The invention relates to a method to control at least a first and a second parallel hybrid driveline (101, 102; 310, 320, 330) arranged to drive a marine vessel (100). Each driveline comprises a first propulsion unit (111, 112; 311, 321, 331) in the form of an internal combustion engine operatively connected with a second propulsion unit (121, 122; 312, 322, 332) in the form of an electric motor to drive a propeller shaft (107, 108; 313, 323, 333) and produce a thrust force, and where at least one control unit (316, 326, 336; 317, 327, 337; 340) is arranged to control each first and second propulsion unit in all the parallel hybrid drivelines. The method involves individual adjustment of the rotational speed (n.sub.1, n.sub.2) of the first propulsion unit (111, 112; 311, 321, 331) in each driveline to improve the efficiency of this first propulsion unit while maintaining the requested vessel speed, and a simultaneous adjustment of the load from the corresponding second propulsion unit (121, 122; 312, 322, 332) in each driveline to improve the efficiency of each driveline and the complete driveline installation.

The invention relates to a method to control at least a first and a second parallel hybrid driveline (101, 102; 310, 320, 330) arranged to drive a marine vessel (100). Each driveline comprises a first propulsion unit (111, 112; 311, 321, 331) in the form of an internal combustion engine operatively connected with a second propulsion unit (121, 122; 312, 322, 332) in the form of an electric motor to drive a propeller shaft (107, 108; 313, 323, 333) and produce a thrust force, and where at least one control unit (316, 326, 336; 317, 327, 337; 340) is arranged to control each first and second propulsion unit in all the parallel hybrid drivelines. The method involves individual adjustment of the rotational speed (n.sub.1, n.sub.2) of the first propulsion unit (111, 112; 311, 321, 331) in each driveline to improve the efficiency of this first propulsion unit while maintaining the requested vessel speed, and a simultaneous adjustment of the load from the corresponding second propulsion unit (121, 122; 312, 322, 332) in each driveline to improve the efficiency of each driveline and the complete driveline installation.

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel includes a marine propulsion device, a plurality of power storage devices, and a charge distribution circuit. The marine propulsion device includes an engine and an alternator driven by the engine to generate a charge current. The plurality of power storage devices includes at least a first power storage device and a second power storage device, wherein each power storage device is configured to receive current from the alternator. The charge distribution circuit is positioned between the alternator and the plurality of power storage devices and includes an isolator configured to isolate the first power storage device from the second power storage device, a charge sensor configured to sense a charge level of the first power storage device, and a relay configured to connect and disconnect the second power storage device to/from the alternator based on the sensed charge level.

A marine propulsion system for a marine vessel includes a marine propulsion device, a plurality of power storage devices, and a charge distribution circuit. The marine propulsion device includes an engine and an alternator driven by the engine to generate a charge current. The plurality of power storage devices includes at least a first power storage device and a second power storage device, wherein each power storage device is configured to receive current from the alternator. The charge distribution circuit is positioned between the alternator and the plurality of power storage devices and includes an isolator configured to isolate the first power storage device from the second power storage device, a charge sensor configured to sense a charge level of the first power storage device, and a relay configured to connect and disconnect the second power storage device to/from the alternator based on the sensed charge level.

A ship propulsion system provides a first power transmission device that transmits power from an internal combustion engine to a propeller, a second power transmission device that transmits power from an electric motor to a propeller and that is mounted to the hull so as to be able to turn up and down independently from the first power transmission device, an actuator for causing the second power transmission device to turn up and down, and a control device. The control device is configured so as to be able to select a first drive mode in which the internal combustion engine is driven and the electric motor is not driven, and a second drive mode in which the internal combustion engine is not driven and the electric motor is driven. When the first drive mode is selected, the actuator is operated so that the second power transmission device turns up.

A ship propulsion system provides a first power transmission device that transmits power from an internal combustion engine to a propeller, a second power transmission device that transmits power from an electric motor to a propeller and that is mounted to the hull so as to be able to turn up and down independently from the first power transmission device, an actuator for causing the second power transmission device to turn up and down, and a control device. The control device is configured so as to be able to select a first drive mode in which the internal combustion engine is driven and the electric motor is not driven, and a second drive mode in which the internal combustion engine is not driven and the electric motor is driven. When the first drive mode is selected, the actuator is operated so that the second power transmission device turns up.

A marine vessel can be propelled by using wind or solar energy. This propulsion results in the forward movement and six degrees of motion (roll, heave, pitch, yaw, surge, and sway) of the marine vessel. This invention capitalizes on the fact that solar, wind and wave energy are cyclical by nature. The invention enables the vessel to manage stored and harvested energy and use the stored energy during periods when the external natural sources of energy are not available in adequate quantities to maintain a reasonable speed of advance for the vessel. The vessel's natural energy management system (NEMS) manages it in such a way that harvesting of the energy during high energy cycles, storing it and using it when needed during low external energy cycles, allows a marine vessel to maintain faster average speed without reliance on any fossil or chemical fuel and by only using renewable energy sources.

A marine vessel can be propelled by using wind or solar energy. This propulsion results in the forward movement and six degrees of motion (roll, heave, pitch, yaw, surge, and sway) of the marine vessel. This invention capitalizes on the fact that solar, wind and wave energy are cyclical by nature. The invention enables the vessel to manage stored and harvested energy and use the stored energy during periods when the external natural sources of energy are not available in adequate quantities to maintain a reasonable speed of advance for the vessel. The vessel's natural energy management system (NEMS) manages it in such a way that harvesting of the energy during high energy cycles, storing it and using it when needed during low external energy cycles, allows a marine vessel to maintain faster average speed without reliance on any fossil or chemical fuel and by only using renewable energy sources.

A control system for a marine propulsion device includes a propeller driven by either an engine or a motor. The control system includes a first memory to store first information to identify whether the control system has shut down normally or abnormally even during a reset period of the control system, a second memory to store second information indicating control states of the engine and the motor even during the reset period of the control system, and a controller configured or programmed to start controlling the engine and the motor, based on the second information stored in the second memory, when the first information stored in the first memory indicates an abnormal shutdown of the control system at a startup of the control system.

A system for alleviating variations in torsional loads applied to a shaft coupled to a main engine of a marine vessel, said shaft is coupled to a propeller of the marine vessel, the system comprising an electric motor-generator configured to provide power to the shaft or take out power from the shaft; a controller coupled to the electric motor-generator said controller is configured to execute instructions, comprising: measuring a group of values that are indicative of torsional loads applied on a shaft of the marine vessel over time; creating a time-based series of values that represent a predictive time-based torsional loads on the marine vessel; collecting readings indicative of power provided by a main engine of the marine vessel; computing an intervention time series of power values to be outputted by the electric motor-generator; wherein the electrical power outputs the intervention time series values of power to the shaft.