Abstract: Streamer handling apparatus for use on a seismic survey vessel (10) comprises one or more trolleys (40) movable along a guide rail (50) over the width of stern (18) and of the streamer deck (20) of the vessel. The or each trolley (40) is provided with a clamping device (70) which can be used to grip the inboard end of part of a multi-section streamer (28) deployed over the stern end of the streamer deck (20), so facilitating the transfer of parts of streamers from one streamer (28) station to another across the width of the streamer deck (20).

Abstract: A seismic survey vessel having a displacement monohull is provided with a streamer deck which width increases progressively from amidships towards the stern of the vessel, on both sides of the centerline of the vessel. This increased width of the streamer deck, reaching 37.5 meters at the stern, facilitates the deployment and towing of particularly wide streamer arrays, containing as many as sixteen streamers. It also provides space for the installation of novel streamer handling systems, one for each streamer, across the width of the rear of the streamer deck.