Abstract: An apparatus for interconnecting a pair of barges, or other waterborne vessels, to facilitate hookup and release of barges in an "on-hip" arrangement with a powered vessel. Oriented on the bow of each barge, coincident with the barge's longitudinal center line, is a bracket terminating in a socket. A pivot shaft with an upper ball adapted to fit in the socket is provided with a lower trunion to support a bridge element whereby two barges may be connected. The bridge element is free to rotate in a horizontal plane about the pivot shafts to allow swinging movement of the barges and the ball-in-socket fitting allows a limited range of independent movement for the barges such as in swells. Movement limiting fenders and chains are provided to control swing of the barges. Such an apparatus allows a single tug or dredge to rapidly make up a dual barge push towing arrangement.

Abstract: A system of subaqueous excavation and material removal having the combination of a hopper dredging vessel, hopper barges with independent dumping capacity and a prime mover vessel such as a tug, each barge having a stern notch and a bow portion which is contoured to be received in a like stern notch of an adjacent barge so that two or more barges can be arranged and affixed into an assemblage, end-to-end with bow portions fitting into the stern notches. Conduits to carry dredged material are located on the stern and bow of each barge and bow of the dredging vessel. The outlet conduit is received by the inlet conduit when the bow of the vessel or barge is received in the stern notch of the barge. The diameter of the outlet is about two feet less than the diameter of the inlet to minimize the possibility of the outlet not being received in the inlet due to a slight misalignment of the vessels.

Abstract: A system of subaqueous excavation and material removal having the combination of a hopper dredging vessel, hopper barges with independent dumping capacity and a prime mover vessel such as a tug, each barge having a stern notch and a bow portion which is contoured to be received in a like stern notch of an adjacent barge so that two or more barges can be arranged and affixed into an assemblage, end-to-end with bow portions fitting and secured into the stern notches. The dredging vessel and prime mover vessel also have like bow portions whereby they can connect into the assemblage. Rapid and effective securing of the assemblage, the dredging vessel and prime mover vessel are obtained through pneumatic fenders attached to the sides of the stern notches and a pneumatically controlled cushioning fender couple attached to the stem which is received between vertical expansible fenders at the apex of the stern notch.