U.S. Geological Survey

Barnaby Jude Watten

The invention is an immersion system for decontamination of ship outer surfaces while a ship is located in a lock structure. The lock structure is modified with an inflatable bladder and shortened containment gates. When the ship enters or exits the lock structure, the inflatable bladder is deflated before opening the containment gates. When the inflatable bladder is deflated, a lower treated fluid layer sinks and water adjacent to the lock structure enters the lock through wall ports to create an upper fluid layer on which the ship enters. When the ship is located in the lock structure and the containment gates are closed, the inflatable bladder is inflated. When the inflatable bladder is inflated, the lower treated fluid layer rises and surrounds the ship surface to kill invasive aquatic species.

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Winchester, WV, United States of America

Barnaby Jude Watten