Mooring Device and Mooring System

Abstract

The invention relates to a mooring device for mooring a ship, the mooring device having a moored state, in which it engages the ship, and a non-moored state in which it does not engage the ship, the mooring device comprising a base, a movable arm, which is extendable and retractable, a connector carried by the arm for engaging e.g. a ship, a winch, a tensile element having a first end engaged by the winch and a second, opposite end fixed with respect to the second end of the arm and/or the connector, and a distance keeping system configured for keeping a minimum and non-zero distance between the base and the object engaged by the connector. According to the invention, the distance keeping system is integrated with the movable arm. The invention also concerns a mooring system comprising two such mooring devices.

Claims

1. Mooring device for mooring a ship, the mooring device having a moored state, in which it engages the ship, and a non-moored state in which it does not engage the ship, the mooring device comprising: a base; a movable arm, fixed with respect to the base with a first end, a second, opposite end of the arm being movable with respect to the base between a retracted position, in which the second end is relatively close to the first end and an extended position, in which the second end is relatively far from the first end; a connector carried by the arm, the connector having an engaged state, in which it engages an object for mooring, such as the hull of a ship, and a disengaged state, in which it does not engage the object; and a distance keeping system configured for keeping a minimum and non-zero distance between the base and the object engaged by the connector, wherein the distance keeping system is integrated with the movable arm.

2. Mooring device according to claim 1, wherein the mooring device further comprises means for providing a force in an alongships direction between the base and the connector.

3. Mooring device according to claim 2, wherein the means for providing a force in the alongships direction comprise an actuator for rotation the arm around a vertical axis.

4. Mooring device according to claim 1, wherein the mooring device comprises: a winch; and a tensile element having a first end engaged by the winch and a second, opposite end fixed with respect to the second end of the arm and/or the connector;

5. Mooring device according to claim 1 any of the preceding claims, wherein the distance keeping system comprises at least one actuator for moving the movable arm.

6. Mooring device according to claim 5, comprising a such actuator having one end fixed with respect to the base, and another, opposite end fixed with respect to the arm, said actuator being arranged for providing a pushing force between the base and the arm.

7. Mooring device according to claim 6, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator.

8. Mooring device according to claim 5, wherein the distance keeping system comprises a controller operatively connected to the at least one actuator for controlling the at least one actuator, wherein in the moored state, the controller is configured to control the arm by controlling the at least one actuator, in order to maintain a distance between the first and second end of the arm.

9. Mooring device according to claim 4, including the winch, wherein the winch is an automatic winch, which is configured to keep a tension on the tensile element at least in the moored state.

10. Mooring device according to claim 8, wherein the controller is further operatively connected to: the winch for controlling the winch; and/or the means for providing the alongships direction, for controlling said means.

11. Mooring device according to claim 8, further comprising a position determination system operatively connected to the controller, configured for determining a position of the second end of the arm and communicating to the controller said determined position.

12. Mooring device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to control the winch and/or the means for providing force in the alongships force on the basis of the determined position of the arm.

13. Mooring device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to control the at least one actuator on the basis of the determined position of the arm.

14. Mooring device according to claim 1, wherein the tensile element is led to an engaging position fixed with respect to the base at a distance from the arm.

15. Mooring device according to claim 14, further comprising a pulley at the engaging position.

16. Mooring device according to claim 14, wherein the winch is arranged closer to the arm than the engaging position.

17. Mooring device according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a latching element for latching onto a surface in the engaged state, for example a vacuum pad or a magnetic mooring pad.

18. Mooring device according to claim 1, wherein the arm is rotatable with respect to the base around two mutually perpendicular axes which are both perpendicular to a local axis of the arm at its first end.

19. Mooring device according to claim 18, wherein the distance keeping system comprises actuators configured for actuating rotation of the arm around said two mutually perpendicular axes, wherein optionally the actuators are operatively connected to the controller.

20. Mooring system, comprising at least two mooring devices according to claim 1, the bases of which are fixed with respect to each other, or which share a base.

21. Mooring system according to claim 20, wherein tensile elements of the at least two mooring systems are led to engaging positions on opposite sides of the arms.

22. Mooring system according to claim 20, wherein the at least two mooring devices, in particular the movable arms thereof, are operatively connected for being controlled cooperatively.

Description

[0065] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the attached figures, in which: FIGS. 1-4 show schematically different perspective views of two ships moored using multiple mooring devices as described herein. FIG. 5 shows schematically another embodiment of such a mooring device.

[0066] In all figures, like elements are referred to using like reference numerals.

[0067] The figures show a larger, first ship 1 and a smaller, second ship 2. The ships 1, 2 are shown partially in order to allow showing more details of mooring devices 3 which are used to perform ship-to-ship mooring of the ships 1, 2. The mooring devices 3 can be used alternatively to moor a ship 1 to a quay. The larger ship 1 shown as an example herein, is a cruise ship 1. The cruise ship 1 has an emergency raft suspended outboard in a casing 4. Accordingly, the ship 2 which is moored to the cruise ship 1 for instance for supplying goods or fuel to the cruise ship 1, may need to be moored at a relatively large distance from the cruise ship 1, in order to prevent contact with the outboard suspended raft in its casing 4. Of course, mooring with a relatively large distance, or with the mooring devices 3 as described herein, may be required or desired in other situations as well.

[0068] Details of the mooring devices 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 in particular, in which reference numerals are provided, however the details may be visible in other figures as well. Each mooring device 3 has a base 5, and a movable arm 6 which extends from it. In this case, the movable arm 6 is telescopic, and can therefore be extended or retracted. The movable arm 6 has a first end 6A which is arranged on a rotary joint 7, so that the arm 6 can rotate with respect to the base about a vertical axis. The vertical axis is substantially parallel to the view axis of FIG. 3, and substantially perpendicular to an alongships axis AL and an athwartships axis AT. Rotation of the arm 6 in the rotary joint 7 is driven by an actuator (not shown), which is connected to the below-described controller. The rotary joint 7 carries a hinge 8 which holds the first end 6A of the arm 6. The hinge 8 is arranged so that the arm 6 can pivot up and down, i.e. the arm 6 can rotate around the alongships axis AL. The pivoting motion about the hinge 8 is powered by an hydraulic actuator 9, which extends from the hinge 8 to the arm 6 approximately halfway along the arm 6. Since the hinge 8 is arranged in a fixed location with respect to the base 5, the actuator 9 can provide a pushing force, and in this case also a pulling force, between the base 5 and the arm 6, in order to move the arm 6. The hydraulic actuator 9 is powered by a hydraulic pump (not shown) arranged in a housing 10. The housing 10 also includes a controller which controls the hydraulic system for controlling the actuator 9 to move the arm.

[0069] The movable arm 6 also has an opposite second end 6B. The second end 6B carries a connector 11, which as an example for the purpose of the figures includes a vacuum pad 11. Using the connector 11, a physical connection capable of transferring force between the arm 6 and the ship 1 can be made. The connector 11 is engagable and disengagable, so as to allow selectively engaging the ship 1. The connector 11 is arranged on the arm 6 using a joint 12, which allows suitable rotation of the connector 11 to attach to the hull 13 of the ship 1.

[0070] Tensile elements 14 are fixed to the second end 6B of the arm 6, but may alternatively be fixed to e.g. the connector 11. In any case, the tensile elements 14 allow pulling the second end 6B of the arm 6. The mooring device 1 includes a pulley 15 which is arranged at a distance alongships from the base 5, and at a distance from the arm 6. The tensile element 14 is routed through the pulley to a winch (not shown) in the housing 10. Accordingly, the second end 6B of the arm 6 may be pulled towards the pulley, thereby providing a tensile force with an alongships AL component.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 3, two mooring devices 1 are arranged together on the same base 5. The winches 15 and thus the tensile elements 14 are arranged on opposite sides. The tensile elements 14 therefore provide opposing tensile forces for absorbing and/or producing alongships forces and movements, whereas the arms 6 can be used to provide athwartships forces or absorption.

[0072] The controller in the housing 10 is also connected to the hydraulic actuator 9 and to the winches. The controller controls, while the ship 1 is moored, the movement of the actuators and the winches, in order to maintain the ship 1 in a safely moored position. A position of the second end of the arm 6B is determined with the use of encoders, and fed to the controller. The controller instructs the actuator and winches accordingly, in order to push the ships 1 away if necessary and to pull it towards the mooring device 1 if necessary. Of course, alongships forces are also provided, using the winches, if necessary.

[0073] In FIG. 5, a similar mooring device 3 is shown. The mooring device 3 again has a base and movable arm 6 with first end 6A and second end 6B. Details of the mooring device 3 of FIG. 5 are equal to those of that of FIGS. 1-4 in as far they are described herein, with the exception of the method of providing force in the alongships AL direction. For this purpose, the device 3 of FIG. 5 is provided with an actuator 16, in this case an hydraulic cylinder, connected to the controller. The cylinder engages between two rotary joints (hinges) 20 and 21. Near the base, the actuator 16 engages at a first distance d.sub.1, whereas it engages at a second distance d.sub.2 near the connector 11, both distances being measured in the transversal or sideways direction, i.e. substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the arm. The first distance di is larger than the second distance d.sub.2. The with w of the arm 6 in the same direction is also indicated as a comparison. A mounting frame 17 is provided at the second end 6B of the arm 6 for mounting the actuator 16. Similarly, part 18 of the casing 5 forms a frame for mounting the actuator 16 to the base at the first distance d.sub.1 from the arm. To allow up and down movement of the actuator 16 with the arm 6, additional hinge 19 is provided.

[0074] It is noted that the invention, although described with respect examples and particular embodiments, is not limited thereto. In fact, the invention is described also by the attached claims.