A rescue ship for a disabled vessel includes a hull which delimits an
elongated dock (12) which is at least 150 m long and preferably at least
250 m long and at least 30 m wide and preferably at least 45 m wide, and
including a ballasting device enabling draught modification by at least
15 m and preferably at least 20 m. The hull has two lateral hulls capable
of being ballasted (14) and enclosing the dock (12), and the stem has a
practically sealed door (18) which can close the rear of the dock (12).
The ship further includes maneuvering elements designed to exert a thrust
in one direction transverse at least to the longitudinal axis of the
ship. The invention is applicable to the rescue of disabled vessels.