GB2347386A

GB2347386A - Modular Marine Articulated Transportation Vessel

Info

Publication number: GB2347386A
Application number: GB9904983A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Lindsay Edwards; Leslie Edwards
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-04
Filing date: 1999-03-04
Publication date: 2000-09-06
Also published as: GB9904983D0

Abstract

An articulated modular and integrated marine vessel has a potentially stand-alone prime mover 1 to which subsequent cargo units 2,3 may be sequentially connected and disconnected at will. Variability in marine displacement about the articulated joints 4 is provided by ratchets 5. Ratcheting allows for said connection and disconnection of modular units. Modularity provides for jettisoning of cargo units in certain hazardous situations, improves structural stability of the vessel with respect to length, reduces the turning circle and hence the stopping distance. The articulation provides for the transmission of forces both tensile and compressive between connected units such that the vessel behaves and moves as a united entity.

Description

MODULAR MARINE ARTICULATED TRANSPORTATION VESSEL This invention relates to a means of marine transportation in which a single or a plurality of similar or different bulk cargo units are connectable to a stand-alone prime mover via articulated joints.

Ships are well known marine transportation devices in which a carrier cargo unit and power unit are integrated into a single item. This means that ships are generally assigne to their particular style of transported commodity i. e. oil tanker, bulk ore carrier, container vessel. Ships thus are required to enter port, incurrino mooring charges, to load and unload their specialist cargoes incurring further charges due to waiting times during which the ship is essentially idle. In addition, a cargo available for immediate transportation i. e. an oil consignment may not be carried by any immediately available ship but must wait for a suitable vessel. Further since marine safety in large part relates not to the canier but to the cargo ilself, ship abandonment may be the only course of action available to a crew in certain hazardous situations which invariably leads to both loss of ship and loss of cargo.

Crew fatalities may also result. Stopping distances and turning circles of large ships can be significant and constitute additional safety risks. A further safety concern is the length of the ship with respect to structural integrity in certain sea states.

Accordin to the present invention the marine vessel is articulated but integral with all control and monitoring facilities such that there is a stand-alone prime mover marine propulsion unit in which cargo type considerations comprise no part. The cargo units in the form of floating modules not requiring individual propulsion systems are separa : e items and are connectable to the prime mover via an articulated joint. A ratchet mechanism forming par, of the articulation aspect provides for variability in vessel displacement.

Subsequent cargo units are connectable to each other by similar articulated means. Thus a disparate modular articulated cargo is transportable in which loading and unloading of specialist commodity cargoes is performed in port whilst connection and disconnection of the cargo units, or modules, may be performed at sea assiste by bow-thrusters and/or tenders. The means of articulation in this invention significantly improves the ability of the vessel to turn-thus significantly shortening stopping distances and improving safety.

Furthermore in the event of hazardous situations i. e. extreme sea states or fire in the cargo individual cargo units may jettisoned leaving the crew in safety aboard the prime mover.

Furthermore, the articulation of the modular marine vessel may significantly improve sea keeping ability in certain sea states and hence improve aspects of structural integrity.

Naturally it is possible for one ship to tow another (which may or may not have a means of independent propulsion) however this invention in by means of the articulatedjoint provides for the transmission of forces both tensile and compressive between connected units such that the vessel behaves and moves as a united entity. Additional hydrodynamic stabilty may be achieved particularly should large numbers of modular cargo units be : connected together by adding a'caboose'unit at the rear. This'caboose'unit would incorporate an engine with the ability to reverse and hence provide tension along the vessel.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings (Figures I & 2).

Referring to the drawings Figure 1. shows views of the system with the modular cargo units (2 & 3) integrally and sequentially connected via the articulation joints (4.) to the prime mover (1). A ratchet mechanism (5) allows for variability in vessel displacement.

The propulsion unit (6) for the prime mover unit is shown projecte from the sides of the vessel.

The units subsequently mate and once vertical and horizontal aliQnment has been established the movable aspect of the articulating joint (7) is lowered with the ratchet mechanism until it cups the non-movable aspect (8). Hinged clasps (9) secure both aspects of articulation. Finally control links and cabling for monitoring purposes (10) are connected and the vessel is fit for journeying.

To disconnect modular cargo units from either the prime mover or similar units the steps above are carried out in reverse order.

Claims

CLAIMS An An articulated means of marine transportation in which a single or a plurality of similar or different bulk cargo units are connectable and disconnectable with a potentially stand-alone prime mover via articulated joints.
2. An articulated means of marine transportation as claimed in Claim 1. wherein a ratchet mechanism allows for variability in displacement between modular units.
3. An articulated means of marine transportation as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2. wherein articulation provides structural integrity and stability of the vessel with respect to its length in certain extreme sea conditions.
4. An articulated means of marine transportation as claimed in Claim I or Claim 2. wherein articulation provides for the ability of particular modular units to be jettisoned in certain extreme sea conditions or certain hazardous situations.
5. An articulated means of marine transportation as claimed in Claim 4. wherein articulation provides for the ability of particular modular units to be jettisoned d whilst providing for the security and safety of the crew.
6. An articulated means of marine transportation as claimed in Claim I. wherein articulation provides for small radius turning circles and hence shorter stopping distances.
7. An articulated means of marine transportation as claimed in Claim 1. wherein the articulation provides for the transmission of forces both tensile and compressive between connected units such that the vessel behaves and moves as a united entity.