11 and a second side wall 13 as seen in Fig. 8, where the first side wall 11 has a first inner surface 15 and a first outer surface 17, where the second side wall 13 has a second inner surface 19 and a second outer surface 21. The first side wall 11 and the second side wall may be attached to each other at the first end part 3 and the second end part 5 as well as the first peripheral part 7, where the two side walls 11, 13 define a casing volume 23, and where the casing volume 23 has a casing opening 25 providing access to the casing volume 23. In this embodiment, the casing opening 25 is positioned in the second peripheral part 9 of the plant casing 1. The opening 25 may be positioned in any part of the plant casing, where the purpose of the opening 25 is to provide access to the casing volume 23 of the plant casing 1.

[0136] The casing volume 23 may be defined by the first inner surface 15 and the second inner surface 19 of the side walls 11, 13.

[0137] The second end part 5 of the plant casing 1 may have a force application part 27 which is positioned close to the second end 31 of the plant casing 1, where the force application part 27 is connected to the second end 31 of the plant casing, so that a force applied in the direction of the longitudinal axis A to in a direction from the first end part 3 to the second end 5, 31 is transferred to the first side wall 11 and or the second side wall 13 via the second end 31, by pulling on the side walls 11, 13 in the direction of the applied force.

[0138] Fig. 9 shows the plant casing 1, where the force application part 27 is in the form of a folded material 29, where the fold 33 defines the second end 31 of the plant casing 1, and the first side 35 and the second side 37 of the folded material 29 is attached to the first peripheral part 7 and the second peripheral part 9, and where the force application part 27 defines a force application volume 39 having a force application opening 41 and a closed end 43 defined by the fold 33. This means that the force application part 27 is mechanically coupled to the second end 31 of the plant casing 1. Furthermore, by providing a force application part 27 which is positioned on the first outer surface 17 or the second outer surface 21, the force application part is positioned on one side of a side wall 11, 13 while the casing volume 23 is on another side of the casing volume 23.

[0139] 86909PC01 Fig. 10 shows where a force application member 45 having a first end (not shown) and a second end 47 has been positioned inside the force application part 27, so that the second end 47 is positioned inside the force application volume 39. The force application member 45 may be a force application member of an apparatus 100 as described above. The force application member 45 is separated from the casing volume 21 (shown in Fig. 8) via the first side wall 11, so that the force application member 45 does not come in contact with the casing volume 21.

[0140] Fig. 11 shows the plant casing of Fig. 7-10, where a plant 49 has been introduced into the casing volume 21, where the first inner surface 15 and the second inner surface 19 enclose a part of the plant 49. The plant 49 may have a root part 51 and a stem part 53, where a part of the stem part 53 may extend from the casing volume 21 and through the casing opening 25 to the surroundings of the casing 1.

[0141] Fig. 12 shows the plant casing 1 and the plant 49 of Fig. 11, in which a force application member 45 has been inserted inside the force application part 27, so that the force application member may be utilised to push the force application part 27 in the direction of the arrow C, and where the force application part 27 pulls the first side wall 11 and the second side wall 13 in the same direction. This means that the plant 49 inside the casing volume 21 may be pulled in the direction of arrow C.

[0142] Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show a plant casing 1 having a plant 49 similar to that shown in Fig. 11, which is introduced into a body of water 55, where the body of water has a bottom 57, having a soil 59; this bottom 57 corresponds to the seabed 104 described above. A force application member 45 has been introduced into the force application part 27 (shown in Fig. 12), where a force in the direction of arrow C may be applied to the force application part 27 to push the force application part 27 and the second end 31 of the casing 1 towards the soil 59. When the second end 31 comes into contact with the soil 59, the force applied to the force application part 27 pulls on the side walls 11, 13 of the plant casing 1 and thereby pulls the plant 49 into the soil 59 as seen in Fig. 14. When the plant casing 1 has been introduced into the soil 59, the force application member 45 may be retracted or pulled towards the surface of the body of water 55 and may be utilised to plant the next plant casing 1 having a plant 49.

[0143] 86909PC01 When the plant casing 1 has been introduced into the soil, the soil will apply pressure onto the sides of the plant casing 1, which may mean that the side walls of the plant casing are forced in a direction towards each other, and the casing volume may be reduced significantly, so that the casing volume is equal to or only slightly larger than the volume of the plant / seed being held within the casing volume.

[0144] The plant casing 1 may thereby be utilised to protect the plant 49 during transplantation, and where the plant casing 1 ensures that the force application member 45 does not come into contact with the plant, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the plant 49. Furthermore, as the plant casing 1 at least partly encloses the plant 49, the plant casing may function as an anchor for the plant 49 until the roots 51 of the plant 49 have taken hold into the soil 59.

[0145] The use of the terms "first", "second", "third" and "fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary" etc. does not imply any particular order, but are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms "first", "second", "third" and "fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary" etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms "first", "second", "third" and "fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary" etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Note that the words "first", "second", "third" and "fourth", "primary", "secondary", "tertiary" etc. are used here and elsewhere for labelling purposes only and are not intended to denote any specific spatial or temporal ordering.

[0146] Furthermore, the labelling of a first element does not imply the presence of a second element and vice versa.

[0147] It is to be noted that the word "comprising" does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

[0148] It is to be noted that the words "a" or "an" preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0149] It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims.

[0150] 86909PC01 Although features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

[0151] 86909PC01 List of references

[0152] I Plant casing

[0153] 3 First end part

[0154] 5 Second end part

[0155] 7 First peripheral part

[0156] 9 Second peripheral part

[0157] II First side wall

[0158] 13 Second side wall

[0159] 15 First inner surface

[0160] 17 First outer surface

[0161] 19 Second inner surface

[0162] 21 Second outer surface

[0163] 23 Casing volume

[0164] 25 Casing opening

[0165] 27 Force application part

[0166] 29 Folded material

[0167] 31 Second end of casing

[0168] 33 Fold

[0169] 35 First side of fold

[0170] 37 Second side of fold

[0171] 39 Force application volume

[0172] 41 Force application opening

[0173] 43 Closed end of force application part 45 Force application member

[0174] 47 Second end of force application member 49 Plant

[0175] 51 Root of plant

[0176] 53 Stem of plant

[0177] 55 Body of water

[0178] 57 Bottom of water

[0179] 59 Soil

[0180] 100 Apparatus

[0181] 102 Water surface

[0182] 104 Seabed

[0183] 110 Base structure

[0184] 120 Plant carrier

[0185] 122 Plant casing supply rack

[0186] 86909PC01 124 Plant casing loader

[0187] 126 Discharge end

[0188] 130 Transplantation unit

[0189] 132 Force application member 140 Drive member

[0190] 142 Toothed rod

[0191] 144 Drive mechanism

[0192] 150 Submersion structure 152 Submersion device

[0193] 160 Control unit

[0194] A Longitudinal axis

[0195] B Transverse axis

[0196] C Direction of transplantation DI Vertical depth level

[0197] D2 Vertical depth level

[0198] 86909PC01

Claims

29Claims1. An apparatus (100) for underwater transplantation of water-based plants (49), the apparatus comprising:- a base structure (110) configured to be maintained at a fixed water level relative to a water surface (102) and / or a seabed (104),- a plant carrier (120) arranged below, such as vertically below, the base structure (110), the plant carrier (120) being configured to carry a plurality of plant casings (1) each at least partly surrounding a root end of a plant (49), such as one plant or a bundle of plants, to be transplanted, and- at least one force application member (132) each configured to, during use of the apparatus (100):o move a plant casing (1) from the plant carrier (120) and into the seabed (104) by applying a downwards force at a lower end of the plant casing (1) thereby forcing at least a part of the plant casing (1) and the surrounded root end of the plant (49) into the seabed (104), and o retract the force application member (132) upwards out of engagement with the plant casing (1) while leaving the plant casing (1) and the root end of the plant (49) in the seabed (104).

2. An apparatus (100) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one force application member (132) forms part of a transplantation unit (130) being connected to the base structure (110) or the plant carrier (120).

3. An apparatus (100) in accordance with claim 2, wherein the transplantation unit (130) comprises at least two, such as two, spaced apart force application members (132).

4. An apparatus (100) in accordance with any of claims 2-3, wherein the transplantation unit (130) further comprises a drive member (140) configured to reciprocally move the at least one force application member (132) up and down between the plant carrier (120) and the seabed (104).

5. An apparatus (100) in accordance with any of claims 1-4, further comprising a submersion structure (150) connecting the plant carrier (120) to the base structure (110), which submersion structure (150) is configured for adjustment of the vertical distance (DI) between the plant carrier (120) and the base structure (110).86909PC01306. An apparatus (100) in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a submersion device (152) configured to adjust the height of the submersion structure (150) in order to change the vertical distance (DI) between the plant carrier (120) and the base structure (110) and thereby adjust the vertical distance (D2) between the plant carrier (120) and the seabed (104).

7. An apparatus (100) in accordance with claim 5 or 6, wherein the submersion structure (150) is in the form of a scissor mechanism and / or wherein the submersion device (152) comprises at least one wire attached to the plant carrier (120).

8. An apparatus (100) in accordance with any of claims 1-7, wherein the base structure (110) is configured to be attached underneath and / or be towed by a marine vessel (200).

9. An apparatus (100) in accordance with any of claims 1-8, wherein the plant carrier (120) comprises or is configured to carry at least one plant casing supply rack (122) for holding a plurality of the plant casings (1) until the transplantation.

10. An apparatus (100) in accordance with claim 9, wherein the plant carrier (120) further comprises a plant casing loader (124) being configured to feed plant casings (1) to a discharge end (126) of the at least one plant casing supply rack (122).

11. An apparatus (100) in accordance with any of the preceding claims, further comprising a control unit (160) configured to control the operation of the plant carrier (120) and / or the at least one force application member (132).

12. An apparatus (100) in accordance with claims 6 and 11, wherein the control unit (160) is further configured to control the operation of the submersion device (152).

13. An apparatus (100) in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one force application member (132) is configured for use with plant casings (1) having a force application part (27) at the lower end (31) and on an outer surface (17,21) of the plant casing (1) so that, during use, the force application member (132) applies the downwards force to the force application part (27).86909PC0114. An apparatus (100) in accordance with any the preceding claims, wherein the at least one force application member (132) is configured for use with plant casings (1) of which the force application part (27) is provided by the plant casing (1) having side walls comprising a flexible sheet which is folded at a second end to provide a force application volume (39) into which a part of the force application member (132) can be inserted for enabling the movement of the plant casing (1) and the application of the downwards force.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the at least one force application member (132) is shaped as a fork at a region engaging with the force application part (27), so that one leg of the fork can be inserted into the force application volume (39) and another leg of the fork can engage with an outer surface of the force application volume (39).

16. A method (200) for underwater transplantation of water-based plants by use of an apparatus (100) according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising:providing (202) a plurality of plant casings (1) with plants (49) on a plant carrier (120);positioning (204) the plant carrier (120) at a predetermined height above the seabed (104);activating (208) the at least one force application member (132) to move a plant casing (1) from the plant carrier (120) and into the seabed (104); andretracting (210) the at least one force application member (132) upwards out of engagement with the plant casing (1) while leaving the plant casing (1) and the root end of the plant (49) in the seabed (104).

17. A method (200) in accordance with claim 16, wherein positioning the plant carrier (120) is performed by adjusting the height of a submersion structure (150) to which the plant carrier (120) is attached.

18. A method (200) in accordance with claim 16 or 17, further comprising repeating the method steps after moving the plant carrier (120) relative the seabed (104).86909PC01

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