Apparatus for stabilizing a barge within a transfer well of a catamaran type vessel for loading the barge onto or removing it from the vessel

Claim 2

A vessel for carrying cargo loaded barges and the like, which vessel has a main hull for a portion of the length thereof and rearwardly extending, spaced apart hull portions to define a well extending completely therethrough in a vertical direction and providing a water area between said rearwardly extending hull portions of a width and length to receive a barge or the like therebetween; a. a movable closure member disposed for vertical movement between the rear of the rearwardly extending hull portions to form an end closure therebetween, when in one position, 1. said closure member extends above the water line and below the water line, when in one position; b. power actuated means on said hull to selectively move said closure member to close the space between said rearwardly extending hull portions, when in one position; and c. said power actuated means adapted to move said closure member to open said space between said rearwardly extending hull portions, when in another position.

Claim 3

said slips of said slip and bar arrangement adapted to be lowered over said bar to connect therewith and to be moved upward within a slip bowl, and

Claim 4

said slips of said slip and bar arrangement adapted to be lowered over said bar to connect therewith and to be moved upward within a slip bowl, and

Claim 5

power actuated means on said hull to selectively move said closure member to close the open end of said transfer well or to move said closure member to open the end of said transfer well for the movement of barges thereinto or therefrom,

Claim 6

power actuated means on said hull to selectively move said closure member to close the open end of said transfer well or to move said closure member to open the end of said transfer well for the movement of barges thereinto or therefrom,

Claim 7

the cargo hold areas being of a size along the fore and aft axis of the hull, to receive cargo barges, with the fore and aft axes of the barges athwart vessel of the main hull, b. at least one closure member movable to extend between the inner face of the stern portion of said hull near the rear end thereof, and extending into and above the water, when in one position; l. said closure member being movable to open said barge transfer well, to permit barges to enter said well when said closure member is in another position,

Claim 8

the cargo hold areas being of a size along the fore and aft axis of the hull, to receive cargo barges, with the fore and aft axes of the barges athwart vessel of the main hull, b. at least one closure member movable to extend between the inner face of the stern portion of said hull near the rear end thereof, and extending into and above the water, when in one position; l. said closure member being movable to open said barge transfer well, to permit barges to enter said well when said closure member is in another position,

Claim 9

A vessel for carrying barges and the like, providing means for quick loading and unloading of the barges as a unit, comprising: a. a main hull having cargo hold areas along the longitudinal axis thereof,

Claim 10

A vessel for carrying barges and the like, providing means for quick loading and unloading of the barges as a unit, comprising: a. a main hull having cargo hold areas along the longitudinal axis thereof,

Claim 11

A vessel, for carrying cargo barges or the like, which vessel has a main hull for a portion of the length of the vessel and rearwardly extending, spaced apart hull portions to define a well extending completely therethrough in a vertical direction between the rearwardly extending hull portions and of a width and length to receive a barge or the like therein, said well normally opening rearwardly in a horizontal direction: a. upright fender means guided for vertical movement by and between the rearwardly extending hull portions near the rear end thereof; and b. power actuated means associated with said rearwardly extending hull portions and said upright fender means to selectively move said upright fender means vertically downwardly with respect to said rearwardly extending hull portions to substantially close the rear end of said well at the water line when said upright fender means is in one position and to selectively move said upright fender means vertically upwardly to another position to leave open the rear end of said well.

Claim 12

A vessel, for carrying cargo barges or the like, which vessel has a main hull for a portion of the length of the vessel and rearwardly extending, spaced apart hull portions to define a well extending completely therethrough in a vertical direction between the rearwardly extending hull portions and of a width and length to receive a barge or the like therein, said well normally opening rearwardly in a horizontal direction: a. upright fender means guided for vertical movement by and between the rearwardly extending hull portions near the rear end thereof; and b. power actuated means associated with said rearwardly extending hull portions and said upright fender means to selectively move said upright fender means vertically downwardly with respect to said rearwardly extending hull portions to substantially close the rear end of said well at the water line when said upright fender means is in one position and to selectively move said upright fender means vertically upwardly to another position to leave open the rear end of said well.

Claim 13

said slips adapted to engage said bar upon upward movement of said slip bowl by said hoist means.

Claim 14

said slips adapted to engage said bar upon upward movement of said slip bowl by said hoist means.

Claim 15

one of said barges adapted to be moved from said transfer well onto the vessel and to be transferred from the vessel into the transfer well, when said closure member extends between said rearwardly extending, beam width continuations from the stern of said hull, and

Claim 16

one of said barges adapted to be moved from said transfer well onto the vessel and to be transferred from the vessel into the transfer well, when said closure member extends between said rearwardly extending, beam width continuations from the stern of said hull, and

Claim 17

A vessel for carrying cargo-loaded barges or the like, which vessel has a main hull for a portion of the length of the vessel and rearwardly extending, spaced apart hull portions to define a water area between the rearwardly extending hull portions of a width and length to receive a barge or the like therebetween, a gate movably mounted between the rearwardly extending hull portions near the rear ends thereof for movement in an upright plane, hoisting means associated with the rearwardly extending hull portions of the vessel and with said gate for moving said gate to selectively open and close the water area between the rearwardly extending hull portions, hoisting means associated with said vessel to selectively move a barge or the like from the water area onto the vessel or from the vessel into the water area, said vessel having a crane and hoist means associated therewith for movement along the upper face of the vessel, means associated with the barge and with said hoist means to enable the barge to be selectively interengaged with and selectively disengaged from said hoist means, said interengaging means being toothed slip and bar arrangements, and means remote from said toothed slip and bar arrangements to selectively engage the slips with said bar arrangements and to selectively disengage the slips from said bar arrangements.

Claim 18

A vessel for carrying cargo-loaded barges or the like, which vessel has a main hull for a portion of the length of the vessel and rearwardly extending, spaced apart hull portions to define a water area between the rearwardly extending hull portions of a width and length to receive a barge or the like therebetween, a gate movably mounted between the rearwardly extending hull portions near the rear ends thereof for movement in an upright plane, hoisting means associated with the rearwardly extending hull portions of the vessel and with said gate for moving said gate to selectively open and close the water area between the rearwardly extending hull portions, hoisting means associated with said vessel to selectively move a barge or the like from the water area onto the vessel or from the vessel into the water area, said vessel having a crane and hoist means associated therewith for movement along the upper face of the vessel, means associated with the barge and with said hoist means to enable the barge to be selectively interengaged with and selectively disengaged from said hoist means, said interengaging means being toothed slip and bar arrangements, and means remote from said toothed slip and bar arrangements to selectively engage the slips with said bar arrangements and to selectively disengage the slips from said bar arrangements.

Claim 19

one of said barges adapted to enter said transfer well and to leave said transfer well, when said closure member is not extending between the rearwardly extending, beam width continuations from the stern of said hull.

Claim 20

one of said barges adapted to enter said transfer well and to leave said transfer well, when said closure member is not extending between the rearwardly extending, beam width continuations from the stern of said hull.

Claim 21

A barge carrying vessel as defined in claim 4 wherein: a. each said toothed slip arrangement is associated with each said hoisting means; b. said bar arrangeMents are each associated with each said barge and extend upwardly therefrom;