A SHIP AND A METHOD OF LOADING AND UNLOADING A SHIP

Abstract

A ship having a first hatch element covering an opening in the freeboard and a second hatch element covering an opening in an upper deck. To enable a more flexible cargo handling, the second hatch element protrudes sideways over the freeboard in its open position, and it can therefore be used as a crane for cargo handling.

Claims

1. -45. (canceled).

46. A ship defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction and comprising a freeboard, an upper deck, and at least one sheltered deck below the upper deck, where the freeboard is defined as an outer surface between a waterline and the upper deck and extending circumferentially about the ship, the ship comprising at least one hatch structure comprising: a first opening in the freeboard providing access to one of the at least one sheltered decks, a second hatch element slidable between at least one open position providing vertical access to one of the at least one sheltered decks through a second opening in the upper deck and a closed position where the second hatch element covers the second opening, wherein the second hatch element protrudes over the first opening in one of the at least one open positions.

47. The ship according to claim 46, comprising an open transition between the first opening and the second opening, the first opening and the second opening thereby forming one unitary opening.

48. The ship according to claim 46, wherein the second hatch element extends from a starboard side of the ship to a port side of the ship, and the second hatch element is movable to selectively protrude over the freeboard on a starboard or a port side of the ship to thereby define two open positions.

49. The ship according to claim 46, comprising a first lifting structure carried by the second hatch element and configured for lifting objects from one of the at least one sheltered decks such that the lifted objects are carried by the second hatch element.

50. The ship according to claim 47, wherein the first lifting structure is configured to move across the open transition between the first opening and the second opening, upon movement of the second hatch element between one of the at least one open positions and the closed position.

51. The ship according to claim 46, further comprising a first hatch element movable between an open position providing sideways access to one of the at least one sheltered decks through the first opening and a closed position where the first hatch element covers the first opening.

52. The ship according to claim 51, wherein the first hatch element is configured to border on the second hatch element along a border between the first and the second opening.

53. The ship according to claim 51, wherein the first hatch element is joined to the second hatch element in the closed positions of the first hatch element and second hatch element.

54. The ship according to claim 51, wherein the first hatch element is movable in the longitudinal direction along the freeboard between at least one open position and a closed position.

55. The ship according to claim 51, wherein the first hatch element comprises a first element section and a second element section, the first and second element sections being separately movable relative to each other and relative to the first opening.

56. The ship according to claim 46, comprising a utility module insertable into and removable from one of the sheltered decks through the first opening.

57. The ship according to claim 46, wherein the second hatch element is movable in the transverse direction, and the first opening is in a port side or a starboard side of the freeboard.

58. The ship according to claim 46, wherein the second hatch element is movable in the longitudinal direction, and the first opening is in a bow part or stern part of the freeboard.

59. A method of loading or unloading cargo from one of the at least one sheltered decks of a ship according to claim 46, the method comprising moving the second hatch structure to the open position and loading the cargo into the sheltered deck via at least one of the first and the second openings.

60. The method according to claim 59, wherein the ship is moored to a quay at one of its starboard or port sides and the second hatch structure is moved to the open position towards the other one of the ships starboard or port sides.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein an open transition between the first opening and the second opening is utilized as improved access for loading cargo into or out of the sheltered deck.

62. The method according to claim 59, wherein the ship comprises a utility module insertable into and removable from one of the sheltered decks through the first opening, the method comprising: moving the first hatch structure to an open position to open the first opening; using the first lifting structure attached to the second hatch structure to move the utility module relative to one of the at least one sheltered decks.

63. The method according to claim 62, wherein the hatch structure comprises a third opening in the freeboard providing access to one of the at least one sheltered decks, and wherein the utility module is moved from one location on one of the at least one sheltered decks to a location outside the ship via the first or third opening.

64. A method of utilizing a utility module on a ship according to claim 46, wherein the utility module is loaded into the sheltered deck via the first opening and has an operational state requiring access from the sheltered deck to an ambient space outside the sheltered deck, wherein the access to the ambient space is established through the second opening.

65. A method of utilizing a utility module on a ship according to claim 46, wherein the utility module is loaded into the sheltered deck via the second opening and has an operational state requiring access from the sheltered deck to an ambient space, wherein the access to the ambient space outside the sheltered deck is established through the first opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0082] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of embodiments and are incorporated into and a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and together with the description explain principles of embodiments. Other embodiments and many of the intended advantages of embodiments will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.

[0083] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an aft part of a ship;

[0084] FIG. 3 illustrates a transverse cross section of the ship;

[0085] FIGS. 4-7 illustrate in perspective views a procedure of unloading cargo through the first opening in the freeboard;

[0086] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate in perspective views a procedure of unloading cargo through the fifth opening in the aft end;

[0087] FIGS. 11-12 illustrate details of unloading utility modules;

[0088] FIGS. 13-15 illustrate different combinations of hatches; and

[0089] FIG. 16 illustrates a method of loading cargo onto a sheltered deck via both the first and the second opening.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] FIG. 1 illustrates a longitudinal side view of an aft part of a ship and FIG. 2 illustrates a transverse cross section of the aft part of the ship.

[0091] The ship 1 defines a longitudinal direction 2 and a transverse direction 3. The freeboard 4 of the ship is defined as the area 5 between the waterline 6 and the upper deck 7.

[0092] The upper deck is above a number of lower decks 8, 9 which are sheltered by the upper deck 7. Herein, the lower decks are referred to as sheltered decks.

[0093] FIG. 3 illustrates that the ship comprises a first opening 30 allowing sideways access to an upper one 8 of the at least one sheltered deck. The ship further comprises a second opening 31 providing vertical access to the same upper one 8 of the sheltered decks.

[0094] A plurality of utility modules 32 are releasably attachable to a utility area of the upper one of the sheltered decs. The utility area may be predefined with features facilitating use of the utility module, e.g., power, compressed air, wastewater handling, or other necessary features.

[0095] The utility modules could be weapon modules, transport containers or generally modules enabling the ship to carry out a certain mission. The ship is configured for removal of these utility modules, or for operating them in open sea, either through the first opening or through the second opening.

[0096] The illustrated ship further comprises a third opening 33 in the freeboard of the ship. The third opening provides sideways access to the same upper one sheltered deck 8. The first opening and the third opening are on opposite sides of the centre line 34 of the ship.

[0097] The arrows 35, 36, 37 indicate the vertical and horizontal passageways from the sheltered deck through the first, second, or third opening.

[0098] FIGS. 4-7 illustrate in a sequence of illustrations, a procedure for unloading utility modules 32 from the sheltered deck.

[0099] In FIG. 4, the first hatch element 40 covers the first opening 30, and the second hatch element 41 covers the second opening 31. In this, closed, position of the first and second hatch elements, the first hatch element borders on the second hatch element along a border between the first and the second opening. The first hatch element may e.g., slide into a C-shaped track of the second hatch element and the second hatch element thereby supports the first hatch element. Alternatively, the first hatch element can be self-supported.

[0100] The illustrated first and second hatch elements are configured to provide a sealing connection with the freeboard and upper deck and thereby prevent intrusion of water. In alternative implementations, the second hatch element, and optionally also the first hatch element may essentially prevent spray water from entering, however without providing a sealing barrier against water intrusion.

[0101] In the closed position, the first hatch element is flush with the freeboard. The illustrated first hatch element is a single element which slides in the longitudinal direction. In an alternative embodiment, the first hatch element comprises two separate elements: a first element section and a second element section slidable towards or away from each other and e.g., being on opposite sides of the first opening in the open position.

[0102] In the illustrated embodiment, the second hatch element is a single element. The second hatch element may particularly be translationally slidable in the transverse direction, and in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, it can slide both in port and starboard directions and thereby extend over one or the other of the first 30 and third 33 openings. In the closed position, the second hatch element is flush with the upper deck 7.

[0103] In FIG. 5, the first hatch element 40 has shifted longitudinally in a rearward direction thereby opening the first opening 30 and revealing the utility modules. The first hatch element 40 can alternatively open forwards. The second hatch element is still in the closed position.

[0104] FIG. 6 illustrates that the ship comprises a first lifting structure 70 (illustrated in FIG. 7) which can be used for lifting cargo, e.g. the utility modules. The first lifting structure is attached to the second hatch element. It may be constituted by a crane structure of a kind known per se, e.g., comprising one or more motorised winches e.g., being movably attached to the second hatch element by a trolley. Such a lifting structure may be useful for lifting objects from one of the sheltered decks.

[0105] In FIG. 6, four utility modules are lifted by the first lifting structure, and the second hatch element is moved in the transverse direction and thereby utilised as a crane component for moving the utility modules sideways through the first opening.

[0106] The first opening is in open connection with the second opening, and the first lifting structure is configured to move across the open transition between the two openings. This allows the first lifting structure to move itself and/or the utility modules across the transition upon movement of the second hatch element between the open and closed positions.

[0107] The arrow 60 indicates that the first lifting structure is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the second hatch element. This allows longitudinal adjustment of the position of the utility modules on the sheltered deck and or longitudinal adjustment of the delivery position of the utility modules, e.g., on a quay or on another ship or e.g., boat launch and recovery.

[0108] FIG. 7 illustrates lowering of the utility modules 32 by use of the first lifting structure 70.

[0109] FIGS. 8-10 illustrate in a sequence of illustrations, a procedure for loading and unloading utility modules through an opening in the aft end of the ship. In this case, the first opening is in a flat transom forming the aft of the ship, and the second opening is at the upper deck at the aft end of the ship.

[0110] The second opening is closable by the second hatch element 41. In the illustration, the second hatch element forms a heli-platform marked with an H. The fourth hatch element is movable longitudinally between a closed position covering at least a part of a second opening and an open position in which it protrudes longitudinal over the aft end of the ship.

[0111] In FIG. 8, the first opening is sealed by a first hatch element constituted by a first and a second hinged door 81, 82. Alternatively, any other kind of sealing or non-sealing hatch structure may be provided, or the first opening may simply stay open without any hatch structure.

[0112] FIG. 9 illustrates a compartment 90 behind the doors 81, 82. The compartment is upwardly shielded by the second hatch element 41. In the compartment, the utility module is constituted by a boat 91 suspended from a crane 92 fixed to the second hatch element and constituting the second lifting structure.

[0113] In FIG. 10, the second hatch element is moved to the open position where it extends over the transom of the ship, and this brings the second lifting structure and the boat 91 out of the compartment 91 and ready to be launched in the sea.

[0114] FIG. 11 illustrates lowering of the utility modules 32 by use of the first lifting structure 70 in an embodiment, where a shield 110 is fixed to the second hatch element and thereby blocks the view to the utility modules.

[0115] FIG. 12 illustrates use of the second hatch element for lifting cargo from the sheltered deck to a quay 120 at land or to a barge or to another ship at sea or for launch and recovery of boats FIG. 13 illustrates a side view and FIGS. 14-15 illustrate top views of different embodiments.

[0116] FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a ship comprising a plurality of hatch elements. Two of the three hatch elements in the upper deck are in the open position and one is in the closed position. One projects over the stern part of the freeboard, and one projects over the port side of the freeboard. In the closed position, they are flush with the surrounding fixed part of the upper deck, and two of the second hatch elements constitute a coherent flight deck.

[0117] Referring to one of the hatch elements 41, 41, they could, as an example, be seen as the second hatch element being movable to project over the first opening 40, 40.

[0118] Referring to the hatch element 141, this could be seen as the fourth hatch element being movable over the third opening 140. The third opening is an opening in the stern of the ship and the first opening is an opening in the port side of the ship.

[0119] The second hatch elements are both movable to project over the first openings and the fourth hatch element is movable to project over the third opening in the stern. Accordingly, this ship combines the openings in the port of starboard sides of the ship with an opening in the stern of the ship. The ship may further have openings in the bow, and a corresponding hatch on the upper deck may be arranged to project over that opening.

[0120] FIG. 15 illustrates a ship which further comprises a fifth hatch element 150 movable between a closed position covering at least a part of a fifth opening in the upper deck and an open position in which the fifth opening is uncovered. The fifth hatch element is configured to slide longitudinally and to border on at least one of the second hatch element 41 and fourth hatch element 141in this case the fourth hatch element 141.

[0121] FIG. 16 illustrates a method of loading or unloading cargo 160 from one of the at least one sheltered decks of the ship. In this method, the ship is moored to a quay at one of its starboard or port sides and the second hatch structure is moved to the open position towards the other one of the ships starboard or port sides. In this way, the second hatch structure extends over the freeboard away from the quay.

[0122] In the disclosed embodiment, the ship has an open transition between the first or third opening and the second opening such that a single unitary opening is formed when the second hatch structure moves to an open position.

[0123] When the second hatch structure extends away from the quay, it improves access for loading machines, in this case a telescopic wheel loader 161, which can utilise the full opening of the first and second openings for placing the cargo 160 on the sheltered deck. In FIG. 16, the cargo is lifted transversely over the transition between the first and the second opening which makes loading and unloading very efficient.

[0124] The cargo could be constituted by utility modules which, while being placed on the sheltered deck, operates through the second opening in the upper deck.