An emergency vessel towing system includes a vessel attachment system, a retrieving system, and a towing line. The vessel attachment system is configured to connect to a vessel at sea, and includes a bridle system and a hawser line. The bridle system is operatively connected to the hawser line's proximal end. The bridle system is configured to engage fittings on two sides of a foredeck of the vessel to distribute the load over the foredeck. The retrieving system includes a retrieving line with a proximal end that is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a setup position. The towing line is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a towing position.

A method for deploying a payload into a body of water using a deployment vessel, the deployment vessel including a hull defining a payload compartment, the method including positioning the payload in the payload compartment of the deployment vessel, the deployment vessel and the payload having a buoyancy, wherein the buoyancy is initially negative, deploying the deployment vessel into the water at a drop zone, wherein the deployment vessel moves horizontally through the water as it submerges vertically downward under a force of gravity, changing the buoyancy to positive after a minimum horizontal distance is established between the drop zone and the deployment vessel, thereby causing the deployment vessel to surface and, after the surfacing of the deployment vessel, opening the hull to release the payload therefrom.

A method for deploying a payload into a body of water using a deployment vessel, the deployment vessel including a hull defining a payload compartment, the method including positioning the payload in the payload compartment of the deployment vessel, the deployment vessel and the payload having a buoyancy, wherein the buoyancy is initially negative, deploying the deployment vessel into the water at a drop zone, wherein the deployment vessel moves horizontally through the water as it submerges vertically downward under a force of gravity, changing the buoyancy to positive after a minimum horizontal distance is established between the drop zone and the deployment vessel, thereby causing the deployment vessel to surface and, after the surfacing of the deployment vessel, opening the hull to release the payload therefrom.

An emergency ship arrest system includes a vessel attachment system, a retrieving system, and an anchor system. The vessel attachment system is configured to connect to a vessel at sea, and includes a bridle system and a hawser line. The bridle system is operatively connected to the hawser line's proximal end. The bridle system is configured to engage fittings on two sides of a foredeck of the vessel to distribute the load over the foredeck. The retrieving system includes a retrieving line with a proximal end that is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a setup position. The anchor system includes a main rode and a para sea anchor. The main rode's proximal end is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in an anchor position.

An emergency ship arrest system includes a vessel attachment system, a retrieving system, and an anchor system. The vessel attachment system is configured to connect to a vessel at sea, and includes a bridle system and a hawser line. The bridle system is operatively connected to the hawser line's proximal end. The bridle system is configured to engage fittings on two sides of a foredeck of the vessel to distribute the load over the foredeck. The retrieving system includes a retrieving line with a proximal end that is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a setup position. The anchor system includes a main rode and a para sea anchor. The main rode's proximal end is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in an anchor position.

An emergency ship arrest system includes a vessel attachment system, a retrieving system, and an anchor system. The vessel attachment system is configured to connect to a vessel at sea, and includes a bridle system and a hawser line. The bridle system is operatively connected to the hawser line's proximal end. The bridle system is configured to engage at least four fittings on a foredeck of the vessel to distribute the load over the foredeck. The retrieving system includes a retrieving line with a proximal end that is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a setup position. The anchor system includes a main rode and a para sea anchor. The main rode's proximal end is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in an anchor position.

An emergency ship arrest system includes a vessel attachment system, a retrieving system, and an anchor system. The vessel attachment system is configured to connect to a vessel at sea, and includes a bridle system and a hawser line. The bridle system is operatively connected to the hawser line's proximal end. The bridle system is configured to engage at least four fittings on a foredeck of the vessel to distribute the load over the foredeck. The retrieving system includes a retrieving line with a proximal end that is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a setup position. The anchor system includes a main rode and a para sea anchor. The main rode's proximal end is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in an anchor position.

FIG. 7 shows an air cannon system loaded with a launch canister containing a prop-fouler. A pressure vessel (28) contains an inlet including a poppet valve (100) that, upon command, can be selectively placed in either a one-way flow position to permit charging of the pressure vessel or otherwise opened to trigger rapid discharge through pressure equalization with the ambient environment. The air cannon may include multiple splayed barrels or a single barrel (158). A launch canister (202), realized in the form of a tube, has a driving plate (350) that closes an end of the launch tube. The driving plate is the first point loaded into the barrel. Within the launch canister (202) a first portion of a floating prop-fouling line is stored. The prop-fouling line, such as made from Dyneema, has at its ends two drogues that, upon entry into the water, fill with water to produce drag resistance to movement of the prop-fouling line. To avoid undue stress on canopy panels of each drogue and to avoid twisting of shroud lines (312) to the canopy, a rotating shackle (310a, 310b) acts as a coupling point between the shroud lines (312) and the prop-fouling line. Only one drogue (306), its associated coupling and a selected length prop-fouling line are loaded into the launch canister, with the other drogue and its rotating shackle (310b) loaded into a cradle (166). Upon firing, gas expansion causes the rapid acceleration and ejection of the launch tube (202) and generally straight line deployment of the prop-fouling line (302).

FIG. 7 shows an air cannon system loaded with a launch canister containing a prop-fouler. A pressure vessel (28) contains an inlet including a poppet valve (100) that, upon command, can be selectively placed in either a one-way flow position to permit charging of the pressure vessel or otherwise opened to trigger rapid discharge through pressure equalization with the ambient environment. The air cannon may include multiple splayed barrels or a single barrel (158). A launch canister (202), realized in the form of a tube, has a driving plate (350) that closes an end of the launch tube. The driving plate is the first point loaded into the barrel. Within the launch canister (202) a first portion of a floating prop-fouling line is stored. The prop-fouling line, such as made from Dyneema, has at its ends two drogues that, upon entry into the water, fill with water to produce drag resistance to movement of the prop-fouling line. To avoid undue stress on canopy panels of each drogue and to avoid twisting of shroud lines (312) to the canopy, a rotating shackle (310a, 310b) acts as a coupling point between the shroud lines (312) and the prop-fouling line. Only one drogue (306), its associated coupling and a selected length prop-fouling line are loaded into the launch canister, with the other drogue and its rotating shackle (310b) loaded into a cradle (166). Upon firing, gas expansion causes the rapid acceleration and ejection of the launch tube (202) and generally straight line deployment of the prop-fouling line (302).

An emergency vessel towing system includes a vessel attachment system, a retrieving system, and a towing line. The vessel attachment system is configured to connect to a vessel at sea, and includes a bridle system and a hawser line. The bridle system is operatively connected to the hawser line's proximal end. The bridle system is configured to engage at least four fittings on a foredeck of the vessel to distribute the load over the foredeck. The retrieving system includes a retrieving line with a proximal end that is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a setup position. The towing line is detachably connected to the hawser line's distal end in a towing position.