A BOARDING ASSEMBLY AND A METHOD FOR USE THEREOF

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a boarding assembly for maritime boarding actions, and to a method for use of a boarding assembly.

BACKGROUND

A boarding assembly may comprise a boarding pole. Boarding poles are used in so called Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) marine actions. VBSS teams are trained to capture enemy vessels, to combat terrorism, piracy, and smuggling, and to conduct customs, safety, and other inspections. A boarding pole may form a hook and climb VBSS boarding system. An example of a boarding pole is produced by SOSSAB, distributed by H. Henriksen AS and marketed as the REBS Giraffe Tracer Pneumatic Telescopic Pole.

A boarding pole is typically fitted in a marine vessel, such as a rigid-inflatable boat (RIB). The boarding pole is connected to the vessel deck via a flexible joint. The vessel may be manoeuvred so as to be next to another vessel, e.g. a ship, to be boarded. A person may erect the boarding pole so as to be substantially vertical. The pole has a hook at the upper, distal end thereof. A rope ladder is suspended from the hook. The telescopic pole may thereafter be extended, by means of pressurized air. Thereafter, the pole may be swung so as for the hook to engage a gunwale of the other vessel. Thereby, the rope ladder is made to hang from the gunwale of the other vessel, down to the boarding vessel. Thereafter, the hook and the rope ladder are released from the rest of the pole by means of a release arrangement, which may be controllable by pressurized air. Thereafter, one or more persons may board the other vessel, using the rope ladder.

The ladder hanging from the hook, while attempting to engage the hook to the other vessel, may cause problems, e.g. due to strong winds grabbing the ladder, and/or waves moving the vessel on which the boarding pole is erected.

SUMMARY

An object of the invention is to facilitate the use of boarding poles for maritime boarding actions.

The object is achieved by a marine surface vessel according to claim 1. Thus, the object is achieved by a boarding assembly for maritime boarding actions,

• • comprising a boarding engagement device and an elongated device carrier, wherein the boarding engagement device is attachable to an engagement end of the device carrier,
  • wherein the device carrier is, at a support end thereof, attachable to a support structure, e.g. a deck, of an action marine vessel, via a flexible joint, which support end is opposite to the engagement end,
  • whereby the device carrier is arranged to be erected on the support structure so as for the engagement device to engage a part of a target marine vessel, e.g. a ship, to be boarded,
  • wherein the boarding assembly comprises a holding assembly mounted to the engagement device,
  • wherein the holding assembly comprises a support device, e.g. a pulley block, arranged so that, when the engagement device is engaged to the target marine vessel part, an elongated flexible element, e.g. a rope or a wire, can be pulled through the support device so as to pull an end of an elongated climbing device, e.g. a rope ladder, which end is attached to the elongated flexible element, up towards the engagement device,
  • wherein the holding assembly comprises an engagement mechanism arranged to engage and retain the pulled up end of the climbing device.

The boarding assembly may comprise a boarding pole. The target marine vessel part may be a gunvale of a ship to be boarded. The elongated climbing device may be flexible. The elongated climbing device may be a rope ladder, or a ladder comprising rigid parts joined by flexible joints. In some embodiments, the elongated climbing device is rigid, e.g. a rigid ladder.

By the invention it is possible to erect the boarding assembly on the support structure, and engage the engagement device to the target marine vessel part, without the climbing device attached to the engagement device. There, problems caused by winds grabbing the climbing device hanging from the engagement device, while attempting to engage hook to the other vessel, are avoided. Instead, the engagement device may be engaged to the target marine vessel part without the interference of the climbing device, and once the engagement device is engaged to the target marine vessel part, the climbing device can be pulled up to the engagement device.

Also, the invention allows for the use of heavier and/or more rustic climbing devices.

Preferably, the holding assembly is flexibly mounted to the engagement device. The boarding assembly may be arranged to release the device carrier from the engagement device, when the engagement device is engaged to the target marine vessel part. By the flexible mounting of the holding assembly to the engagement device, the holding assembly can be moved aside while the device carrier is attached to the engagement device. Once the device carrier is released from the engagement device, the holding assembly can move, by means of the flexible mounting, and gravity, to a position, in which it can receive the climbing device.

The flexible mounting of the holding assembly to the engagement device may be provided by means of one or more flexible joints, or one or more ropes or wires

Preferably, the boarding assembly comprises a release mechanism, arranged to release, upon the engagement mechanism engaging the pulled up end of the climbing device, the elongated flexible element from the elongated climbing device. Thereby, the elongated flexible element, e.g. in the form of a rope, may be removed before any person climbs up the climbing device. This removes the risk of the elongated flexible element interfering with the person's climbing, e.g. by getting tangled up with the person, or attire or equipment of the person.

The objects are also reached with a method according to any one of claims 4-6.

Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a vertical cross-section of a marine vessel, the cross-section being oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vessel,

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a boarding assembly on the vessel on FIG. 1, in an erected state,

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an upper portion of the boarding assembly in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an engagement device of the boarding assembly in FIG. 2, engaged to a part of a target marine vessel, as well as a holding assembly mounted to the engagement device,

FIG. 5 shows the engagement device and the holding assembly in a view as indicated with the arrow V in FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the holding assembly in FIG. 4, and a top portion of a rope ladder with a mating device held under the holding assembly with a rope,

FIG. 7 show a vertical cross-section of the holding assembly and the mating device in FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 shows a vertical cross-section of the mating device engaged with the holding assembly,

FIG. 9 shows a vertical cross-section of the mating device engaged with the holding assembly, and the rope released from the mating device, and

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the engagement device with the rope ladder attached to it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal, vertical section of a marine surface vessel in the form of a rigid-inflatable boat (RIB), herein also referred to as an action marine vessel. The boat in FIG. 1 comprises a solid, shaped hull 201 and flexible tubes 202 at a gunwale 203. The hull 201 may be made in any suitable material, such as steel, wood, aluminium, or fibre-reinforced plastic, such as glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) composite, or carbon reinforced plastic. The hull may present a single skin, or it can be a sandwich construction. The hull 201 may be a “deep-V hull”, or a “shallow-V” hull, a catamaran hull, or a trimaran hull.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the solid hull 201 reaches to the top of the tubes 202. Thereby, the solid hull 201 forms an internal part of the gunwale 203. Hence, only a forward end of the tubes 202 are visible in the cross-section of FIG. 1. The tubes 202 may be provided outside of the solid hull, along the sides thereof. The tubes 202 may be joined at the bow 101. At the stern 102, an outboard engine mounting board is provided, with one or more outboard engines 204.

It should be noted that the invention is equally applicable to alternative types of vessels. For example, the vessel may have a fully rigid hull. The vessel may have one or more inboard engines.

The vessel further presents a deck 205. The deck is surrounded by the gunwale 203. The vessel further comprises a steering console 206. The steering console presents control devices for a driver of the vessel, such as a steering wheel, engine control devices, and instruments. The console 206 may further house equipment for the vessel, or for a mission of the vessel.

The vessel 1 comprises a boarding assembly 3 for maritime boarding actions. The boarding assembly comprises an elongated device carrier 307, and a boarding engagement device 305 removably attached to an engagement end 304 of the device carrier.

An attachment device 301 is provided in the deck 205. The attachment device may be mounted to the deck directly, or via a device, such as a rail. The attachment device is located in front of the console 206. The device carrier 307 is, at a support end 302 thereof, attached to the deck 205, via a flexible joint 303 and the attachment device 301. The support end 302 is opposite to the engagement end 304. The flexible joint 303 may be provided in any suitable form, e.g. as a rubber pin, or a helical spring.

The engagement device 305 is provided in the form of a hook. The hook has a tip made of hard metal, such as hardened steel, or a tungsten carbide. It should be noted that the engagement device may be provided in any alternative suitable form, for engaging a part of a vessel to be boarded.

Thus, between the flexible joint 303 and the engagement device 305, the boarding assembly 3 presents the elongated device carrier 307. In FIG. 1, the boarding assembly 3 is in a non-erected state. Thereby, it may extend substantially parallel with a longitudinal direction of the vessel. Herein, the vessel longitudinal direction is understood as a direction of straight travel of the vessel.

Reference is made also to FIG. 2. By means of the flexible joint 303, the boarding assembly 3 may be erected by a person, while attached to the attachment device 301. In this example, the attachment device is provided in the form of a plate, which may be bolted to the deck. The attachment device may be provided in any suitable form. The attachment device may comprise a female adaptor, arranged to receive a male adaptor at an end of the flexible joint 303.

By being erected on the support structure, the device carrier 307 will allow the engagement device 305 to engage a part, e.g. a gunvale, of a ship to be boarded. Illustrated in FIG. 2 is an engagement device 305, a device carrier 307, a flexible joint 303, and an attachment device 301 of a boarding assembly marketed as the REBS Giraffe Tracer Pneumatic Telescopic Pole, mentioned above. However, the invention is applicable to a large variety to boarding assemblies.

The boarding assembly comprises handles 309, to be held by a person holding the boarding assembly in an erected state.

The device carrier 307 may be telescopic. Thereby, the device carrier may be extended. The boarding assembly 3 may comprise a manoeuvring device 306 for extending the device carrier 307. Embodiments of the invention may allow raising the boarding assembly 3, followed by extending the device carrier 307.

Reference is made again to FIG. 1. For extending the device carrier, the boarding assembly 3 comprises a conduit 308 for the provision of pressurized air, from a pressurized air source. The air conduit 308 may be arranged to be connected, at a distal end thereof, to an air supply connection (not shown). The air supply connection may be connected by an air conduit with one or more pressurized air sources in the form of gas cylinders (not shown). The gas cylinders may be stored in the console 206.

The pressurized air may be, by control of the manoeuvring device 306, allowed to enter the Device carrier 307, for extending the device carrier 307 in a telescopic manner. For this, the device carried may comprise two, three, four, or more, coaxial tubes, arranged one inside the other.

It should be noted that other manners of extending the assembly are conceivable. It should be noted that the extension of the device carrier 307 may be driven in any suitable manner, e.g. hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically, or manually.

The boarding engagement device 305 may be arranged to be released, by control of the manoeuvring device 306, from the device carrier 307. Alternatively, as is known per se from said boarding pole marketed as the REBS Giraffe Tracer Pneumatic Telescopic Pole, the boarding engagement device 305, in the form of a hook, is released automatically when the tip of the hook is in contact with a part of the target marine vessel, and the operator retracts the device carrier 307. The connection between the hook 305 and the device carrier 307 comprises a release mechanism. The release mechanism is designed so that the release takes place when the engaged hook 305, due to the retraction of the device carrier 307, rotates backwards around the top of the device carrier.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the boarding assembly comprises a holding assembly 321 mounted to the engagement device. An elongated flexible element, on the form of a rope 322, extends through the holding assembly 321. The ends of the flexible element 322 are on the deck, or within reach for someone on the deck. A climbing device 323, in this example in the form of a rope ladder, is attached to one of the flexible element 322 ends.

Reference is made also to FIG. 3. As can be seen, the holding assembly is flexibly mounted to the engagement device via a flexible joint 324. By the flexible mounting of the holding assembly 321 to the engagement device 305, the holding assembly can be moved aside while the device carrier 307 is attached to the engagement device.

The holding assembly 321 comprises a support device in the form of a pulley block 325. The support device 325 comprises a pulley with a grooved rim around which the flexible element 322 can pass. Thereby, the direction of the flexible element 322 is changed so that it reaches the pulley from below, and continues downwards.

The holding assembly 321 further comprises a holding housing 326, described closer below. The flexible element 322 extends through the holding housing 326.

Reference is made also to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. As understood, the boarding assembly may be moved so as for the engagement device 305 to engage a a part of a target marine vessel to be boarded, e.g. a gunwale 4 of the target marine vessel.

When the engagement device 305 has engaged the target marine vessel part 4, the device carrier (FIG. 3 307) is released from the engagement device 305.

Once the device carrier is released from the engagement device 305, the holding assembly 321 can move, by means of the flexible mounting, and gravity, to a position, in which it can receive the climbing device. In this embodiment, thereby, the holding device 321 hangs from the flexible joint 324.

Reference is made also to FIG. 6. The holding device 321 is arranged so that the elongated flexible element 322 can be pulled through the support device 325 so as to pull an end of the climbing device 323 up towards the holding device 321. Thereby, a person standing on the vessel deck can pull up the climbing device 323 to the engagement device 305. The climbing device 323 is attached to the flexible element 322 via a mating device 327, described closer below.

Reference is made also to FIG. 7. The holding assembly 321 comprises an engagement mechanism 328. The engagement mechanism may comprise one or more, in this example four, catching devices 328. The catching devices are spring loaded. The catching devices are mounted externally on the holding housing 326.

The holding housing 326 has a generally conical internal surface 329. The cone formed by the internal surface 329 opens downwards. The catching devices 328 extend so that parts thereof are under the opening formed by the internal surface 329.

The mating device 327 has a generally conical external surface 330, which narrows upwards. The flexible element 322 extends through the holding housing 326, coaxially with the cone formed by the internal surface 329.

The flexible element 322 is fastened to the mating device 327. The flexible element 322 may be fastened to the mating device 327 by means on one or more cleats, in this example one cleat 331. In this example, the cleat releases the flexible element 322 by means of a lever 332 fixed to the cleat 331, as exemplified below. Thereby, the cleat and lever form parts of a release mechanism for the flexible element 322.

Reference is made also to FIG. 8. When pulled up, the mating device 327 enters the holding housing 326. Thereby, the catching devices 328 move outwards. When the mating device 327 has passed the parts of the catching devices 328 at the opening formed by the internal surface 329, the catching devices 328 move back, thereby preventing the mating device 327 to move out of the holding housing 326. Thereby, the engagement mechanism is arranged to engage and retain the pulled up end of the climbing device.

When the mating device 327 is pulled further into the holding housing 326, said lever 332 comes into contact with the internal surface 329. Thereby, the lever turns, thereby turning said cleat 331. Thereby, the flexible element 322 is released. Thereby, upon the engagement mechanism engaging the pulled up end of the climbing device, the elongated flexible element 322 is released from the climbing device.

Reference is made also to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. When the flexible element 322 has been released, the mating device 327 may rest of the catching devices 328. Thereby, the climbing device 323 may hang from the holding assembly 321 which is mounted to the engagement device 305. Thereby, the climbing device may be used for one or more persons to enter the other vessel.

The lever 332 may be held in a position for allowing the flexible element 322 to be released, by a spring loaded latch 333, or similar. The lever 322 may be spring loaded, and the latch 333 may have a release lever 334. Thereby, when the boarding assembly is prepared for further use, the flexible element 322 may be inserted into the mating device 327 again, and the lever 332 may be released so that the cleat 331 catches and holds the flexible element 322.

Thus, the use of the boarding device may involve a person driving the vessel 1, and manoeuvring the vessel so as to be next to another vessel, e.g. a ship, to be boarded. Another person, who may be referred to as an assembly control person, may erect the boarding assembly 3 so as to be non-horizontal, e.g. substantially vertical. The assembly control person may thereafter allow, by control of the manoeuvring device 306, the extension of the boarding assembly 3. The assembly control person may swing the boarding assembly so as for the engagement device 305 to engage a target marine vessel part, e.g. a gunwale 4 of the target marine vessel to be boarded.

Once the engagement device 305 is engaged, the device carrier 307 may be released from the engagement device. Thereafter, the flexible element 322 is pulled through the support device 325 so as to pull, attached to the flexible element, the end of the elongated climbing device up towards the engagement device. The engagement mechanism 328 engages and retains the pulled up end of the climbing device. Also, upon the engagement of the pulled up end of the climbing device, the flexible element is released from the elongated climbing device.

Thereby, the flexible element 322 is made to hang from the gunwale of the other vessel, down to the boarding vessel 1. Thus, one or more persons can use the climbing device 322.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.