Water craft comprising a hull, with an opening and a lowerable segment arranged in said opening. The lowerable segment is coupled to the hull via a lifting mechanism for lowering or raising the lowerable segment with respect to the hull between a first position in which an outer surface of a bottom wall of the segment is substantially flush with the outer surface of a bottom of the hull adjacent to the segment, and a second position wherein the segment is arranged below the water line of the hull. The lowerable segment comprises a lower watertight compartment and an upper compartment that can at least partially be filled with water when the segment is lowered and can be drained when the segment is raised. When in the first position, a wall between the lower and upper compartment is arranged at a level at or near the water line.

Apparatus and methods for recovering watercraft. A ramp is movable relative to a stationary carrying apparatus between a recovering position and a parked position. The ramp includes a frame and a deformable body, which is fastened to the frame. When the ramp is in the recovering position, the deformable body points toward the watercraft to be recovered and is located at least partially above the water surface. The watercraft travels onto the ramp and deforms the deformable body from above. The watercraft is pulled out of the water and moved onto the carrying apparatus.

Apparatus and methods for recovering watercraft. A ramp is movable relative to a stationary carrying apparatus between a recovering position and a parked position. The ramp includes a frame and a deformable body, which is fastened to the frame. When the ramp is in the recovering position, the deformable body points toward the watercraft to be recovered and is located at least partially above the water surface. The watercraft travels onto the ramp and deforms the deformable body from above. The watercraft is pulled out of the water and moved onto the carrying apparatus.

A load absorber dampens relative movement between subsea bodies. The load absorber is cooperable with an actuating member such as a male piston element or a female cup on an opposed subsea body. The load absorber comprises a hollow structure defining an internal flow path for water. A flow restrictor acting on the flow path restricts a distal flow of water along the flow path from a proximal opening, caused by convergence between the actuating member and the load absorber. The flow restrictor comprises a shuttle element to restrict the flow path that is mounted to the structure for automatic movement from a first state to a second state in response to an increase in water pressure at the proximal opening. In the first state, the shuttle element effects greater restriction of the flow path than in the second state.

A load absorber dampens relative movement between subsea bodies. The load absorber is cooperable with an actuating member such as a male piston element or a female cup on an opposed subsea body. The load absorber comprises a hollow structure defining an internal flow path for water. A flow restrictor acting on the flow path restricts a distal flow of water along the flow path from a proximal opening, caused by convergence between the actuating member and the load absorber. The flow restrictor comprises a shuttle element to restrict the flow path that is mounted to the structure for automatic movement from a first state to a second state in response to an increase in water pressure at the proximal opening. In the first state, the shuttle element effects greater restriction of the flow path than in the second state.

Marine lift apparatus for raising and lowering vessels, platforms, and cargo are disclosed. A lift apparatus comprises a multi-component structure capable of movement, at least one flexible member, and at least one piston device. In some aspects, marine lift apparatus facilitates the level raising, lowering, and storing of vessels, platforms, and cargo. Lift apparatus mountable onto multi-hull vessels, such as catamarans, configured for lifting a combination swim and dinghy platform are also disclosed.

A system for launching and recovering a marine or submarine device from a support vessel, the system comprises a carriage and at least one protective component, wherein each the protective component is connected to the carriage by a pivot connection of which the axis, when the device is secured to the vessel, is parallel to the surface of the water; and wherein at least one protective component is suitable for raising the marine or submarine device partially out of the water during recovery and for placing the marine or submarine device in the water during a launch, by rotation of the protective component(s) about the carriage.

A system for launching and recovering a marine or submarine device from a support vessel, the system comprises a carriage and at least one protective component, wherein each the protective component is connected to the carriage by a pivot connection of which the axis, when the device is secured to the vessel, is parallel to the surface of the water; and wherein at least one protective component is suitable for raising the marine or submarine device partially out of the water during recovery and for placing the marine or submarine device in the water during a launch, by rotation of the protective component(s) about the carriage.

A vehicle system may include a mother ship and an unmanned water vehicle that can be received on the mother ship. To recover the unmanned water vehicle, a floating body connected to the mother ship via a line can be lowered into water. A catch device for catching the line may be positioned on the unmanned water vehicle. The floating body may transmit location signals that can be received and used by the unmanned water vehicle to navigate towards the floating body. The unmanned water vehicle may be configured to circle the floating body, and the catch device of the unmanned water vehicle may then catch the line to create a connection between the mother ship and the unmanned water vehicle.”

A vehicle system may include a mother ship and an unmanned water vehicle that can be received on the mother ship. To recover the unmanned water vehicle, a floating body connected to the mother ship via a line can be lowered into water. A catch device for catching the line may be positioned on the unmanned water vehicle. The floating body may transmit location signals that can be received and used by the unmanned water vehicle to navigate towards the floating body. The unmanned water vehicle may be configured to circle the floating body, and the catch device of the unmanned water vehicle may then catch the line to create a connection between the mother ship and the unmanned water vehicle.”