Patent ID: 7225750

Claim:
Rescue vessel for vessels, comprising: an elongated basin ( 12 , 26 ) at least 250 m in length and 45 m in width which can be closed to limit to said basin pollution by a vessel in distress protected in the basin, a ballast device that makes it possible to alter the vessel's draft by at least 20 m, a hull that comprises two lateral hulls that surround said basin ( 12 , 26 ) and that delimits at least one upper edge of said basin ( 12 , 26 ), the ballast device operating between at least two positions in one of which positions the basin ( 12 , 26 ) is evacuated and at least the upper edge is found above sea level, and in the other of which positions the basin ( 12 , 26 ) is full with an end of the basin found below a level of a keel of a vessel in distress, and maneuvering means configured to exert a thrust in a direction that is transverse to at least a longitudinal axis of the vessel, wherein, the stern comprises a sealed door ( 18 ) with a height of at least 40 m and configured to close and seal the rear of basin on an edge that is found below the level of the keel of the vessel in distress, the stern of the hull being sealed thereby protecting the vessel in distress in the basin and limiting possible pollution from the vessel in distress to the basin.