The invention relates to a tug for maneuvering a vessel, comprising at least one proximity sensor in a contact area, the proximity sensor being configured to detect a distance between the contact area and the vessel, and a tug controller unit controlling an approach of the tug towards the vessel based on the detected distance between the contact area and the vessel.

A high reliability vessel is provided with redundancy zones, and an improved system for a high reliability vessel that overcomes complexities in the prior art and solves the problem of improved reliability. The vessel comprises a plurality of redundancy zones, a thruster system comprising at least two thrusters to create transversal thrust, and a main power supply system comprising a generator system, and a main electrical distribution system comprising a switchboard system. The vessel further comprises an energy storage system comprising a plurality of energy storage subsystems, wherein at least one of the thrusters with an operatively connected energy storage subsystem is located in a first redundancy zone, and another of the thrusters and the generator system is located outside the first redundancy zone.

A lifting spindle arrangement is disclosed for a retractable thruster unit of a marine vessel, the lifting spindle having a lower end and an upper end and being supported at its lower end to a lower support structure by a lower support assembly and at its upper end to an upper support structure by an upper support assembly. The lifting spindle is provided at its both ends with a locking member for such a connection to the support structures such that each end of the lifting spindle may freely move in an axial direction away from the opposite end of the lifting spindle.

A trolling device for a boat includes a trolling motor and a control mechanism. The control mechanism controls at least one of the speed and the direction of the trolling motor. The control mechanism is configured to receive control instructions from an electronic GPS mapping computer to cause the trolling motor to maintain a controlled drift of the fishing boat with respect to an anchor point, water current rate, water current direction, wind, and/or wave action.

The invention relates to a propulsion system (30) intended to be integrated into a boat (1) and comprising a vertical guide device (31) comprising a member for fixing the vertical guide device (31) to the hull of said boat (1); an electric thruster (32) comprising a gyration box (33), said gyration box (33) being vertically movably mounted on the vertical guide device (31) to be able to adopt an emerged position and a submerged position; a drive system (34) capable of causing a vertical movement of the gyration box (33) of the electric thruster (32) along the guide device (31); a control unit (35) capable of receiving a movement instruction and arranged, in response to said instruction, to control the drive system (34) to cause movement of the gyration box (33) toward the emerged position or toward the submerged position.

The present disclosure relates to a guiding arrangement for a retractable thruster assembly. The guiding arrangement may comprise a foundation plate, a first upper guide, a second upper guide, a first lower guide, and a second lower guide. The first lower guide and the second upper guide may be arranged such that an arc angle within the range from 25 to 75 is confined therebetween. Thus, flexibility regarding the implementation of the retractable thruster assembly as L-drive or Z-drive may be gained.

A marine vessel has a hull with a bottom, a bow, a stern, and a propulsion arrangement including at least three propulsion units arranged at the stern of the marine vessel. The marine vessel has a base line and a centerline. The at least three propulsion units include a fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit with a shaft line and a propeller, and two turnable propulsion units with respective propellers and arranged at opposite sides of the fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit for steering of the marine vessel. For improving thrust efficiency, while maintaining optimal steering capability, the propeller of the fixed centerline shaft propulsion unit is arranged at a given distance aft of the stern of the marine vessel.

A trolling device for a boat includes a trolling motor and a control mechanism. The control mechanism controls at least one of the speed and the direction of the trolling motor. The control mechanism is configured to receive control instructions from an electronic GPS mapping computer to cause the trolling motor to establish an anchor point near a dock to enable entry to the fishing boat or exit from the fishing boat.

A marine vessel maneuvering system includes a controller configured or programmed to perform a shift-out start control to control a shift actuator to immediately start an intermittent operation mode from a shift-out state when an intermittent operation switching control is performed to switch a normal operation mode in which a shift-in state continues to the intermittent operation mode in which the shift-in state and the shift-out state are repeated in a predetermined period of time based on a user's operation.

A thruster system for improved steering and maneuverability of a marine vessel when operating at relatively low, or wakeless speeds, such as in the vicinity of docks, swimmers or other obstacles, or when trailering, beaching or mooring. The thruster system has a modularized design adapted to independently control separate motor/propeller units located at various positions on the vessel's hull. Each propeller of the modular thruster motor system has its own relatively small, electric motor and mounting bracket, permitting each motor to be separately mounted to a location on the hull of the marine vessel apart from other thruster motors. The thruster system is further enhanced by an electrical control system for controlling each modular thruster motor system of the thruster system. In some embodiments, a charging system is provided that permits each electrical control system to be separately charged from the marine vessel's main battery.