"Pilot Boat with protruding platforms for an easier boarding a ship." DESCRIPTION

The pilot boat is used for the transfer of pilots to and from a ship, when it enters and leaves the port. The entire operation generally takes places with two moving vessels. During the approaching phase the pilot boat comes alongside the ship keeping a trajectory slightly convergent compared to that of the latter, ensuring contact between the two vessels. During the transfer of the pilot to and from the ship, both vessels move alongside each other, with the pilot boat leaning and/or pushing against the side of the ship. The closest state of the art is made by the following document: WO 00/15489 Al (AEGIR KONSULT AB [SE] ENGSTROEM STAFFAN [SE] 23 March 2000 (2000-03-23). It relates a mooring arrangement to ground- anchored or floating structure at sea. But it does not concern the solution of the problem we are explaining afterwards. The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problem of traditional pilot boats, which often squeeze or drag the pilot ladder when it is dropped too low. This is a danger for the pilot during the transfer from the pilot boat to the pilot ladder and vice versa. In this case, with this invention, the pilot boat would have two supporting points of contact with the ship and not only one, it is now, making a recess in which the pilot ladder is free from the side of the pilot boat (See Figure 1). In unfavorable weather conditions to ensure the contact of the pilot boat with the ship, the pilot boat must increase the angle of approach between the axes of the two vessels, turning on the supporting area towards the bow of the pilot boat. (See Figure 2). Also in this case compared with traditional pilot boats, a suitable recess for the pilot ladder is created. (See Figure 2). Boarding the ship requires using the pilot ladder, which can reach lengths of about 10 meters. It is made of rope and wooden steps and is hanged on the side of the ship. The pilot reaches the pilot ladder directly from the main deck or from a platform supported sideways by two ladders set up on the main deck. This arrangement is used in different heights. The higher embarking and disembarking area is designed with a slope to avoid the collision between the pilot boat and the ship when it is rolling. But when the pilot boat is alongside the ship, there is a wide gap between the higher platform and the side of the ship. During the transfer, the pilot watches the rolling and pitching of both vessels, then jumps onto the ladder. If he makes a mistake, he might fall into the seawater. This is a dangerous for the pilot who, during the transfer from the pilot boat to pilot ladder or vice versa might lose the grip. In fact with the traditional pilot boat (that is to say) the risks associated with the transfer phase are mainly:

1- The inability of the pilot to stand steadly on the main deck in bad weather, because of the heavy pitching and rolling of the pilot boat.

2- The risk of being hit by waves or strong sea splash when he climbs up and when he gets down from ship.

3- The possibility of squeezing the pilot ladder or dragging it downwards if it is dropped too low.

4- Inconvenience of the slope and gap between the ship and the higher platform.

The present invention is shown in detail in the following figures, only as an example, since it is related to the following claims:

Figure 1 shows the plain view of the pilot boat alongside the ship in favorable weather conditions. In this figure, many areas can be identified: the left aft protruding platform (10), the right aft protruding platform (11), the left forward protruding (12), the right forward protruding (13), the pilot ladder (14), the high fixed platform (15), the scissor lift (16),the side profile of the ship (17), the wheelhouse (18),the hydraulic lift for the recovery of a man over board (19),the rubber fenders 20, the sliding platform on the scissor lift (22). In this figure the sliding platform of the scissor lift is shown when it slides. Figure 2 shows the plan view of the pilot boat alongside the ship with the left forward protruding and the bow pushing against the side of the ship, in unfavorable weather conditions. In this figure, many areas can be identified: the left aft protruding platform (10), the right aft protruding platform (11), the left forward protruding platform (12), the right forward protruding platform (13), the pilot ladder (14), the high fixed platform (15),the side profile of the ship (17), the wheelhouse (18), the hydraulic lift for the recovery of a man over board (19), the rubber fenders (20), the sliding platform on the scissor lift (22). In this figure, the sliding platform of the scissor lift is shown in its rest position.

Figure 3 shows the side view of the pilot boat and the opportunity of using either the high fixed platform or the scissor lift for easy access to the pilot ladder in good weather conditions. In this figure many areas can be identified: the right aft protruding platform (11), the right forward protruding platform (13), the high fixed platform (15), the scissor lift (16), the wheelhouse (18), the hydraulic lift for the recovery of a man over board (19), rubber fenders (20), the azimuthal thrusters (21),the sliding platform on the scissor lift (22). Figure 4 shows the view from the bow of the pilot boat and the option to use either the fixed platform or the scissor lift for easy access to the boarding pilot ladder in good weather conditions. In this figure many areas can be identified : the left forward protruding platform (12), the right forward protruding platform (13), the high fixed platform (15), the scissor lift (16),the wheelhouse 18, the rubber fenders (20), the sliding platform of the scissor lift (22), the water line (23). In the figure, the sliding platform of the scissor lift is shown in its position next to the ship.

The present invention regarding a pilot boat with a modified main deck with four protruding platforms (See Figure 1 and 2) two on each side, fore and aft, forming a single body with the rest of the deck (10) and (12) for the port side and (11) and (13) for the starboard side. The protruding platforms increases, above all, the space at pilot's disposal on the main deck for a safer transfer of the pilot. When the pilot boat is alongside the ship, (See Figure l)the protruding platforms of each side make a recess in which the pilot ladder, if even dropped too low in the water ( as it often happens ) does not run any risk. In unfavorable weather conditions (See Figure 2) the forward protruding platform also allows the pilot boat to keep firmly on the side of the ship with its bow, also creating a recess within which the pilot ladder (14) can freely run. The position of the pilot boat also allows the bow to maintain a constant angle of incidence avoiding slippings and rotations between the two vessels, typical of this phase. In favorable weather conditions, the transfer of the pilot can be made safer by the alternative use of the two platforms, the fixed one (15) and the shifting lift (16) and, moreover, since the pilot boat side is at a proper distance from the ship, the pilot ladder (14) does not run any risk (See Figure 1). In particular, with the pilot boat positioned alongside the vessel (See Figure 1-3-4) the transfer can be done with a scissor lift (16). In good weather conditions it allows a safer, quicker and mechanical transfer without needing the pilot ladder. The scissor lift is located in front of the wheelhouse in order to be always visible by the wheelman of the pilot boat. The scissor lift can be equipped with a sliding platform (22) to decrease the distance between the ship and the pilot boat. In the forward area a higher fixed platform can be arranged in order to allow the transfer while the pilot boat is either alongside the ship or with the stern off from the side of the ship with bow pushing (Figure 2). The arrangements of the two structures one fixed and one moving (scissor lift), can also be inverted. Aft, the pilot boat can also be equipped with a sinkable stretcher (19) for the recovery of a man over board. This lift can be lowered to below the water level for a smoother and faster recovering. There might be two platforms for rescuers and two sets of steps recessed into the transom, at the starboard and left, which would be a useful grip for the hands. In this invention the wheelhouse (18) is located on the same level on the main deck. This solution not only improves the visibility of the helmsman but allows him to rush out from the wheelhouse for a faster rescue operations because there is no difference in level.