Abstract: A modular system, which may include a modular ramp for a landing craft, is described. For example, a ramp module according to some embodiments includes an enclosure defining a cavity, wherein the enclosure is configured to be removably received in a watertight recess formed in the hull of the landing craft. The ramp module also includes an extendible ramp operatively coupled to the enclosure and configured to be extended from the enclosure such that the ramp extends from the deck of the landing craft toward a shore to provide a support surface for unloading cargo onto or in close proximity to the shore. The extendible ramp is configured to be substantially fully retracted within the cavity, in some cases the enclosure forming an water tight seal with the recess in the hull and/or sealing the ramp, when retracted, in a water tight manner within its cavity.

Abstract: A disclosed diver fin includes a blade and a foot pocket, distinct from one another and releasably connected to one another by one or more rails extending from a leading edge of the blade to the foot pocket. The rails extend from either side of the foot pocket and extend parallel to one another at least partway along the length of the blade towards a trailing edge of the blade. Each rail includes two sections: a first rail section, extending from the leading edge of the blade and terminating in a free end, and a second rail section, extending from the foot pocket and terminating in a free end. The free end of one rail section includes a female recess, and the free end of the other rail section terminates in a male extension, slidably receivable in the female recess. The disclosed fin is reconfigurable to accommodate different diving conditions.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes recreational watercraft including a drop down boarding point. One example includes a hull, an open platform passenger deck, and a plurality of sides, continuous from the hull. The watercraft includes a panel drop down boarding point, hingedly attached horizontally to the hull, for ingress and egress of persons to the watercraft. The panel drop down boarding point includes a first surface interior to the watercraft when the panel drop down boarding point is closed, a second surface, opposite to the first surface and exterior to the watercraft when the panel drop down boarding point is closed, and an aperture formed between the first surface and the second surface and having an opening in an end surface of the panel drop down boarding point. The aperture is sized and shaped to house a retractable ladder and for the ladder to extend out through the opening.

Abstract: A launch, recovery, and handling system includes a track system arranged on a deck of a ship and a stern door of the ship. The launch, recovery, and handling system also includes an aft cradle and a forward cradle that are connected to the track system and moveable in first and second directions along the track system. The aft cradle is moveable from a first position at a first area inside the ship to a second position on the stern door for at least one of launching and recovering a payload.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for expanding or lifting a device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention is a coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanism. In various embodiments, coaxial screw gear sleeve mechanisms includes a post with a threaded exterior surface and a corresponding sleeve configured to surround the post, the corresponding sleeve having a threaded interior surface configured to interface with the threaded exterior surface of the post and a geared exterior surface. A drive mechanism can be configured to interface with the geared exterior surface of the sleeve, causing a device utilizing such a mechanism to expand or lift between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for a water vessel, wherein the water vessel includes at least one container configured to transport at least one vehicle, wherein the at least one container is configured to transport the at least one vehicle while the at least one container is in a body of water. The water vessel includes one or more buoyancy floats configured to maintain the at least one container afloat in the body of water. The water vessel includes a propulsion unit configured to navigate the at least one container and the at least one vehicle through the body of water.

Abstract: A vessel (10) comprising a hull (15) having a the Longitudinal Centre of Flotation (LCF) at the design load waterline (25) at rest with a value of less than about 35% of the vessel waterline length measured from the aftermost point (19) of the vessel waterline. The design vessel speed at design load waterline is at or above Froude Number of 0.45. The hull (15) has a length-to-beam ratio on the design waterline of greater than about 8.0. The Longitudinal Centre of Buoyancy (LCB) is between about 30% and 45% of the vessel waterline length measured from the aftermost point (19) of the vessel waterline (25). In one arrangement, the vessel (10) may comprise a single hull vessel. In another arrangement, the vessel (10) may comprise a multi-hulled vessel.

Abstract: A ship having a multi-mode hull where the draft, seakeeping, and payload-carrying capacity are varied to match the requirements of the required mission. For example, the ship has a hull with first and second hull portions and with an interconnecting hull structure, and has a ballasting system within the hull portions and operable to adjust the draft of the vessel in conjunction with the payload carried by the ship so that the ship can perform a designated mission. The hull is designed to have an adjustable hull depth according to the payload carried to perform the mission and augmented by the ballasting system so as to optimize draft, and thus hull mode, to meet mission requirements. As a result, the ship operates in four distinct modes as follows: very shallow draft (logistics mode), shallow draft (catamaran mode), moderate draft (SWATH mode), and deep draft (stealth/low-freeboard mode).

Abstract: An improved landing craft includes a hull that supports bow and stern ramps for enabling vehicles to drive through during loading and unloading. The drive-through arrangement also enables the crew to load and unload the craft much faster and more easily than existing vessels. A ballasting arrangement can be used to trim the hull when it is to be beached or to be extracted and/or during loading/unloading.

Abstract: A large-waterplane-area ship operable to efficiently operate at a high-Froude velocity. In one embodiment of the invention, a large-waterplane-area ship includes a hull structure having a plurality of exclusive hull portions protruding from a main body of the hull structure. Each hull portion has a length shorter than the length of the main body and each hull portion has a buoyancy wherein the combined buoyancy of each hull portion is sufficient to support the main body above a waterline. As such, each hull portion acts independently and exclusively of other hull portions with respect to the effects of wave drag. Therefore, the ship overcomes wave drag at lower velocities.

Abstract: A method for outfitting a vessel such as a water ship for a particular mission includes maneuvering the vessel toward a mission module, capturing the mission module with the vessel, and coupling the mission module to the vessel. Such method allows one to interchange mission modules, and thus outfit a vessel for different missions, quickly and easily.

Abstract: A barge for the commercial shipping of cargo along an inland waterway having an economically optimized bow, a stern, elongated sidewalls extending between the bow and the stern, and a bottom interconnecting the bow, stern and sidewalls. The bow has a profile within a longitudinal centerline plane of symmetry defined by a fullness which is defined by a block coefficient. The bow also has a corresponding radius within the longitudinal centerline plane. The fullness and the radius of the bow are optimized for economic performance of the barge, which is dependent upon revenue generated by shipping cargo in the barge along a waterway, fuel costs associated with overcoming resistance to propel the barge along a waterway, and maintenance and repair costs associated with propelling the barge along a waterway. The barge has a block coefficient in the range of about 0.96 to about 0.988, with a corresponding radius ranging from about 10' to about 22'.

Abstract: A boat is disclosed which is particularly adapted for operation in rough seas. It includes a closed support hull, open support structure extending upwardly from the support hull, a deck mounted above the support hull and on the open support structure, a closed stabilizer hull laterally spaced from the support hull, and open connecting structure between the stabilizer hull and the support hull thereby permitting tall waves to pass over the hulls and through the support structures to provide a vessel for transporting motor vehicles, passengers and the like through open, rough seas.

Abstract: A ship comprising a hull in which vehicles can be readily loaded and unloaded from at least two ramps at about the same level, the ramps communicating with a cargo-carrying portion extending through two decks and comprising fully separated cargo volumes, in which straight blind alleys emanating from lobbies within the hull at opposite ends of the hull communicate with mutually inclined decks extending upwardly and downwardly forward-aft and aft-forward, respectively, and in communication with respective opposite lobbies.

Abstract: A boat ride system for an amusement park, which includes a main channel and an auxiliary channel extending under the main channel and isolated from it except along a narrow slot. A boat for carrying people includes a hull floating in the main channel, a pair of paddles lying in the auxiliary channel, and a pair of supports extending through the slot and connecting the paddles to the hull. Pumps are utilized to pump water along the auxiliary channel so that the moving water pushes the paddles and therefore moves the hull along the main channel.