A process for raising or lowering ships from one elevation to another within a locks chambers and simultaneously recycling the water using a hydraulic storage tank. The hydraulic storage tank is located adjacent to the locks chambers and below the minimum level that the ship is to be lowered to within the locks structures. The hydraulically pressurized water storage tank system fills the locks chambers and raises the ship. The ship is lowered in the locks chambers by water flowing by gravity back into the empty water storage tank. The water flow is directed by an energy system that applies hydraulic power, compressed air or any other device that is capable of moving a stainless steel plate or similar device inside the storage tank. The energy system directs the flow of water from the storage tank to the locks chamber to raise the water level. The empty hydraulic storage tank will then receive the flow of water from the locks chamber by gravity when a ship is lowered. The water-saving ship-lift system represented in this invention is beneficial because it achieves the vertical movement of vessels within a canal lock chamber in a safe and efficient manner while, at the same time, recycling precious fresh water for use over and over again with little or no waste.