GB2532180A - An anti-piracy system for a waterborne vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

An anti-piracy system for a waterborne vessel comprises of a netting barrier 2 and 3 arranged to a plurality of sides of the vessel. The netting barrier in use extends from the sides of the vessel on booms 1 and the booms are provided with a means of extending horizontally and vertically from the vessel to prevent boarding. The booms may be extendable from the vessel independently from the netting barrier and the netting barrier may extend along the booms in use. The system may be deployed in a two-step process in which firstly the booms are extended from a storage housing and secondly the netting barrier is extended along the extended booms. Such extension may be manually or electrically driven, or capable of both manual and electric driving so as to allow for extension with no electricity present. Extension may comprise at least one winder mechanism

Description

AN ANTI-PIRACY SYSTEM FOR A WATERBORNE VESSEL

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to anti-piracy system for a water borne vessel, in particular for a ship or similar; more particularly but not exclusively an easily deployed system for preventing boarding.

Background

Automisation of many areas of shipping, increasing inequality and contemporaneous access to small arms and fast boats has led to a heightened risk of piracy in many naval areas.

There are currently particular areas of the world's oceans that are suffering from piracy, the West African Coast, Horn of Africa and Indonesian waters. This leads to two major problems for shipping companies, crews and consumers. Firstly costs, secondly safety of crews and the vessel.

Current advice to masters is to transit the whole area at speed. This is not only costly in terms of fuel costs but also does not guarantee the vessels' safety. Ships and crews are still being taken for ransom by organised criminal groups using a variety of weapons including rocket propelled grenades.

In particular ships on long journeys are commonly distant from help, and rarely have personnel trained to fend off boarding pirates.

Therefore there is a need for a system to prevent board that is easily deployed by minimal personnel with limited training.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem or similar, including the following: Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 375 739 (METHERELL) discloses apparatus for protecting ships or harbors from attack by vessels comprising: a capture device formed by a net of strong material to be disposed above a water surface, masts attached to the net for maintaining the net in an upright orientation, a plurality of buoys floatable on a water surface to which the masts are attached for supporting the respective masts, ballast weights adapted to be secured to lower ends of the respective masts, and anchors connected to sections of the net for providing a restraining force on the net against predetermined movement of the net.

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 371 024 (BONE) discloses a ship mounted protection system comprising single or multiple high tensile wires attached at each end to and tensioned between adjustably mounted posts, said wires being vertically spaced between the posts so as to form a barrier, and an hydraulic means for deployment of the system from the ship and for adjusting the vertical position of the posts.

Granted United Kingdom patent GB 2 375 739 (METHERELL) discloses apparatus for protecting ships or harbors from attack by vessels comprising: a capture device formed by a net of strong material to be disposed above a water surface, masts attached to the net for maintaining the net in an upright orientation, a plurality of buoys floatable on a water surface to which the masts are attached for supporting the respective masts, ballast weights adapted to be secured to lower ends of the respective masts, and anchors connected to sections of the net for providing a restraining force on the net against predetermined movement of the net.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an anti-piracy system for a waterborne vessel comprising netting arranged to a plurality of sides of the vessel, wherein said netting in use extend from the sides of the vessel on booms, and wherein the booms are provided with a means of extending horizontally and vertically from the vessel.

In preferred embodiments the booms are extendable from the vessel independently 35 from the netting, wherein the netting extends along the booms in use.

Preferably there-ore the system is deployed in a two-step process wherein firstly the booms extend from a storage housing in use and secondly the netting is extended along the extended booms.

Such extension may be manually or electrically driven, or capable of both manual and electric driving so as to allow for extension with no electricity present. Extension may comprise a-. least one winder mechanism.

In preferred embodiments the system comprises a continuous spool in use, enclosed in housings or other protection. A vessel with the system of the present invention deployed will be protected as the inner net is connected to an enclosed spool along the outer side of the vessels freeboard thereby cocooning the deck in nets. The act of climbing a ladder or rope whilst alonaside a ship travelling at speed and cutting through nets will be supremely difficult.

In preferred embodiments the netting comprises double layers, wherein a first or outer net comprises anti-rocket propelled grenade netting and the second or inner net comprises anti-personnel netting.

In preferred embodiments lower portions of the inner net may be constructed from metal to allow a low voltage high amp charge to be fed through the net if desired. This will provide an added layer of protection to the netting against persistent boarders.

In some embodiments of the system the netting and booms are comprised in mechanisms arranged in a plurality of separate housings, wherein the mechanisms are independertly controlled and/or driven.

In other embodiments the mechanisms are controlled centrally and activated 30 simultaneously.

In preferred embodiments the system comprises a plurality of separate housings containing booms and nets, or mechanisms, and said mechanisms are individually or collectively controlled from a central and remote control centre. The mechanisms 35 preferably include local control units in addition in event of override necessity.

Preferably the booms are stored in and extended from elongate housings, said housings mounted to surround the vessel that is along the sides and/or ends of the vessel. The housings ideally comprise lids which displace to allow the booms to extend out and prevent problematic entrance of moisture or foreign objects when the system is not in use.

The booms in some embodiments are telescopic at least in part, wherein at least some of the extension is axial extension.

In preferred embodiments the booms are articulated to facilitate storage and extension, wherein the booms have bases that are hinged to the housing, wherein the booms, at least in part, rotate on said hinges so as to at least reach a position for extension. Preferably said hinging comprises the extension wherein the booms do not alter in axial length. In this way advantageously the booms are not compromised in rigidity, ensuring greater effectiveness in prevention of boarding.

Ideally the hinges are locked in use wherein mechanical locking mechanisms such as displaceable braces ensure that the hinges are not capable of unauthorised return.

The booms after extension provide edges for the nets, wherein the nets are suspended between two or more booms in use.

In some embodiments nets may be continuous wherein the booms for different nets may be side by side in use, connected in use, or wherein a single boom may provide 25 an edge for two nets simultaneously.

The booms extend horizontally and vertically to form two angled edges for the nets to run between. In some embodiments the nets run in tracks in the booms and consequently include an arrangement such as peripheral edging disposed for running in the track, for example runners, wheels or spigot, for example wherein the track comprises moving belts.

In some embodiments the boom includes a cable and pulley arrangement wherein the net has two peripheral cables running along the net periphery and each boom 35 includes an end pulley configured to pull the cable and the net periphery.

The booms or housing additionally include a reel, wherein storage of the net and cables is facilitated and required space minimised for such storage. Said reel is typically comprised in the housing at base of the boom, and is configured for the net and/or cable.

In preferred embodiments the netting is comprised of two nets, an inner and outer net which are fastered together along an edge between the booms, being parallel to the netting's end edge and orthogonal to the booms. In this way both nets are reeled out concurrently and the outer net has an end edge that falls under gravity as the inner net progresses up the booms.

In other embodiments the netting comprises a single net. In this way the net is pulled along the boom and may continue past the boom if the cables are longer. Advantageously this allows for free hanging overflow of the nets, which overflow remains attached by cable to the housing and is problematic to overcome from below, wherein the overflow cannot be displaced in any significant way.

In this way climbers are prevented from overcoming the nets.

Consequently he system deters pirates attacking a vessel as the height of the apparatus will be clearly visible to seaborne criminals. This allows them to assess the risk and difficulty of attacking the vessel and will deter from doing so.

This in turn prevents criminals effectively utilising ladders or grappling hooks to board 25 a vessel at sea.

Preferably the nets are formed of a slash-and tear-proof material, for example consisting of plastics and/or steel fibres at least in part. In addition at least some of the nets are configured to repel rocket propelled grenades.

In preferred embodiments anchors or tie or locking points may be provided for the nets, wherein the nets are capable of being tied or locked down and secured to minimise possibilities of boarders passing beneath the nets in use. These points may be utilised in collaboration with carabineers or other temporary fixing parts, and may be arranged along booms or parts of the ship.

In preferred embodiments the housings are mounted in use off-deck so as to minimise obstruction such as railings, however in some embodiments the housing may be deck mounted and/or moveable in position or elevation.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a housing container containing a net and booms for deployment of said net substantially as described precedent.

Inner anti-personnel nets may be used as a crew safety feature in heavy seas. By hoisting the nets if a crew member gets washed over the ships rails deployed nets will catch and prevent the crew member from being washed totally overboard.

In preferred embodiments the system consists of modular units which are intended to be fitted to the hull where protection against boarding is required. Installation is quick as each module can be pre-assembled, minimising installation complications.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a side view of a ship with a first embodiment of the system deployed; Figure 2 shows a front view of the embodiment as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a detail view of a boom end from the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a side view of the freeboard stowage, the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figures 4a and 4b show a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 and front view respectively; Figures 5 show views of freeboard net locking points for the first embodiment; Figure 6 shows sketches of an alternate embodiment of a boom anchor. Figures 6 show views of second embodiments of locking points for nets; Figures 7 show views of second embodiments of deployed netting; Figures 8 show views of second embodiments of boom anchors; Figure 9 shows an isometric exploded view of a second embodiment of the boom and anchor; Figures 10 show views of the second embodiment of two interconnected anchors and booms; Figure 11 shows a side view of an extended boom and netting according to the second embodiment; Figure 12 shows an isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 11; And Figure 13 shows an exploded isometric view of the embodiment shown in Figure 12. 20 Detailed Description of Figures The pictured embodiments of the system comprise a duel net system to be deployed when transiting waters with a pirate problem. This allows the captain of the vessel to proceed through the area at normal rate of knots and preserve fuel economy. On 25 sighting a pirate skiff the vessel can move to full speed.

Figure 1 illustrates the first embodiment of the system (booms and nets) in use on a variable height freeboard vessel and shows the booms 1 along the deck and the outer anti RPG nets 2 and inner attached anti personnel nets 3. The figure also 30 shows the net housing 4 and the net locking points 5.

In both embodiments the netting comprises anti-personnel/ climbing net which includes a fine mesh which, when hung loosely, creates a surface that is very difficult to climb whilst providing some visibility for the crew on watch. The difficulty of climbing the ne-. will limit boarders' ability to use a weapon, whilst increasing the time it takes to get on board. This provides the crew with time to repel the boarders.

The automated system is intended to be operated from the bridge or locally from a control unit and uses actuators to deploy the system. Smaller vessels that are unable to power or do not require full automation can operate a simpler, manual system.

Integrated cranks can be included that are mounted to the freeboard which will operate the system in the same way.

The compromise for a manual system is that to ensure weight and loading is not an issue each module would need to be smaller.

The system has been designed using standard maritime materials such as stainless steel 316L and anodised aluminium sections to ensure that the system is reliable when needed the most.

The inner nets are attached to each other by metal carabineers by deck hand as the nets are hoisted to ensure the continuity of the deck being enclosed by the inner nets.

Further bridging sections could be incorporated to close any gaps around bends to 20 provide complete protection whilst maximising commonality.

The retractable outer net is configured to act as an anti-rocket propelled grenade (RPG) net, deployed first when preparing to transit dangerous waters. Its purpose is to impede the effectiveness of the use of RPGs.

The outer net is attached to the deployment boom by way of carabineers and hoisted. It is stowed on the top of the inner net and spool housing and is deployed from this stowage trough.

A cable maintains the outer net incapable of displacement, as it overflows the boom ends.

The outer nets may have weights attached to the lower edge to ensure they hang efficiently and reduce the prospect of them blowing out of position in windy 35 conditions.

The retractable inner nets are anti-personnel nets, deployed from a spool enclosed in a cylindrical housing with an outer face greased to deny grip to boarders. The spool is powered to assist in drawing the net into the housing which housing is mounted toward the top of the freeboard.

There is an aperture running the length of the housing, from or through which aperture the net is deployed.

The aperture has a lubricated roller at entrance, to prevent use on the aperture as a 10 handhold and assist in smooth deployment of the net.

The inner net spool housing 100 is pictured in Figures 4 with anti RPG stowage net trough 12 and inner net deployment aperture 13 and lubricated roller 14 at the mouth of the aperture 13.

The booms from which the nets are hoisted aloft are stowed along the deck when not required and to deploy the booms deckhands lift the boom off the deck, rotate the boom into position using the articulated anchor and lock in place.

Its housing holds the boom at a prefabricated angle (80 Degrees), and locks the boom in said position.

On deployment the nets are attached and hoisted up the boom using conventional sail hoist mechanisms. The outer net is typically hoisted first to enable the outer net 25 to hang free from the inner net and so protect the boom. Once this outer net has been hoisted the inner net can be attached to the hoisting mechanism and deployed.

At points where the freeboard height changes then the inner anti-personnel nets are attached to the freeboard and locked in place by the use of carabineers locking in to the net locking point. Deck hands attach the inner net to the freeboard by attaching the nets mesh to the attachment by the use of secure carabineers. This joins the inner net to the side of the vessel.

The articulated anchor 20 forms an adjustable base for the boom. In Figures 2 and 3 35 the boom is deployed with the boom deployment locking pins 6 holding the boom in place and the articulated anchor's locking pin 7 locking the housing in either the deployed position or the stowed position when not being used. The articulation comprises a rotation plate and bearing 8 to allow the anchor and boom base to rotate smoothly from deployed position to stowed position and pivots about the pivot pin 9 which allows the boom to move from the horizontal to the vertical.

A tapered edge to the boom allows the boom to move from vertical to horizontal through the track 11. This allows the pivot pin to move along the housing in order to provide the end of the boom the room to move from the horizontal to the vertical.

Each netting section (inner and outer nets) can be up to 10 metres in length providing 5m of extended protection over the side of the hull. This provides both a clear visual deterrent and a very difficult entry path.

Figures 5 depicts the plan, front and side elevations of the freeboard net locking 15 points 15 mounted on a plate 151 and a carabineer 152 which will allow a net to be threaded through the carabineer and attached to the locking point.

Figure 6 shows sketches of an alternate embodiment of a boom anchor.

The second embodiment as pictured in Figures 7 to 13 features a housing 100 housing two peripheral booms 1 with anchors 20 and central spool 21, spooling continuous netting forming inner and outer nets respectively.

When activated the control unit operates the linear actuator. This drives the helical gear rotating the boom around a 90 degree rotation along the path made by the cam block. One deployed the net deployment motor drives a pulley (not shown) extending the net along the boom into the deployed position. Stowage is the reverse except the reel motor drives the storage of the net before the actuator rotates the boom into a stowed position.

Once activated, a rack and pinion linear actuator rotates the booms in each housing through 90° into the deployed position with a 40° inclination. A secondary motor raises both nets along the boom simultaneously ready for operation.

Stowage of the system is the reverse of deployment, where a motor built into the stowage reel retracts the nets before the booms fold away.

With reference to Figure 8 therefore there is shown: Net Deployment Motor 99 Reel Deployment Belt 90 Reel Bearing Housing 213 Rack and Pinion Linear Actuator 98 Helical Gear 96 Bearing Housing 213 Mechanism Housing 94 Cam Block 91 Boom Rotation Mount 92 Boom 1 Shoulder Bolt 921 Control Unit 97 Cable Glands 161 With reference to Figure 9 there is shown: Net Deployment Motor Housing 95 Boom 1 Control Unit 97 Rack and Pinion Linear Actuator 98 Net Deployment Motor 99 Mechanism Housing 94 Mechanism Housing Support 93 Cam Block 91 Boom Rotation Mount 92 Boom Rotation Bearing 8 Helical Gear 96 Reel Deployment Belt 90 Reel Motor 211 Reel Bearing 212 Reel Motor Housing 213 The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention. Firstly it will be understood that any features described in relation to any particular embodiment may be featured in combinations with other embodiments.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation obvious and clear on the basis of either common general knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as set out in the accompanying claims.

Claims (17)

1. Claims 1. An anti-piracy system for a waterbome vessel comprising netting arranged to a plurality of sides of the vessel, wherein said netting in use extend from the sides of the vessel on booms, and wherein the booms are provided with a means of extending horizontally and vertically from the vessel.
2. 2. An anti-piracy system according to claim 1 wherein the booms are extendable from the vessel independently from the netting, wherein the netting extends along the booms in use.
3. 3. An anti-piracy system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the system is deployed in a two-step process wherein firstly the booms extend from a storage housing in use and secondly the netting is extended along the extended booms.
4. 4. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the booms include a cable and pulley arrangement for netting.
5. 5. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim including a reel, wherein storage of netting and cables is facilitated.
6. 6. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the booms are electrically driven.
7. 7. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the netting is manually deployed.
8. 8. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the system comprises a continuous spooling reel in use, enclosed in housings or other protection.
9. 9. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the netting comprises double layers, wherein a first or outer net comprises anti-rocket propelled grenade netting and the second or inner net comprises anti-personnel netting.
10. 10. An anti-piracy system according claim 9 wherein lower portions of the inner net contain a material configured to conduct so as to allow a low voltage high amp charge to be fed through.
11. 11. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the nets and booms are comprised in mechanisms arranged in a plurality of separate housings, wherein the mechanisms are independently controlled and/or driven.
12. 12. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the booms are articulated to facilitate storage and extension from at least one housing.
13. 13. An anti-piracy system according to claim 12 wherein the booms have bases that are hinged to the housing.
14. 14. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the booms are telescopic at least in part.
15. 15. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein netting is comprised of two nets, an inner and outer net which are fastened together along an edge between the booms.
16. 16. An anti-piracy system the netting comprises a single net.
17. 17. An anti-piracy system according to any preceding claim wherein the system is arranged on the vessel's freeboard.