EXTRACTION VESSEL FOR EXTRACTING FLOATING DEBRIS

An extraction vessel is provided that includes two pontoons forming parallel hulls, a cargo hold located between the pontoons, and a retractable extraction conveyor belt located between the pontoons and mounted on tracks so as to be movable between retracted and deployed positions. In the retracted position, a lower end of the conveyor belt is above the waterline of the vessel. In the deployed position, the lower end of the conveyor belt is below the waterline for extracting the floating debris, and an upper end of the conveyer belt is above the cargo hold to discharge the floating debris into the cargo hold. Also provided is an extraction vessel that includes variable buoyancy floats attached to the pontoons and movable between a raised position in which the lowest surface of the float is above the waterline, and a lowered position in which part of the float is submerged.