An apparatus and related method of operation for collection of material by an underwater vehicle makes use of a number of arms extending outward from a body of the vehicle. The ends of the arms form an aperture for passing material into the body of the vehicle. One or more of the arms each includes a belt coupled to a drive mechanism for driving at least some portion of the belt generally toward the aperture. When driven, the belts form a current flowing into the vehicle propelling material for collection into the vehicle as well as mechanically force the material into the body. A spring-loaded mechanism can be used to force the arms together permitting retrieval of large object without jamming the retrieval mechanism.