Inventors:
John F. O'Dea - Laurel MD, US
Robert W. Anderson - Alexandria VA, US
Sean M. Gallagher - Philadelphia PA, US
Ryan T. Hayleck - Fulton MD, US
Kellie L. Redcay - Pottstown PA, US
Stuart G. Ullman - Kensington MD, US
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC
International Classification:
B63B 39/00, B63B 21/00
Abstract:
A vertical damping system for a plurality of water vessels for diminishing the relative vertical movement between two or more water vessels moored in a skin-to-skin orientation. The vertical damping system may include one or more vertical damping devices, each device pivotally connected to a side portion of a first vessel and detachably connecting to a side portion of a second vessel. The vertical damping device may be a piston/cylinder arrangement and the damping system may involve more than two water vessels. The vertical damping system counteracts the effect of roll motion on water vessels, thereby enabling ship-to-ship functions such as cargo loading and the like.