System and method for transporting live aquatic animals

1. A system for transporting live aquatic animals between shipping points, said system comprising:

a refrigerated marine container housing and comprising:

a plurality of tank units ( 300 ) containing water and the live animals for providing the animals with a life supporting aquatic environment during the transport; and

a unit for cooling connected to all of the plurality of tank units, the unit comprising means ( 240 , 250 , 260 ) for cooling, aerating and circulating the water in said tank units ( 300 ) at least during the transport;

said system further comprising docking stations ( 100 ) situated at said shipping points, said docking stations comprising

docking means for receiving said refrigerated marine container ( 200 ); and

means ( 120 , 130 , 140 ) for providing a life supporting aquatic environment for the live aquatic animals in said tank units ( 300 ) placed in said refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) when the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) is attached to the docking station ( 100 ).

2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the means ( 120 , 130 , 140 ) for providing a life supporting aquatic environment for the live aquatic animals of the docking stations ( 100 ) comprises

circulation means ( 120 ) for circulating water between the tank units ( 300 ) in the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) and the docking station ( 100 ); and

filtering means ( 130 ) for purifying water circulated between said tank units ( 300 ) in the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) and the docking station ( 100 ).

3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the means ( 120 , 130 , 140 ) for providing a life supporting aquatic environment for the live aquatic animals of the docking stations ( 100 ) further comprises cooling means ( 140 ) for cooling water circulated between the tank units ( 300 ) in the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) and the docking station ( 100 ).

4. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the means ( 120 , 130 , 140 ) for providing a life supporting aquatic environment for the live aquatic animals of the docking stations further comprises means ( 150 ) for aerating the water circulated between the tank units ( 300 ) in the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) and the docking station ( 100 ).

5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) comprises a first piping ( 211 ) for circulating water between each of said tank units ( 300 ) and said docking station ( 100 ), while the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) is attached to the docking station ( 100 ).

6. A system according to claim 5 , wherein said first piping ( 211 ) leads water untreated from coupling means ( 111 ) provided between the docking station ( 100 ) and the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) to and from the tank units ( 300 ) inside the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ).

7. A system according to claim 1 , wherein said refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) comprises a second piping ( 260 ) for distributing air from the inside of said refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) to each of said tank units ( 300 ) in order to aerate the water inside the tank unit ( 300 ) and create an airlift effect in order to circulate the water in the tank unit ( 300 ) at least during transport.

8. A system according to claim 6 , wherein said refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) further comprises air circulation means ( 250 ), preferably in the form of a compressor, said air circulation means ( 250 ) being separate from said means for cooling ( 240 ) the water in said tank units, and said air circulation means being in communication with said second piping ( 260 ).

9. A system according to claim 7 , wherein each tank unit ( 300 ) comprises a tank 310 provided with its own individual set of filters ( 330 ) for at least partly purifying the water contained in the tank during transportation, said tank ( 310 ) and said filters ( 330 ) being integrated in a single unit.

10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein the water contained in each tank unit ( 300 ) is circulated through said filters by the airlift effect caused by the air passed through said tank unit ( 300 ).

11. A system according to claim 9 , wherein each tank unit ( 300 ) is provided with at least three filters ( 331 , 332 , 333 ), and wherein the filters are arranged in parallel communication with the tank ( 310 ).

12. A system according to claim 9 , wherein said set of filters ( 330 ) comprises a mechanical filter and at least two biological filters.

13. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the unit for cooling of the refrigerated marine container comprises

a cooling unit ( 240 ) for cooling air passing through the cooling unit, and

air circulation means for circulating air contained in the refrigerated marine container ( 200 ) through said cooling unit ( 240 ).