Vessel and method for catching an object floating in a waterway

Abstract

 The invention relates to a vessel adapted to catch an object floating in a waterway, such as a buoy, for instance in order to repair, replace or remove it, characterized in that the vessel is provided with: a space (22) communicating with the waterway for catching the object; and means (1-9) for releasably fastening the object to the vessel.
The invention also relates to a method for catching an object floating in a waterway, such as a buoy, for instance in order to repair, replace or remove it, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of: manoeuvring with a vessel which is provided with a space communicating with the waterway in a manner such that the object is caught in the space; and fastening the object releasably to the vessel.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a vessel for catching an object floating in a waterway, such as a buoy.

[0002] Many objects, such as buoys, are arranged in waterways to guide vessels on their route. All these marker objects have to undergo maintenance on a regular basis. Damage to amongst other things buoys, which may have resulted from wear or is caused by a collision, is if possible repaired. The buoy in question has to be removed from the waterway for this purpose and is replaced after repair. In some cases the buoy is also replaced (whether or not temporarily) by another.

[0003] In order to catch a buoy a vessel sails in practice alongside and then moors close to the buoy. Using a rope the buoy is then pulled against the vessel, whereafter a crane is coupled to the buoy to hoist it out of the water and on board the vessel. The coupling of the crane to the buoy is manually assisted by an operative, who climbs for this purpose onto the buoy during this operation. This latter involves great safety hazards. Under the influence of the waves and the wind the buoy is after all moving more violently than the vessel, which makes stepping over between the vessel and the buoy difficult and dangerous.

[0004] The invention has for its object to provide a vessel which is specially adapted to catch an object floating in a waterway, such as a buoy, for instance in order to repair, replace or remove it.

[0005] For this purpose the vessel according to the invention has the feature that the vessel is provided with:

• a space communicating with the waterway for catching the object; and
• means for releasably fastening the object to the vessel.

[0006] The vessel according to the invention can be manoeuvred such that the object to be caught is caught in the space. Once in the space, the movement options of the object are considerably more limited, which facilitates fastening of the object to the vessel. This also results in an increased safety, since the danger of an involuntary fall into the water is thereby also considerably reduced for the operative. Both advantages have a further positive effect on the time required to catch the object.

[0007] In a first preferred embodiment the space is situated on the front side of the vessel, which is by far the easiest during manoeuvring. A catamaran is an example of a very suitable vessel for applying the invention, wherein the space is at least partly bounded by the hulls of the catamaran.

[0008] The means are preferably adapted to fasten the object clampingly to the vessel. An object fastened clampingly to the vessel using such means makes the same movements as the vessel itself under the influence of wind and waves, so that stepping over between the object and the vessel, for instance to attach a crane, will be less hazardous. Partly for this reason attachment of the crane can also be carried out more quickly.

[0009] In a further practical preferred embodiment the means comprise one or more stop members, which are each fixed to the vessel for movement between a rest position and an operating position, in which operating position the stop members take up a position in the space such that an object present in the space can be fastened clampingly between the stop members. In a first preferred embodiment hereof, one or more of the stop members are mounted on one or more arms, which arms are each fixed to the vessel with one end thereof and are provided on the other end thereof with a stop member, which arms are movable between a first position corresponding with the rest position of the stop members and a second position corresponding with the operating position of the stop members, in which second position the arms extend toward each other in the space with the ends provided with the stop members. In an elegant preferred embodiment the arms can be extended between the first and the second position. Openings for the arms are preferably provided in the walls of the space. In a second preferred embodiment one or more of the stop members are fixed to the vessel for pivoting between the rest position and the operating position. The first and second preferred embodiments of the stop members can be freely combined.

[0010] In a compact preferred embodiment the stop members comprise stop surfaces. In the rest position the stop surfaces preferably form substantially one whole with the walls of the vessel, so that they affect the navigational characteristics of the vessel as little as possible.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment the means comprise a hydraulic drive for the stop members. The hydraulic drive preferably comprises a separate hydraulic cylinder for each of the stop members. In this embodiment the clamping means can be operated rapidly in reliable manner.

[0012] The invention also relates to a method for catching an object floating in a waterway, such as a buoy, for instance in order to repair, replace or remove it, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

• manoeuvring with a vessel which is provided with a space communicating with the waterway in a manner such that the object is caught in the space; and
• fastening the object releasably to the vessel. Using the method according to the invention objects floating in a waterway can be caught more quickly and using less personnel than with the known method. The method according to the invention is moreover safer.

[0013] The invention will now be discussed in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a vessel according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the vessel of figure 1 in schematic top view; and

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of the front side of the vessel of figures 1 and 2.

[0014] Figure 1 shows in schematic side view a preferred embodiment of a vessel 20 according to the invention, also referred to as a buoy layer. In addition figure 2 shows buoy layer 20 in top view.

[0015] Buoy layer 20 provides space on the upper deck for buoys 21. In order to catch buoys 21 a space 22 is provided on the front side of the vessel. Clamping means 23 are also arranged here with which, by way of illustration, a buoy 21 is fastened releasably to vessel 20.

[0016] In the shown preferred embodiment buoy layer 20 is a catamaran. Space 22 is bounded on two sides by the hulls 24 thereof. The space is accessible to a buoy due to a recess arranged in the foredeck.

[0017] Figure 3 shows space 22 with device 23 in more detail. In this embodiment device 23 comprises three hydraulically operated stop members 1, 4 and 7, between which a buoy caught in space 22 can be clamped. The stop members are provided with stop surfaces which are covered with a suitable material, for instance rubber, to prevent damage to the buoy.

[0018] Stop members 1 and 4 are fixed to the ends of respective arms 2 and 5, which can be operated using hydraulic cylinders 3 respectively 6. Openings 25 are provided in the hulls 24 for passage of the arms. Each arm can extend between a first position corresponding with the rest position of the stop member arranged thereon and a second position corresponding with the operating position of the stop member. The latter is shown in the figures.

[0019] The third stop member 7 is fixed to vessel 20 by means of hinges 9. A hydraulic cylinder 8 moves the pivotable stop flap 7 between a rest position and an operating position (shown in the figures).

[0020] In the rest position (not shown) all the stop surfaces preferably each lie as much as possible in the plane of the associated part of the vessel, for instance the hull, so that the navigational characteristics of the vessel are affected as little as possible.

[0021] Hydraulic cylinders 3, 6 and 8 are incorporated in a hydraulic circuit, consisting of conduits 11, to which is connected a drive in the form of a hydraulic pump 12 and a tank 10 with hydraulic liquid. An electric motor 13 is provided to drive the hydraulic pump.

[0022] The invention is of course not limited to the described or shown embodiments. It is particularly noted that the invention can also be applied in vessels other than a catamaran. The invention can further serve to catch many types of objects floating in waterways in addition to marker objects such as buoys. It is likewise possible to employ the clamping means according to the invention outside the described field of application in shipping, for instance in the building industry. The invention thus generally extends to any embodiment which falls within the scope of the appended claims as viewed in the light of the foregoing description and drawings.

Claims

1. Vessel adapted to catch an object floating in a waterway, such as a buoy, for instance in order to repair, replace or remove it, characterized in that the vessel is provided with:

- a space communicating with the waterway for catching the object; and

- means for releasably fastening the object to the vessel.

2. Vessel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the space is situated on the front side of the vessel.

3. Vessel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the vessel is a catamaran and the space is at least partly bounded by the hulls.

4. Vessel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the means are adapted to fasten the object clampingly to the vessel.

5. Vessel as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means comprise one or more stop members, which are each fixed to the vessel for movement between a rest position and an operating position, in which operating position the stop members take up a position in the space such that an object present in the space can be fastened clampingly between the stop members.

6. Vessel as claimed in claim 5, wherein one or more of the stop members are mounted on one or more arms, which arms are each fixed to the vessel with one end thereof and are provided on the other end thereof with a stop member, which arms are movable between a first position corresponding with the rest position of the stop members and a second position corresponding with the operating position of the stop members, in which second position the arms extend toward each other in the space with the ends provided with the stop members.

7. Vessel as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arms can be extended between the first and the second position.

8. Vessel as claimed in claim 6 and 7, wherein openings for the arms are provided in the walls of the space.

9. Vessel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 5-8, wherein one or more of the stop members are fixed to the vessel for pivoting between the rest position and the operating position.

10. Vessel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 5-9, wherein the stop members comprise stop surfaces.

11. Vessel as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the rest position the stop surfaces form substantially one whole with the walls of the vessel.

12. Vessel as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 4-11, wherein the means comprise a hydraulic drive for the stop members.

13. Vessel as claimed in claim 12, wherein the hydraulic drive comprises a separate hydraulic cylinder for each of the stop members.

14. Method for catching an object floating in a waterway, such as a buoy, for instance in order to repair, replace or remove it, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of:

- manoeuvring with a vessel which is provided with a space communicating with the waterway in a manner such that the object is caught in the space; and

- fastening the object releasably to the vessel.

Drawing