A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

Fluke drive system for a vessel (100), comprising a pivot element (114) having a forward end and an aft end, which pivot element (114) is pivotally connected at the forward end to a hull (101) of the vessel (100) and which pivot element (114) is connected at the aft end to a flexible fluke (125); a driving mechanism having a drive point (120), which driving mechanism is arranged to impart a reciprocal or rotary movement to the drive point (120); and a drive rod (121) having a first end and a second end, which drive rod (121) is connected at the first end to the drive point (120) and at the second end to the pivot element (114), which second end is connected to the pivot element (114) at a point (122) along the pivot element (114) between said forward and aft ends. The invention is characterized in that the driving mechanism comprises a carrier element (112) fastened to a propeller axle (111) of the vessel (100) and being arranged to rotate with the said propeller axle (111), and in that the said drive point (120) is excentrically arranged on the carrier element (112) so that a rotation of the propeller axle (111) will drive the drive rod (122) back and forth, in turn resulting in a reciprocal up and down motion of the flexible fluke (125). The invention also relates to a method.

Fluke drive system for a vessel (100), comprising a pivot element (114) having a forward end and an aft end, which pivot element (114) is pivotally connected at the forward end to a hull (101) of the vessel (100) and which pivot element (114) is connected at the aft end to a flexible fluke (125); a driving mechanism having a drive point (120), which driving mechanism is arranged to impart a reciprocal or rotary movement to the drive point (120); and a drive rod (121) having a first end and a second end, which drive rod (121) is connected at the first end to the drive point (120) and at the second end to the pivot element (114), which second end is connected to the pivot element (114) at a point (122) along the pivot element (114) between said forward and aft ends. The invention is characterized in that the driving mechanism comprises a carrier element (112) fastened to a propeller axle (111) of the vessel (100) and being arranged to rotate with the said propeller axle (111), and in that the said drive point (120) is excentrically arranged on the carrier element (112) so that a rotation of the propeller axle (111) will drive the drive rod (122) back and forth, in turn resulting in a reciprocal up and down motion of the flexible fluke (125). The invention also relates to a method.

A marine vessel engine in which moving parts found in conventional marine engines are eliminated, wherein such engine is used for the propulsion of marine vessels. In the marine vessel engine, no lubrication or cooling is required, and a column of water replaces the conventional piston in a cylinder of the engine, wherein such water column partially fills such cylinder. The marine vessel engine comprises a cylinder, a bent tube with a plurality of openings and two ends, a flapping member, at least one solenoid valve, and an exhaust. In operation of the marine vessel engine, a column of water fills the cylinder through the bent tube openings, and is purged outside from the cylinder through the flapping member. The at least one solenoid valve controls the flow of a power source into the cylinder.

A marine vessel engine in which moving parts found in conventional marine engines are eliminated, wherein such engine is used for the propulsion of marine vessels. In the marine vessel engine, no lubrication or cooling is required, and a column of water replaces the conventional piston in a cylinder of the engine, wherein such water column partially fills such cylinder. The marine vessel engine comprises a cylinder, a bent tube with a plurality of openings and two ends, a flapping member, at least one solenoid valve, and an exhaust. In operation of the marine vessel engine, a column of water fills the cylinder through the bent tube openings, and is purged outside from the cylinder through the flapping member. The at least one solenoid valve controls the flow of a power source into the cylinder.

Fluke drive system for a vessel (100), comprising a pivot element (114) having a forward end and an aft end, which pivot element (114) is pivotally connected at the forward end to a hull (101) of the vessel (100) and which pivot element (114) is connected at the aft end to a flexible fluke (125); a driving mechanism having a drive point (120), which driving mechanism is arranged to impart a reciprocal or rotary movement to the drive point (120); and a drive rod (121) having a first end and a second end, which drive rod (121) is connected at the first end to the drive point (120) and at the second end to the pivot element (114), which second end is connected to the pivot element (114) at a point (122) along the pivot element (114) between said forward and aft ends. The invention is characterized in that the driving mechanism comprises a carrier element (112) fastened to a propeller axle (111) of the vessel (100) and being arranged to rotate with the said propeller axle (111), and in that the said drive point (120) is excentrically arranged on the carrier element (112) so that a rotation of the propeller axle (111) will drive the drive rod (122) back and forth, in turn resulting in a reciprocal up and down motion of the flexible fluke (125). The invention also relates to a method.

Fluke drive system for a vessel (100), comprising a pivot element (114) having a forward end and an aft end, which pivot element (114) is pivotally connected at the forward end to a hull (101) of the vessel (100) and which pivot element (114) is connected at the aft end to a flexible fluke (125); a driving mechanism having a drive point (120), which driving mechanism is arranged to impart a reciprocal or rotary movement to the drive point (120); and a drive rod (121) having a first end and a second end, which drive rod (121) is connected at the first end to the drive point (120) and at the second end to the pivot element (114), which second end is connected to the pivot element (114) at a point (122) along the pivot element (114) between said forward and aft ends. The invention is characterized in that the driving mechanism comprises a carrier element (112) fastened to a propeller axle (111) of the vessel (100) and being arranged to rotate with the said propeller axle (111), and in that the said drive point (120) is excentrically arranged on the carrier element (112) so that a rotation of the propeller axle (111) will drive the drive rod (122) back and forth, in turn resulting in a reciprocal up and down motion of the flexible fluke (125). The invention also relates to a method.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.