The present invention provides an apparatus, method and system for utilizing commercial cargo containers. The present invention utilizes containers made autonomous by coupling a container with a detachable propulsion system, having a motor and navigation and steering controls, permitting the rapid, controlled, efficient and safe delivery of cargo containers individually by water. Ballast units, deployment systems and control via remote units are also disclosed. The containers, utilizing their inherent buoyancy, can move autonomously according to a preplanned or remote controlled route to a specific location.

The present invention provides an apparatus, method and system for utilizing commercial cargo containers. The present invention utilizes containers made autonomous by coupling a container with a detachable propulsion system, having a motor and navigation and steering controls, permitting the rapid, controlled, efficient and safe delivery of cargo containers individually by water. Ballast units, deployment systems and control via remote units are also disclosed. The containers, utilizing their inherent buoyancy, can move autonomously according to a preplanned or remote controlled route to a specific location.

A vessel hull stabilization system includes a housing having a rotatable shaft mounted thereto, the shaft configured to connect to a fin such that the fin is located on an outside of the vessel hull and the housing is located on an inside of the vessel hull. A drive system is mounted to the housing and includes a motor and a drive element. The motor is connected to a central shaft of the drive element. The drive element includes a plurality of teeth positioned between the outer element and the central shaft such that when the motor rotates the central shaft, the plurality of teeth oscillate inwards and outwards to interact with teeth in the outer element and thereby cause rotation of a fin shaft connected to the outer element or to the gear having the oscillating teeth. A controller receives sensor readings to determine control signals to send to the motor(s) to impart rotation of the fin.

A vessel hull stabilization system includes a housing having a rotatable shaft mounted thereto, the shaft configured to connect to a fin such that the fin is located on an outside of the vessel hull and the housing is located on an inside of the vessel hull. A drive system is mounted to the housing and includes a motor and a drive element. The motor is connected to a central shaft of the drive element. The drive element includes a plurality of teeth positioned between the outer element and the central shaft such that when the motor rotates the central shaft, the plurality of teeth oscillate inwards and outwards to interact with teeth in the outer element and thereby cause rotation of a fin shaft connected to the outer element or to the gear having the oscillating teeth. A controller receives sensor readings to determine control signals to send to the motor(s) to impart rotation of the fin.

A ballast water treatment operating apparatus includes a ballast water treatment unit for performing a certain treatment of ballast water flowing in from the outside for a ballast operation or performing a certain treatment of ballast water discharged into the outside for a de-ballast operation; a positional information receiving unit for receiving positional information; a control unit for confirming a ship's position by using positional information received from the positional information receiving unit and then determining whether to operate the ballast water treatment unit during a ballast operation or during a de-ballast operation, thereby being capable of preventing an unnecessary energy consumption.

A power-receiving structure is provided in a ship and includes a power-receiving coil capable of wirelessly receiving electric power from a power-supplying coil on a land-side and an outer wall surface-forming section forming an outer surface of side of the ship, and the power-receiving coil is provided on an inside of the ship from the outer wall surface-forming section, and an electromagnetic field-transmissive section formed of a material through which an electromagnetic field propagates is provided in an opposing portion to the power-receiving coil in the outer wall surface-forming section. According to the present invention, the power-receiving coil is not protruded from the outer surface of side of the ship and can wirelessly receive electric power from the power-supplying coil on the land-side through the electromagnetic field-transmissive section. Accordingly, the power-receiving coil does not disturb the navigation of the ship and is not required to be pulled into the ship after the supply of the electric power to the ship is finished.

A power-receiving structure is provided in a ship and includes a power-receiving coil capable of wirelessly receiving electric power from a power-supplying coil on a land-side and an outer wall surface-forming section forming an outer surface of side of the ship, and the power-receiving coil is provided on an inside of the ship from the outer wall surface-forming section, and an electromagnetic field-transmissive section formed of a material through which an electromagnetic field propagates is provided in an opposing portion to the power-receiving coil in the outer wall surface-forming section. According to the present invention, the power-receiving coil is not protruded from the outer surface of side of the ship and can wirelessly receive electric power from the power-supplying coil on the land-side through the electromagnetic field-transmissive section. Accordingly, the power-receiving coil does not disturb the navigation of the ship and is not required to be pulled into the ship after the supply of the electric power to the ship is finished.

An enhanced system and various methods for safe and convenient deployment and retraction of boat fenders, comprising a system for stowing a boat fender in a fender receptacle, the receptacle having an opening for threading through a line, the line being attached to the fender, the line operable to pull up the fender into the receptacle through a second opening at the bottom of the receptacle, the receptacle being located within the rail, hull, or attached thereto, and being attached to a hinge, operated either mechanically or manually, to enable unobstructed deployment of the fenders.

An enhanced system and various methods for safe and convenient deployment and retraction of boat fenders, comprising a system for stowing a boat fender in a fender receptacle, the receptacle having an opening for threading through a line, the line being attached to the fender, the line operable to pull up the fender into the receptacle through a second opening at the bottom of the receptacle, the receptacle being located within the rail, hull, or attached thereto, and being attached to a hinge, operated either mechanically or manually, to enable unobstructed deployment of the fenders.

A method of maintaining positioning between vessels includes monitoring a relative position between a storage tank vessel and a shuttle tanker with a control system in operative communication with the vessels. Also included is inputting physical property data relating to the storage tank vessel and the shuttle tanker to the control system. Further included is processing environmental condition data with the control system. Yet further included is controlling at least one positioning action to be taken by the storage tank vessel and the shuttle tanker with the control system in response to positioning calculations conducted by the control system based on the physical property data and the environmental condition data. Also included is maintaining an angular differential within a predetermined limit with the at least one positioning action.