Launch and recovery apparatus for a surface vessel, a surface vessel (1) for use on water, e.g. an unmanned surface vessel (USV), and related methods of launching or recovering an underwater unit, e.g. an ROV are described. In various embodiments the unmanned surface vessel has at least one ramp member (10) for providing a ramp structure under the water for facilitating launch or recovery of the underwater unit, the underwater ramp structure comprising an incline for the underwater unit and at least one aperture (17) or gap penetrating through the ramp structure for communicating a flow of water (B) in the aperture or gap relative to the vessel. In various methods, the surface vessel is advanced across the water, obtaining a flow of water relative to the vessel in the aperture or gap through the underwater ramp structure, the underwater unit is supported on the incline of the ramp structure, and the underwater unit is moved up or down the incline to facilitate in the launch or recovery of the underwater unit.
Launch and recovery of underwater units or vehicles
2025-03-20
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B63B Schiffe oder sonstige Wasserfahrzeuge , SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS |
Effective Launch and Recovery of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2015
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