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. An electric propulsion system combined with traction motors and full beam stern layout may provide greater power while maintaining shallow draft operating capability and flexibility in cargo hold design.

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. An electric propulsion system combined with traction motors and full beam stern layout may provide greater power while maintaining shallow draft operating capability and flexibility in cargo hold design.

A solar powered electric ship system comprises an electric ship, multiple inflatable barges, and multiple inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrator based concentrating photovoltaic systems. The entire system is configured with the multiple inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrator based concentrating photovoltaic systems mounted on the inflatable barges, and with the inflatable barges mechanically and electrically connected to the electric ship. When in operation, the electric ship dragged the barges to navigate together with it, and have the inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrator based photovoltaic system to power it. The configuration dramatically reduce the battery bank size of the electric ship and make the portable floating concentrating photovoltaic system ultra-high efficiency, extremely low cost, and super light.

A solar powered electric ship system comprises an electric ship, multiple inflatable barges, and multiple inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrator based concentrating photovoltaic systems. The entire system is configured with the multiple inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrator based concentrating photovoltaic systems mounted on the inflatable barges, and with the inflatable barges mechanically and electrically connected to the electric ship. When in operation, the electric ship dragged the barges to navigate together with it, and have the inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrator based photovoltaic system to power it. The configuration dramatically reduce the battery bank size of the electric ship and make the portable floating concentrating photovoltaic system ultra-high efficiency, extremely low cost, and super light.

The present invention relates to a device for pushing four piles into the ground or into a seabed in a square configuration or in a diamond configuration, the device comprising: —a bridge assembly which defines a first, second, third and fourth connecting location arranged in a square or diamond configuration, —four connection assemblies via which in use each of the four piles is connected to the bridge assembly, wherein each pile connection assembly comprises: ∘an actuator comprising an upper actuator part and a lower actuator part, wherein the actuator is configured to extend, ∘a pile connector connected to the lower actuator part, ∘a control device configured for alternately letting each of the actuators extend, and configured for letting the pile which is pushed into the ground or seabed receive a greater force than the opposite pile of the square or diamond configuration, wherein the exerted push force is transferred into the bridge assembly and transferred at least partially from the bridge assembly as a tension force and a bending moment into the two adjoining piles via the two adjoining pile connection assemblies.

The present invention relates to a device for pushing four piles into the ground or into a seabed in a square configuration or in a diamond configuration, the device comprising: —a bridge assembly which defines a first, second, third and fourth connecting location arranged in a square or diamond configuration, —four connection assemblies via which in use each of the four piles is connected to the bridge assembly, wherein each pile connection assembly comprises: ∘an actuator comprising an upper actuator part and a lower actuator part, wherein the actuator is configured to extend, ∘a pile connector connected to the lower actuator part, ∘a control device configured for alternately letting each of the actuators extend, and configured for letting the pile which is pushed into the ground or seabed receive a greater force than the opposite pile of the square or diamond configuration, wherein the exerted push force is transferred into the bridge assembly and transferred at least partially from the bridge assembly as a tension force and a bending moment into the two adjoining piles via the two adjoining pile connection assemblies.

A camera mounting system for inspection is intended to be used with lights and a camera connected to a data transmission system to allow temporary installation of the mounting system upon a barge hatch to allow for visual confirmation via a camera or other digital imaging system of the interior space of the barge. The system is intended to be used to reduce personnel exposure to the interior of barges. The camera mounting system is portable and may be folded. The camera mounting system allows use with hatches generally rectangular at the access hatch as well as hatches having rounded or sweeping ninety degree type access hatches with the mounting system providing multiple positions for placement of the camera for either hatch type to ensure repeatability of the visual confirmation between various barge and barge configurations.

A camera mounting system for inspection is intended to be used with lights and a camera connected to a data transmission system to allow temporary installation of the mounting system upon a barge hatch to allow for visual confirmation via a camera or other digital imaging system of the interior space of the barge. The system is intended to be used to reduce personnel exposure to the interior of barges. The camera mounting system is portable and may be folded. The camera mounting system allows use with hatches generally rectangular at the access hatch as well as hatches having rounded or sweeping ninety degree type access hatches with the mounting system providing multiple positions for placement of the camera for either hatch type to ensure repeatability of the visual confirmation between various barge and barge configurations.

A lifting device for lifting a cover from a barge includes a main frame and one or more latch assemblies mounted to the main frame. Each latch assembly includes a hook for engaging an eyelet of the cover and an actuator for moving the hook into engagement with the eyelet. The lifting device further includes one or more indexers mounted to the main frame and/or the one or more latch assemblies for locating the main frame relative to the cover and/or the barge in a fore and aft direction of the barge and/or a side-to-side direction of the barge without the need for manual contact with the lifting device, the cover, or the barge.

A lifting device for lifting a cover from a barge includes a main frame and one or more latch assemblies mounted to the main frame. Each latch assembly includes a hook for engaging an eyelet of the cover and an actuator for moving the hook into engagement with the eyelet. The lifting device further includes one or more indexers mounted to the main frame and/or the one or more latch assemblies for locating the main frame relative to the cover and/or the barge in a fore and aft direction of the barge and/or a side-to-side direction of the barge without the need for manual contact with the lifting device, the cover, or the barge.