Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media that implement autonomous seagoing power replenishment watercraft. An example system includes a plurality of marine vessels; a plurality of watercraft, each watercraft of the plurality of watercraft including a rechargeable electrical power supply and being configured to operate in: a first mode in which the watercraft awaits an assignment to provide electrical energy to a marine vessel of the plurality of marine vessels; a second mode in which the watercraft performs operations including keeping station with an assigned marine vessel and providing electrical energy to the assigned marine vessel from the power supply; and a third mode in which the watercraft recharges the power supply from a charging station. The system includes a controller configured to perform operations comprising: transmitting, to a first watercraft, an instruction indicating an assignment of the first watercraft to provide electrical energy to a first marine vessel.

Abstract: A long, wide, and low-profile mono-hull vessel able to meet the requirements for an efficient, rapid, and reliable inland waterway container transport system. A shallow draft container carrier may comprise a self-propelled semi-monocoque mono-hull vessel having a double radius ogive bow and octet truss space frame structure. Additional features such as a forward bridge, full beam stern, and distributed electric propulsion system elements may be included. The design provides a vessel that is large, strong, ridged, and fast, able to operate in shallow water, resistant to debris accumulation, with large cargo capacity and low wind load, and potentially with zero-turn radius capability. The aspect ratio provides high capacity with high speed, low drag and fuel-efficient hull form. Integral bow and stern thrusters may provide enhanced safety, control, speed, maneuverability, and zero-turn radius capability.

Abstract: A reinforced hull for a flat-bottomed boat comprises a bottom panel having longitudinal and lateral braces extending across an upper surface of the bottom panel of the hull. The braces are formed from channel members having outwardly and downwardly sloping legs connected together by a web. The lateral braces have notches formed in and extending upward from bottom edges of the legs with each notch sized to receive a longitudinal brace therein. Lower, outer corners of the bow are reinforced and an engine stand is welded to the brace assembly.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a gravity center adjustment device for a wind turbine installation vessel, with the gravity center adjustment device (2) fixedly mounted to the outside of the vessel body (4) of the wind turbine installation vessel. The existence of the gravity center adjustment device (2) according to the present invention is independent from the vessel body and no longer limited by the size of the installation vessel and the size of the ballast bank provided in the vessel body of the wind turbine installation vessel. The size of the gravity center adjustment device (2) may be set as desired so that the adjustment ability of the gravity center adjustment device can be changed, whereby its ability for adjusting gravity center of the wind turbine installation vessel can be improved and the stability of the wind turbine installation vessel can be improved.

Abstract: A shallow draft boat has a flat bottom that extends along a substantial length of the boat hull. The port and starboard sides of the boat that extend beyond the bows are slightly inwardly inclined toward the center longitudinal plane of the boat to provide a tumblehome configuration. The hull progressively increases in width from the bows toward the stern and has a maximum width within the rear 15% waterline length of the hull. Compressed air nozzles, in association with venturi nozzles, controllably generate an air cushion under the bottom of the hull for selectively reducing drag on the hull. Fore and aft steering rotors are provided on the bottom of the hull for maintaining the boat accurately along its true heading. The boat also comprises retractable trim surfaces at the stern for adjusting the attitude and the speed of the hull.

Abstract: A personal watercraft has a handle rigidly attached to a rear portion of a deck pedestal. The handle has an elongate hand hold being disposed at a vertical position below a seat top surface and above a deck re-boarding platform. The hand hold spans between top and bottom attachment positions and is disposed at an angle of at least 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal surface. A handle for a watercraft is also described.

Abstract: A transonic hydrofield TH has been established which defines the shape of a displacement transonic hull (TH). The hydrofield is characterized in not having curvatures such as shoulders, midbody, or rear quarter, with a deep draft forward and shallow draft aft. In consequence of TH's shape, surface wave-making sources typical of conventional displacement hulls are eliminated. The transonic hull TH corresponding to the hydrofield has substantially triangular waterplane in dynamic displacement conditions, maximum draft forward, and minimum draft aft, and planing lateral surfaces inclined at large angle are vertical to the waterplane.

Abstract: A rigid, inflatable dory and method for constructing the same. A pre-hull is constructed by attaching to a front end of a rigid, substantially, flat bottom a forwardly inclined stempost and, to a rear end thereof, a rearwardly inclined sternpost, and by attaching left and right garboard plank blanks to the sides of the bottom and to the sides of the stempost and sternpost. The stempost and sternpost are forced toward one another to impart camber and flare to the garboard plank blanks, as by connecting them by a taut rope, thereby converting the blanks into garboard planks. A hull frame is then constructed on the pre-hull, comprising longitudinally spaced apart ribs and laterally spaced apart stringers. A gunwale is attached to an upper edge of each side of the hull frame. An inflatable sponson is mounted exteriorly on each side of the hull.

Abstract: An improved ship docking vessel is provided that has a substantially flat, elliptical bottom having a large beam-to-length ratio to provide a shallow draft. In addition, the vessel of the present invention is provided with two Z-drives disposed diagonally opposite the longitudinal axis of the bottom. Each of the drives is adapted to rotate 360.degree. about its central shaft. Because there is no keel, the vessel is provided with a pair of skegs disposed fore and aft along the center line of the longitudinal axis of the substantially flat bottom. The skegs are disposed outside the Z-drives and provide for enhanced maneuverability and increased directional stability of the vessel. In a preferred embodiment, the flat bottom has curved ends and parallel sides, and the entire flat bottom is longitudinally and transversely symmetrical.

Abstract: A vessel having a hull of effective rectangular configuration and utilizing a dual propulsion and steering arrangement, including sails and an eight jet system, thus making the vessel extremely maneuverable.

Abstract: An aquatic vegetation cutter for clearing dense aquatic vegetation from waterways uses a drive coupling and bearing assembly that eliminates the need for drive shafts to drive the cutting blades. The bearing is preferably capable of supporting a 90,000 pound load and supports the coupling close to the coupling hub where the cutting blade is attached. The bearing is housed in a watertight housing and is lubricated with grease. It is preferred that the output shaft of the motors driving the cutting blades be slanted slightly upward so that the lower part of the cutting blade is forward of the upper part of the cutting blade when the cutting blade is rotated, thereby reducing the load on the motor under normal operating conditions. The cutting blades have pitched fins sized so that each blade provides substantially the same amount of forward thrust for propulsion.

Abstract: A pair of pivotally attached fins depend into the water below the hull of the boat. When turning maneuvers are executed the tendency of the boat to skid sideward is resisted by the downwardly engaged fin panels. The device provides improved steering control to all boats so equipped, but especially to outboard jet powered boats traveling in shallow water. When underwater objects or the bottom of a body of water are encountered, the leading edge of the fins strike the object(s), causing the fins to pivot upward to clear the obstacle(s) and then return automatically to the water to provide an extra measure of boating safety.

Abstract: A retractable steering device for liquid/bulk cargo carrying barges includes a rectangular barge hull having a generally flat bottom and an upper deck and generally vertical port and starboard sidewalls. A cargo hold is contained at the central portion of and within the barge hull for containing a liquid or bulk cargo. Port and starboard wing tanks are positioned respectively between the port and sidewalls of the hull and the cargo hold. A pair of longitudinally extending slots are positioned adjacent the respective port and starboard wing tanks, each defining an opening that communicates at least with the barge bottom to provide an opening to the sea under the barge bottom.

Abstract: A retractable steering device for liquid/bulk cargo carrying barges includes a rectangular barge hull having a generally flat bottom and an upper deck and generally vertical port and starboard sidewalls. A cargo hold is contained at the central portion of and within the barge hull for containing a liquid or bulk cargo. Port and starboard wing tanks are positioned respectively between the port and sidewalls of the hull and the cargo hold. A pair of longitudinally extending slots are positioned adjacent the respective port and starboard wing tanks, each defining an opening that communicates at least with the barge bottom to provide an opening to the sea under the barge bottom.

Abstract: A skeg unit mounted on a raked barge stern counter is a box lattice structure including an athwartships row of upright generally parallel vanes having their upper ends connected by an athwartships upper horizontal tie plate and their lower ends connected by a horizontal lower tie plate. The box lattice structure is mounted to the barge stern counter by struts spaced athwartships of the barge of a length to locate the upper tie plate below the loaded waterline of the barge. The vanes are of airfoil cross section and the outboard vanes are toed out. The horizontal tie plates are of airfoil cross section and have negative angles of incidence, the negative angle of incidence of the upper tie plate being greater than the negative angle of incidence of the lower tie plate.

Abstract: A row of dagger skegs projects downward from the aft portion of the raked counter of a nonpowered, nonsteered barge hull at each side of the longitudinal center line of the hull for stabilizing the barge directionally when towed by a towline trailing a towboat. The upright skegs are of airfoil cross section, and they are tapered downwardly. The leading edge of each skeg, which extends over the major portion of the height of the skeg, is substantially vertical and is spaced rearwardly from the stern counter. The lower end portions of adjacent skegs can be connected by an elongated horizontal bridging member which also is of airfoil cross section having a cambered upper side and a negative angle of incidence.

Abstract: A pontoon flotation device having forward and rearward ends and including at least two parallel pontoons fastened to a substantially rectangular deck panel. The deck panel has upturned side flanges extending the length of each side of the deck panel with a pontoon located parallel to and beneath each side of the deck panel. Each pontoon includes a substantially rectangular bottom panel and inner and outer upwardly extending side panels joined to opposite long edges of the bottom panel. The outer side panel extends upwardly beyond the furthest upward extension of the inner side panel to extend parallel and adjacent to a side flange of the deck panel. By this means, the deck panel and outer side panel of the pontoon are in position to be conveniently fastened to each other.

Abstract: A supportive framework is disclosed for a boat having a hull which consists of a flexible plastic skin wherein the bottom frame element of the frame network is tubular and includes a rounded bottom wall which flexes inwardly to absorb stresses upon impact and more widely and uniformly distribute the stresses over the impact area.

Abstract: A row of dagger skegs projects downward from the aft portion of the raked counter of a nonpowered, nonsteered barge hull at each side of the longitudinal center line of the hull for stabilizing the barge directionally when towed by a towline trailing a towboat. The upright skegs are of airfoil cross section, and they are tapered downwardly. The leading edge of each skeg, which extends over the major portion of the height of the skeg, is substantially vertical and is spaced rearwardly from the stern counter. The lower end portions of adjacent skegs can be connected by an elongated horizontal bridging member which also is of airfoil cross section having a cambered upper side and a negative angle of incidence.

Abstract: The catamaran-type ship for hauling barges includes two parallel spaced hull forms each including its own bow. One or more additional bows, each partially defining a pair of water-receiving passageways respectively on opposite sides thereof, are disposed between the hull forms and extend rearwardly for only a portion of the length of the hull forms. An elongated platform structure for supporting barges in transit is disposed between the hull forms aft of the additional bow or bows. The platform structure extends rearwardly, from a front portion thereof adjacent the additional bow or bows, for a substantial portion of the remainder of the length of the hull forms, and is operatively connected to the hull forms for vertically reciprocal movement relative thereto. A pair of deflecting structures are disposed respectively on opposite sides of each bow to direct water from the water-receiving passageways downwardly and underneath the ship.

Abstract: The hull of a generally shallow draft boat comprises a bottom, sides joined to the bottom by chine portions having rounded outer surfaces, and a transom adjoining the stern edges of the bottom and sides. The bottom includes first and second laterally opposite wings, the lower surfaces of which taper downwardly and laterally inwardly from their respective side edges and converge in a shallow first peak which extends partially along the longitudinal centerline of the bottom and whose rear end is disposed forwardly of the stern edge of the bottom. A pair of longitudinally extending keelsons depend downwardly from the bottom on opposite sides of the centerline of the bottom and equally spaced therefrom. A generally triangular delta formation on the bottom has a base disposed adjacent the transom and an apex disposed adjacent the rear end of the first peak and between the keelsons.

Abstract: A square-sterned dory of welded aluminum construction in which the chines diverge for their full length and an engine well is located forward of the transom and is open through the transom as well as through the bottom. Box cross-braces serve as seats and storage compartments, and bracing is added by a forward deck or seat and skirt providing a front compartment. A hawsepipe is provided at the bow which extends through the forward compartment to the forward end of the bottom for convenience in handling an anchor when the dory is used as a river drifter.

Abstract: An elongated flat bottom, vertical side cargo unit vessel with a specially configured high-speed bow featuring a forwardly cantilevered horizontal bottom panel of full hull width, predetermined projecting length and vertical thickness controlling bow wave of the hull, with a multi-skeged upsloped stern bottom. A plurality of detachably connected power module vessels and a single control module vessel arranged abreast are detachably connected to each other and to the stern. Submerged to adjustable depths, torpedo-shaped drive units of the power module vessels support upright housings thereon projecting above water level and pass through flotation collars which provide flotation and stability for the power module vessels as independent craft when detached from the cargo unit vessel. An elevatable helm house with monitor and control apparatus on the control module vessel provides control for the power module vessels and cargo unit vessel from a suitable vantage point.