A system and method of extracting a tube from the water by pulling the tube up a pair of elongated rails extending aft of the stern of a vessel and positioning the tube between a tube containment arm disposed above each of the elongated rails so that the tube is pressure fit therein. The pair of elongated rails can be pivoted up and out of the water for transportation and storage. The elongated rails and the tube containment arms can be telescopic.

A system and method of extracting a tube from the water by pulling the tube up a pair of elongated rails extending aft of the stern of a vessel and positioning the tube between a tube containment arm disposed above each of the elongated rails so that the tube is pressure fit therein. The pair of elongated rails can be pivoted up and out of the water for transportation and storage. The elongated rails and the tube containment arms can be telescopic.

A system and method of extracting a tube from the water by pulling the tube up a pair of elongated rails extending aft of the stern of a vessel and positioning the tube between a tube containment arm disposed above each of the elongated rails so that the tube is pressure fit therein. The pair of elongated rails can be pivoted up and out of the water for transportation and storage. The elongated rails and the tube containment arms can be telescopic.

The invention encompasses fire-escape models of off-shore rigs with emphasis on a Detachable Island Rig (DIR), the latter instantly unlocked upon a rig-fire from a permanent under-water basement, its water-sealed fire-escape entry serving as an exceptional model (Sumathi Paturu's in-situ model) for an in-site fire-escape of a jack-up rig. An off-site modular is an unlimited air-source for all fire-escape units. A guarded spray-room is a destination for spray-walks, or spray-tracks with track-drives, or else simpler spray-drivesall being safe evacuation accessories workable with minimal cost and space. Wheeled life-boats and lift-boats protected against collision injury, are let out boarded/un-boarded by a remote control. Vital needs like safe evacuation, fresh air, and first-aids are devised as affirmed provisions. Other gas-fire protective outdoor/indoor measures include: gas-chasing surface grid of fans and sprinklers about tall structures; similar grid arching over the rig; and gas-chasing pressured air-circuiting into the rig's interiors.

The invention encompasses fire-escape models of off-shore rigs with emphasis on a Detachable Island Rig (DIR), the latter instantly unlocked upon a rig-fire from a permanent under-water basement, its water-sealed fire-escape entry serving as an exceptional model (Sumathi Paturu's in-situ model) for an in-site fire-escape of a jack-up rig. An off-site modular is an unlimited air-source for all fire-escape units. A guarded spray-room is a destination for spray-walks, or spray-tracks with track-drives, or else simpler spray-drivesall being safe evacuation accessories workable with minimal cost and space. Wheeled life-boats and lift-boats protected against collision injury, are let out boarded/un-boarded by a remote control. Vital needs like safe evacuation, fresh air, and first-aids are devised as affirmed provisions. Other gas-fire protective outdoor/indoor measures include: gas-chasing surface grid of fans and sprinklers about tall structures; similar grid arching over the rig; and gas-chasing pressured air-circuiting into the rig's interiors.

Apparatus and methods for recovering watercraft. A ramp is movable relative to a stationary carrying apparatus between a recovering position and a parked position. The ramp includes a frame and a deformable body, which is fastened to the frame. When the ramp is in the recovering position, the deformable body points toward the watercraft to be recovered and is located at least partially above the water surface. The watercraft travels onto the ramp and deforms the deformable body from above. The watercraft is pulled out of the water and moved onto the carrying apparatus.

A recovery apparatus and a recovery method is disclosed for recovering a watercraft, in particular for recovering a boat on board a mother ship. A frame actuator pulls a frame of the recovery apparatus relative to a carrying structure from a recovering position into a parked position. A chain drive moves a chain relative to the frame along a closed curve. The chain comprises at least one driver. A watercraft to be recovered is connected temporarily to the chain and is pulled out of the water by the movement of the frame relative to the carrying structure and by the movement of the chain having the drivers relative to the frame.

A recovery apparatus and a recovery method is disclosed for recovering a watercraft, in particular for recovering a boat on board a mother ship. A frame actuator pulls a frame of the recovery apparatus relative to a carrying structure from a recovering position into a parked position. A chain drive moves a chain relative to the frame along a closed curve. The chain comprises at least one driver. A watercraft to be recovered is connected temporarily to the chain and is pulled out of the water by the movement of the frame relative to the carrying structure and by the movement of the chain having the drivers relative to the frame.

Virtual anchor features for a navigation/autopilot system for use on a marine vessel are provided herein. An example apparatus associated with a marine vessel includes a processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input indicating at least a first geographic location and a desired offset distance; determine a current geographic location of at least one of the marine vessel or the apparatus; determine if the current geographic location is within a distance threshold of the desired offset distance from the first geographic location; and cause, in an instance in which the current geographic location is not within the distance threshold, one or more motors of the marine vessel to operate to cause the marine vessel to move to a new geographic location accordingly. A desired orbit pattern may also be employed.

Virtual anchor features for a navigation/autopilot system for use on a marine vessel are provided herein. An example apparatus associated with a marine vessel includes a processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input indicating at least a first geographic location and a desired offset distance; determine a current geographic location of at least one of the marine vessel or the apparatus; determine if the current geographic location is within a distance threshold of the desired offset distance from the first geographic location; and cause, in an instance in which the current geographic location is not within the distance threshold, one or more motors of the marine vessel to operate to cause the marine vessel to move to a new geographic location accordingly. A desired orbit pattern may also be employed.