Abstract: The maritime transfer system is for crewmember safety when transferring to and from a vessel to a small oil or gas production platform that otherwise has only a swing rope for transfer. The system includes a platform extension permanently affixed to the platform, and a motor and winch installed on the extension. The motor and winch operate a cable that extends to a davit, the davit and cable suspending a car or gondola therefrom. Control is provided by a remote control switch installed on the distal end of a freely suspended control cable. In this manner, the car may be raised to the platform when not in use, the control hanging from the control cable for access from the crew vessel when needed. The crewmember may then carry the control with him or her in the car as it is raised and lowered to and from the platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for a watercraft for picking up and launching boats. The device comprises an extension arm that is coupled in such a manner that it can swing freely on the watercraft, that extends at an acute angle in relation to the surface of the water and floats in water by means of floats. The extension arm comprises guide tracks for a boat retrieving device that is maintained on the extension arm in a longitudinally displaceable manner. The boat retrieving device comprises a holding head that is articulated in a displaceable manner on a running part guided on the guide rails, about an axis that is horizontal and approximately transversal in relation to the extension arm. The running part is connected to the drive means for longitudinally displacing the boat retrieving device. The holding head comprises at least one adjusting means that acts upon its adjusting movement about the horizontal axis.

Abstract: Automatic hooking device with a block locking mechanism having a automatic hooking means, operated only by the ascending movement of the block that is opportunely guided, hooking means including at least hook clamping means that act on projections and/or the head of block for the hooking of block and, locking means consisting of an automatic locking device in a steadily closed position of the hooking means, actuated by the same ascending movement of block and consisting of a mechanism suitable for assuming and permanently maintaining the clamped closing position of hook clamping means; and release means capable of releasing locking means following a power-assisted or manual command.

Abstract: A marine handling craft and system is intended for use in deploying, inspecting and receiving vessels and payloads to and from locations on, under, over or near water and wet soils in potentially turbulent aquatic or atmospheric conditions. The marine handling craft may operate as a robot, or deployed from a crane or boom on a mother ship or other platform or helicopter so that it can transport and mate and dock at various locations, such as supply ships or autonomous marine vessels, at a stand off distance to limit potential harm to valuable assets. A sliding fastener and track are included on the marine handling craft so that it can be tethered and lifted by a single line or cable, and so can be manipulated by a single crane or helicopter. The utility of the handling craft is not limited to the transport of payloads and it may function as a stand-alone vessel for various remote sensing purposes.

Abstract: A control system to control the descent of a seafaring vessel, such as a lifeboat, into water is disclosed herein. The control system, and an accompanying method, control the descent speed of the seafaring vessel to minimise the possibility of setback after splashdown, and thus increase the probability of a safe and orderly launch.

Abstract: The vessel includes a lifeboat, a housing positioned at the side of the vessel and defining a recess in which the lifeboat is stowed, hatch access to the lifeboat from a boat deck of the vessel, and an element for deploying the lifeboat from its stowed position.

Abstract: A davit device (20) is arranged suspended over an associated boat (123) onboard a ship (25) or similar vessel. Horizontally, telescopically displaceable davit arms (121, 121) can move the boat (123) from a parking position to a launching position, and vice versa, while a hoisting device (122) can move the boat (23, 123) vertically. In that the hoisting device (122) is secure to the radially innermost, axially extendable telescope part (121a, 121a) of the davit arms (121,121), the vertical and horizontal movements can be carried out independently, in a controlled way.

Abstract: A dinghy lift for mounting to a boat beneath a swim platform. The dinghy lift includes a pair of space-apart lift mechanisms that are mounted to the stern beneath the swim platform. The lift mechanisms do not extend outwardly beyond the swim platform and therefore are generally hidden from view. A pair of arm are removably mounted to the lift mechanisms. The arms extend outwardly beyond the swim platform to form a cradle for the dinghy. The lift mechanisms selectively move the arms between a lowered position for loading and unloading the dinghy and a raised position for storing the dinghy.

Abstract: A SOLAS-compliant rescue boat davit for storing, launching and retrieving a rescue boat. The rescue boat davit has an A-frame lifting arm that supports the rescue boat in a stowed position and rotates approximately 20° about the base of the A-frame to assist in hoisting and lowering the rescue boat. A sheave assembly and a davit stop fitting assembly are mounted on the apex of the A-frame lifting arm and accommodate a winch line at the A-frame apex. An electrical winch hoists and lowers the rescue boat, via the winch line, and a stop ring on the winch line operates in conjunction with the davit stop fitting to cause the winch line to rotate the A-frame lifting arm forward. A post assembly mounted to the transom of a ship provides a mount for the electrical winch and supports the A-frame lifting arm via a wire strop. A boarding platform is also mounted to the transom of the ship to permit boarding of the rescue boat in its stowed position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for launching and taking aboard a floating device (6) at a ship (1) under way. Said floating device (6) is arranged in and connected to a cradle (4) which is floating as such and open at the back. Said cradle hangs in a flexible carrying means (10) and is launched using a hoisting means (11) arranged at said ship (1). The bow portion (14) of said cradle (4) is guided using a flexible separate towing means (15) in such a manner that said cradle (4) when it floats on the water (2) will be directed in the ship's (1) general travelling direction. When said floating device (6) is not connected to said cradle (4) it is able freely to move into said cradle (4) and out therefrom through its stern portion (8). The invention also relates to a means for launching and, respectively, taking aboard a floating device (6).

Abstract: A device for dock storage and boat accessible retrieval of a boat docking line is disclosed which provides safe and convenient means of docking and undocking a boat. The device generally comprises a pedestal that is fixedly attachable to a dock and an arm rotatably attached to the upper end of said pedestal, said arm including a hook disposed at the distal end of said arm for receipt of a docking line.

Abstract: A water survival device has an inflatable liferaft and a pressurized gas bottle packed in a container. The container has a first waterproof compartment containing the liferaft and a second waterproof compartment containing the pressurized gas bottle. The first and second waterproof compartments are separated by a substantially planar rigid watertight partition. The second waterproof compartment can be opened without opening the first waterproof compartment so that it is possible to inspect the pressurized gas bottle without opening the first waterproof compartment.

Abstract: A sailboat davit connectable into the ground adjacent a seawall, water's edge or other like supportive objects for lifting and lowering a small sailboat. The device includes an elongated upright support member having a radially outwardly extending boom connected at one end to the upper end of the upright support member. A generally horizontal spreader beam is connected at a mid-point thereof to the distal end of the boom so that the spreader beam extends in either direction preferably from a plane generally defined by the upright support member and the boom. A flexible cable and pulley arrangement, winch-activated, is provided having a flexible cable downwardly extending over a pulley at each end of the spreader beam, each end of each cable being connectable to the sailboat hull whereupon the sailboat is lifted and lowered in response to winch activation.

Abstract: A small boat or dinghy rigging mechanism is provided advantageously designed to permit the expeditious recovery, hoisting and stowing of a small boat or dinghy in an upright position at the stern of a main vessel. The apparatus of the invention is devised to be readily detached from the main vessel and stowed so that any unsightly presence of the equipment when it is not being used is obviated. The rigger equipment may be detachably affixed for use directly on the transom of a vessel or adapted to be detachably secured at the trailing edge of a platform such as swim platform that is behind the transom. Because the mechanism is devised to dip into the water allowing the small boat or dinghy to be floated into position on the arms of the rigging apparatus, it substantially facilitates the recovery of such craft and obviates any heavy lifting or exertion of the kind frequently encountered by a user in operations of this kind.

Abstract: A davit assembly for use in supporting a vessel in either of two alternative positions, comprising a generally upright frame and a vessel support arm pivotally attached to the frame for movement between a first position where a first portion of the support arm is adapted to support a vessel in a substantially horizontal orientation, and a second position where a second portion of the support arm is adapted to support the vessel in a substantially vertical orientation.

Abstract: A boat lift assembly wherein the use of a conventional cable system has been replaced with a screw drive assembly. The screw drive assembly eliminates all the safety hazards which accompany a cable operated system. Additionally, the use of aluminum components is extensive throughout to keep corrosion to a minimum. Further, Teflon and Lexan wear strips are used to eliminate friction problems between the relatively moving members.

Abstract: A platform for a small boat or the like is pivoted to the free end of a pair of arms which are pivoted at their opposite ends to a larger boat such as a yacht. The arms are controlled by an hydraulic jack and a second hydraulic jack is arranged to drive or be driven by the first jack to control the platform so that it is always horizontal for any position of the arms. The arms can position the platform below the water line for launching or receiving the small boat or well above the water line.

Abstract: Apparatus for launching a lifeboat, rescue craft or like small craft from a marine platform or other vessel in a bows-out heading comprises a boom mounted on the vessel that deploys outwardly as the boat is lowered and that carries a bow line releasably attached to the boat. The boom and bow-line are arranged so that the bow-line holds the boat in a bows-out heading after the boat has been lowered and on release of the fall or falls accelerates the boat away from the vessel.

Abstract: A method and a device for pivoting an accommodation ladder from a stowing position on a ship's deck to an active position outside the ship's side by means of at least one davit (17) and a pulley (21) for the operating wire (22) of the ladder, said pulley being pivotably mounted at the davit. The pulley is pivoted between two positions admitting the center of gravity of one ladder to pass the vertical line through the pivot axle (14) of the ladder when the ladder by means of the operating wire (22) is pivoted from stowing and active position resp. The pivoting of the pulley (21) is achieved by means of a member (27), e.g. a wire transmitting a pull to the pulley caused by the weight of the ladder during the downward movement thereof.

Abstract: A launching and recovery apparatus for a lifeboat, rescue launch or like small boat fitted to a ship, floating or fixed marine platform or other vessel which is controlled by a single fall comprises a launching and recovery cradle 7 from which a boat can hang freely on a releaseable support. During its travel between a fully hoisted and a partly lowered position the boat and cradle are supported on trackways 2 extending inwardly and upwardly from the deck of the vessel by roller assemblies 31, 32 at the base of the cradle which run on respective trackways. The cradle 7 has a symmetrical upwardly convergent frame 35, 36, 37 whose apex is arranged for connection of the single fall wire 43 by which the cradle is held in a stable attitude during launching and recovery with the boat suspended freely from the cradle on a single releaseable support 38. A single sheave 15 located above the cradle symmetrically between the trackways 2a takes up or pays out the fall wire 43, to raise or lower the cradle 7.