An auxiliary hull unit detachably mounted to a transom on a marine vessel, wherein the hull unit is mounted at least partially below the water line of the vessel and arranged to extend rearwards parallel to the rearward extension of hull sections adjacent to the hull unit. The hull unit comprises a rear hydrofoil system for the marine vessel; the rear hydrofoil system comprising at least one pair of foldable hydrofoils which are pivotable in a lateral direction relative to the hull unit, wherein each hydrofoil is controllable by at least one actuator for displacement of the at least one pair of foldable hydrofoils in the lateral direction of the hull unit between a stowed position and a deployed position. The hull unit can be provided with a propulsion unit.

A watercraft according to the present disclosure may include an outer hull that defines an interior or hull cavity, and a ballast system located within the hull cavity. The ballast system may include at least three ballast tanks longitudinally distributed along the hull cavity, and each of the tanks being configured to be independently operated enabling selective entrapment of ballast at three or more different longitudinal locations to enable an intentional shifting of the longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) of the watercraft relative to the design location of the LCG of the watercraft. The watercraft may include at least a forward, a center, and an aft ballast tank, and in some embodiments, additional tanks, in some cases in sponsons, may be included and/or one or more of the forward, center and aft tanks, may be further subdivided for additional active LCG control.

A marine vessel or watercraft may be provided with an aft extension that, in one configuration of the watercraft, alters the wake of the watercraft, for example by reducing the height of the wake, and which may include a sealable opening to provide crew or payload access into or out of the watercraft at a location (e.g., aft of the transom) that may be difficult for an observer to perceive. The aft extension may be positioned above the watercraft's waterline when the watercraft is in another configuration such that it does not contact with the water to reduce adverse impact on performance characteristics, such as drag, of the hull when the watercraft is in that configuration. The watercraft may transition between the two configuration by selectively varying the displacement of the watercraft or by articulating of the aft extension.

A marine vessel or watercraft may be provided with an aft extension that, in one configuration of the watercraft, alters the wake of the watercraft, for example by reducing the height of the wake, and which may include a sealable opening to provide crew or payload access into or out of the watercraft at a location (e.g., aft of the transom) that may be difficult for an observer to perceive. The aft extension may be positioned above the watercraft's waterline when the watercraft is in another configuration such that it does not contact with the water to reduce adverse impact on performance characteristics, such as drag, of the hull when the watercraft is in that configuration. The watercraft may transition between the two configuration by selectively varying the displacement of the watercraft or by articulating of the aft extension.

A floating support structure for supporting a windmill system includes a windmill tower, a windmill nacelle, and windmill blades. The support structure includes an aft main section, a transverse main section, and a connecting flange. The aft main section includes a horizontal aft part with a first horizontal aft end and a second horizontal aft end, a vertical aft part with a first vertical aft end at least indirectly connected perpendicular to the first horizontal aft end and a second vertical aft end, and an aft damping structure connected to the second vertical aft end. The vertical and the horizontal aft parts are oriented in a common vertical aft plane. A horizontal cross sectional area of the aft damping structure is larger than a horizontal cross-sectional area of the second vertical aft end. The transverse main section includes a horizontal transverse part with a first horizontal transverse end and a second horizontal transverse end, two vertical transverse parts, each having a first vertical transverse end and a second vertical transverse end, wherein the first vertical transverse ends of the vertical transverse parts are at least indirectly connected perpendicular to the first and second horizontal transverse ends, and two transverse damping structures connected to the second vertical transverse ends of the respective two vertical transverse parts. The two vertical transverse parts and the horizontal transverse part are oriented in a common vertical transverse plane. A horizontal cross sectional area of each of the transverse damping structures is larger than a horizontal cross sectional area of the second vertical transverse end. The connecting flange is for connecting a coupling end of the windmill tower distal to the windmill nacelle vertically onto the floating support structure. The second horizontal aft end of the aft main section is connected to the horizontal transverse part of the transverse main section such that the vertical aft plane is oriented perpendicular to the vertical transverse plane.

A floating support structure for supporting a windmill system includes a windmill tower, a windmill nacelle, and windmill blades. The support structure includes an aft main section, a transverse main section, and a connecting flange. The aft main section includes a horizontal aft part with a first horizontal aft end and a second horizontal aft end, a vertical aft part with a first vertical aft end at least indirectly connected perpendicular to the first horizontal aft end and a second vertical aft end, and an aft damping structure connected to the second vertical aft end. The vertical and the horizontal aft parts are oriented in a common vertical aft plane. A horizontal cross sectional area of the aft damping structure is larger than a horizontal cross-sectional area of the second vertical aft end. The transverse main section includes a horizontal transverse part with a first horizontal transverse end and a second horizontal transverse end, two vertical transverse parts, each having a first vertical transverse end and a second vertical transverse end, wherein the first vertical transverse ends of the vertical transverse parts are at least indirectly connected perpendicular to the first and second horizontal transverse ends, and two transverse damping structures connected to the second vertical transverse ends of the respective two vertical transverse parts. The two vertical transverse parts and the horizontal transverse part are oriented in a common vertical transverse plane. A horizontal cross sectional area of each of the transverse damping structures is larger than a horizontal cross sectional area of the second vertical transverse end. The connecting flange is for connecting a coupling end of the windmill tower distal to the windmill nacelle vertically onto the floating support structure. The second horizontal aft end of the aft main section is connected to the horizontal transverse part of the transverse main section such that the vertical aft plane is oriented perpendicular to the vertical transverse plane.

The present invention relates to a hull in particular for a container ship, a bulk carrier and a tanker. The hull includes an elevation of an outer contour of the hull with respect to an upwards directed vertical direction of the hull in the region of a first body plan and a second body plan in relation to a surface section immediately adjoining to the elevation. Therein, the elevation is arranged in a region between a middle and a stern of the hull.

The invention concerns a vessel for floating in a body of water, comprising a hull having an aft hull section and an aft body arranged at a distance from the aft hull section, thereby forming a passage into which water can flow. The aft body and the aft hull section are designed to minimize the vessel's stern wave during forward movements.

A modular system, which may include a modular ramp for a landing craft, is described. For example, a ramp module according to some embodiments includes an enclosure defining a cavity, wherein the enclosure is configured to be removably received in a watertight recess formed in the hull of the landing craft. The ramp module also includes an extendible ramp operatively coupled to the enclosure and configured to be extended from the enclosure such that the ramp extends from the deck of the landing craft toward a shore to provide a support surface for unloading cargo onto or in close proximity to the shore. The extendible ramp is configured to be substantially fully retracted within the cavity, in some cases the enclosure forming an water tight seal with the recess in the hull and/or sealing the ramp, when retracted, in a water tight manner within its cavity.

A modular system, which may include a modular ramp for a landing craft, is described. For example, a ramp module according to some embodiments includes an enclosure defining a cavity, wherein the enclosure is configured to be removably received in a watertight recess formed in the hull of the landing craft. The ramp module also includes an extendible ramp operatively coupled to the enclosure and configured to be extended from the enclosure such that the ramp extends from the deck of the landing craft toward a shore to provide a support surface for unloading cargo onto or in close proximity to the shore. The extendible ramp is configured to be substantially fully retracted within the cavity, in some cases the enclosure forming an water tight seal with the recess in the hull and/or sealing the ramp, when retracted, in a water tight manner within its cavity.