US 6,257,165 B1 · Vessel with movable deck and method

Abstract

A vessel with a movable deck. The vessel will contain in one embodiment a catamaran hull having a first pontoon and a second pontoon. The catamaran hull has a platform attached thereto. The vessel also includes a first leg, second leg, and third leg extending vertically from the top side of the platform. The movable deck will contain a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening which has the first, second, and third leg respectively disposed therethrough. The vessel further contains a jacking mechanism that raises and lowers the movable deck relative to the platform. The vessel may further comprise a first thruster nozzle attached to the first pontoon, the first thruster nozzle being movable in a 360 degree phase and a second thruster nozzle attached to the second pontoon, with the second thruster nozzle being movable in a 360 degree phase. In the preferred embodiment, the vessel will also include a dynamic positioning system that computes and adjusts the location of the vessel in the water body to a predetermined coordinate location. The dynamic positioning system is operatively associated with the first and second thruster nozzle. A method for raising a work deck is also included.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A multi decked vessel for working in a water body, the vessel comprising:

a first platform having a top side and an underside;
a first hull attached to said first platform's underside and a second hull attached to said first platform's underside;
a first leg extending vertically from said first platform;
a second leg extending vertically from said first platform;
a second platforn positioned on the top side of said first platform, said second platforn having a first opening and a second opening, and wherein said first leg extends through said first opening and said second leg extends through said second opening;
means, operatively positioned on said second platform, for raising and lowering said second platform relative to said first platform;
a plurality of suction anchors attached to said first hull and said second hull, and wherein said plurality of suction anchors are attached by a plurality of anchor lines.

4 more elements

A method for raising a work deck on a vessel, said vessel including:

a first platform having a top side and an underside, a catamaran hull comprising a first hull attached to said first platform's underside and a second hull attached to said first platform's underside;
a first leg extending vertically from said first platform;
a second leg extending vertically from said first platform, a work deck positioned on the top side of said first platform, said work deck having a first opening and a second opening, and wherein said first leg extends through said first opening and said second leg extends through said second opening;
a plurality of anchors attached to said first hull and said second hull, and wherein said plurality of suction anchors are attached by a plurality of anchor chains the method comprising:
positioning the vessel to a location in a body of water;
placing water within a ballast tank located within said catamaran hull causing the catamaran hull to lower in the body of water;
lowering the anchors;
setting said plurality of anchors into the water bottom;
pumping water out said ballast tank causing said catamaran hulls to rise so that said anchor chains are placed into tension;
raising said work deck relative to said first platform.

7 more elements

A vessel with a movable deck comprising:

a catamaran hull having a first pontoon and a second pontoon;
a first anchor member attached to said catamaran hull with a first anchor chain;
a second anchor member attached to said catamaran hull with a second anchor chain;
a platform having a top side and an underside, said underside being attached to said catamaran hull;
a first leg extending vertically from said top side of said platform;
a second leg extending vertically from said top side of said platform;
a third leg extending vertically from said top side of said platform;
and wherein the movable deck contains a first opening having said first leg disposed therethrough, a second opening having said second leg disposed therethrough and a third opening having said third leg disposed therethrough;
means, operatively positioned on said movable deck, for raising and lowering said movable deck relative to said platform.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vessel with movable deck and method

Life of this patent

Vessel with movable deck and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18