A waterborne vessel includes a hull structure, longitudinal and transverse drive tunnels, and one or more thrusters. The hull structure has a base and side walls forming a U-shaped cross-section, open forward and aft ends, and an open top. The drive tunnels extend through the base portion of the hull structure. Each thruster is located at a corresponding intersection of longitudinal and transverse drive tunnels. Each thruster drives water flow through the corresponding drive tunnels and is rotatable about a vertical axis among multiple different thruster orientations in which the thruster drives water flow in one direction or the other through the corresponding longitudinal or transverse drive tunnel. A method includes: lowering the vessel through water to a submerged target payload; maneuvering the vessel and/or payload to position the payload on the hull structure between the side walls; and raising the vessel and payload toward the water surface.
Semi-autonomous immersible waterborne dock enclosure
2024-12-24
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B63C LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS , Zuwasserlassen, Trockenstellen, Docken oder Bergen von Schiffen / B63G OFFENSIVE OR DEFENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS ON VESSELS , Angriffs- oder Verteidigungsanordnungen auf Schiffen / B63H Schiffsantrieb oder Steuerung der Schiffe , MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING |
Engineering Index Backfile | 1953
A new electric immersible pump
Engineering Index Backfile | 1922