A fender for ships that includes: a structural body contact portion that is brought into contact with two poles of an offshore structural body so as to protect a ship when the ship is brought alongside the offshore structural body provided with two poles; a ball joint portion that supports the structural body contact portion on the ship; and a rear buffer portion disposed behind the structural body contact portion.

Provided is a nautical sector, in particular a catamaran boat including a first catamaran craft functioning independently, having a prevailing direction of longitudinal development along the median axis (x) and including a bow, a stern, motor means and directional means; a second catamaran craft functioning independently, having a prevailing direction of longitudinal development along the median axis (x) and including a bow, a stern, motor means and directional means, where said first catamaran craft and said second catamaran craft each include joining means for their mutual stable coupling, obtained matching the relative sterns, on a transverse junction plane (), to carry out said catamaran boat able to function as a single unit.

A ship and associated methods of operation. In an example embodiment, a method of transporting includes providing multiple vessels each having a hull defining an air cavity over a water surface. Different ones of the vessels are loaded with material destined for different end locations. The vessels are connected to one another with rigid couplings to effect tandem movement of the multiple vessels over water as one ship while permitting each vessel to undergo changes in pitch. The vessels are transported to a first destination and one or more of the vessels are disconnected from the ship.

A PTB system includes a vessel (barge) having propulsion and maneuvering gears (shaft & propeller) without an engine or power source. The PTB system further includes a tug having a generator and a fuel source that powers the generator for supplying a power pack to power the propulsion and maneuvering gears onboard the barge. The propulsion and maneuvering gears may be remotely controlled and the vessel will be powered by the tug's power pack, and not from a generator (or other power source) onboard the vessel. The tug will be connected at the bow of the vessel rather than at the aft of the vessel (like in a traditional ATB system), wherein the vessel's entire propulsion power comes from the tug's onboard power pack. The vessel will push the smaller tug, which supplies all its propulsion power to the vessel.

According to some aspects, a tug and barge arrangement is provided that is configured with an articulated conduit system for transferring fluid between the tug and the barge. In some embodiments, an articulated conduit system is provided that comprises a plurality of conduits fluidically interconnected by rotatable joints configured to permit positional alterations of the fluid conduits that result from differential movement between a tug and barge.

An attachment system for an offshore structure includes a porch configured to be affixed to the offshore structure, an adaptor configured to engage with one or more plates of the porch, and a latch to retain the adaptor into engagement with the one or more plates, in which the adaptor is configured to support an equipment device. A method of attaching equipment device to a structure includes affixing a porch of an attachment system to the structure, engaging an adaptor with one or more plates of the porch, and attaching an equipment device to the adaptor.

A method for heating a cargo on a watergoing vessel using an energy source (such as a heat source) on another watergoing vessel. The vessels may be underway. The energy may be transferred to the cargo via energy umbilicals configured to carry energy in a transfer fluid. The transfer fluid may be circulated in a cargo heat exchanger configured to move energy into the hot cargo. The energy source on the another watergoing vessel may be a propulsion motor, exhaust heat, or non-propulsion heat source. The method may include heating the hot cargo. The method may also include switching between heat sources when both vessels are configured to heat the hot cargo.

A tug holding block for coupling a tug and a dredge includes a tug receiving portion configured to attach to the tug, ensuring a secure and stable connection. The tug holding block includes a pivotable coupling that facilitates attachment to the dredge, allowing for flexible movement and alignment between the tug and dredge during operation. The dredge may include a trailing suction hopper dredge having a split hull hopper scow configured to split relative to the stationary tug holding block. This configuration enhances the operational efficiency and maneuverability of the tug and dredge system, providing a reliable and adaptable solution for maritime applications. A dredging system including the tug holding block, a dredge, and a tug is provided along with a method of dredging using the dredging system.