Abstract: A floating vessel having a pair of inclined tracks on which one or more carriages are movably mounted and such vessel has a plurality of compartments or tanks which may be selectively flooded or pumped dry to control the trim of the vessel. When the forward tanks are flooded, the bow portion of the vessel is partially submerged and at least a portion of the carriage may be disposed under water in a position to receive a heavy floating object, after which the tanks may be emptied and the carriages raised along the rails so that the object is removed from the water and moved to a desired height.