WO2011021079A1

WO2011021079A1 - Anti-pirates method and apparatus for a ship

Info

Publication number: WO2011021079A1
Application number: PCT/IB2010/001712
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adriano Vignudelli
Original assignee: Technological Service S.R.L.
Priority date: 2009-07-11
Filing date: 2010-07-12
Publication date: 2011-02-24
Also published as: ITPI20090085A1; IT1398665B1

Abstract

An anti-pirates apparatus arranged on a ship (100) comprises at least one detection device (10), in particular an optical device comprising at least one thermal video camera that is adapted to detect suspicious watercrafts, unidentified, while approaching the ship (100). On the basis of the detection, the device (10) generates, through a control unit (20), an alarm signal that indicates, after a computing step, an approaching direction of the watercrafts towards the ship (100). The anti-pirates apparatus comprises, furthermore, a launch device (30) that, in the presence of the alarm signal, launches a floating blocking material (50) contained in a projectile (40) as a skein made of strings or ribbons that unwinds during the launch, in order to provide a barrier (51) that extends according to a predetermined length and angular amplitude. In particular, the barrier (51) blocks approaching of unidentified watercrafts (150). In an advantageous way, the skein (50) is made of biodegradable polymeric material that is invisible in water and does not cause a pollution of sea water since after a predetermined period it dissolves naturally.

Description

TITLE

ANTI-PIRATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SHIP

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Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a sea anti-pirates method for merchant ships, cruise ships, oil tankers or normally for watercrafts of large size.

In addition, the invention relates to an apparatus that is adapted to carry out this method.

Description of the prior art

As well known, the sea piracy is already a problem that involves fishing boats, oil tankers, merchant ships as well as cruise ships.

Normally, pirates attack the ships travelling along a route in sea areas far from the coasts.

In particular, the pirates appear with fast watercrafts, commonly rubber boats, which are carried by fishing boats that act as support boat, and can board the ship while it travels along its route. The target ship is commonly selected by the pirates according to its maximum speed and to its si∑e, which would hamper it in case of an attack, and that would prevent it from escaping since slow and complicated manoeuvres would be necessary that would be easily anticipated by the fast rubber boats used by the pirates. So, the pirates can arrive under the ship and boar by climbing it.

A common practice provides that two boats of pirates arrive at a distance of about one kilometre from each other holding two ends of a cable, so that the attacked ship travels between the watercrafts and hooks the cable by the protrusions under the ship, i.e. the "projections" in front of the prow under the deck. The result is that the attacked ship drags the two watercrafts. At this point, the pirates have only to recover the cable arriving near the stern of the ship, and can attack it by launching hooks and rope ladders. In particular, the ship is attacked on two opposite sides, and the two opposite watercrafts are dragged by the ship and kept alongside the ship by the cable during the attack. This way, the watercrafts are always in contact with the ship during the attack and the attacking watercrafts are then freed only at the end of the attack.

Against sea piracy during the last years different international control organizations have developed that use military ships that convoy and watch the most crowded navigation routes. However, this solution is insufficient to ensure that all the ships are protected in case of attack or attempt of boarding an that an appropriate safety is achieved.

A further drawback is that small and fast watercrafts are more difficult to "sight" by nautical radar that then are not much useful to this end. Furthermore, the pirates can attack easily most of the ships because they do not have any kind of defence systems on board.

In WO2004075132A2 a dazzling system has been developed that produces a plurality of pulsed flashes in a direction of the watercraft to repel. In addition to the light flashes a net is launched to block the attack of the pirates as a normal fishing net and dragged, in order to float by hydrodynamic lifting elements. The net extends broadly in order to entangle the propeller of the attacking watercraft and avoiding the boarding. This solution is however not much effective since for such watercrafts it is easy to see the net launched for blocking them and then to arrive easily close to the ship for attacking it.

In WO0160S89, instead, a launch is provided of a net by a rocket, in order to trap an escaping watercraft.

A further possibility is disclosed in JP7274157, which provides detecting a pirate watercraft, and launching towards this watercraft strong jets of water.

The need is felt of developing a method and an apparatus capable of detecting in good time the small watercrafts of the pirates in order to operate anti- pirates devices that make it possible for the ship to carry out an escaping manoeuvre for moving away and avoiding a possible boarding.

Summary of the invention

It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide an anti-pirates apparatus for sighting in good time suspicious and unidentified watercrafts while approaching a ship in order to carry out appropriate defensive measures

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an anti-pirates apparatus, which makes it possible to block unidentified watercrafts of small size while approaching the ship.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an anti-pirates apparatus that is structurally easy and cheap to apply such that it can be arranged on a ship as passive defence device.

It is finally a feature of the present invention to provide a anti-pirates method that accomplishes the same objects.

These and other objects are achieved through an anti-pirates apparatus for a ship comprising:

- at least one detection device comprising: - a means for determining suspicious and unidentified watercrafts while approaching said ship, covering a sea area within a predetermined radius of action,

- a means for generating an alarm signal in case of presence of said unidentified watercrafts in said area, said signal indicating an approaching direction and a distance of said unidentified watercrafts with respect to said ship;

- a supply of a blocking material;

- at least one launch device that, in the presence of said alarm signal, is adapted to launch in said sea area said floating blocking material developed from said supply to provide a barrier of predetermined amplitude, wherein said blocking material is a floating material that is accumulated in said supply in order to develop, during a launch step by said launching device, according to a long linear extension and a minimum transversal extension, so that said floating blocking material forms a linear floating barrier with a maximum length in a launch direction, said floating blocking material adapted to block motors of said watercrafts while approaching said ship when crossing said barrier.

This way, it is possible to launch at least one supply of floating blocking material in order to form a barrier that covers a wide sea area and to repeat the launch in different directions. This way, the ship once realized of the presence such watercrafts can start an escape manoeuvre and at the same time develop a defence barrier that prevents the approach of the attacking watercrafts. In fact, such watercrafts, in normal conditions, are not adapted to reach far offshore sea areas and then are, in most cases, unidentified watercrafts, transported by support ships far from the coast in order to attack the ships in transit.

Advantageously, said supply of said floating blocking material is a skein of wound strings or cords or ribbons of said floating blocking material and is adapted to be unwound in order to form said barrier.

In particular, a program means is provided that is adapted to detect a launch direction of said floating blocking material on the basis of said approaching direction and to cause said launch device to launch the material in said launch direction. This way, the ship before, contemporaneously or after defining the launch direction, can veer suddenly, obliging the attacking watercrafts to change their own approaching direction so that they meet the barrier in a direction substantially transversal to their route. In other words, once detected the presence of unidentified watercrafts through the means for detecting, the ship veers suddenly obliging such watercrafts to follow it. During or after veering the blocking material is dispersed in the sea aligned to the approaching direction of the watercrafts. Therefore, the latter meet the barrier on their route and remain entangled with it.

Advantageously, said detection device is an optical device, which is associated with said program means, said optical device capable of mapping, remotely, a wide area of sea around the ship, in particular said optical device is a thermal video camera that is adapted to detect a temperature difference generated by said unidentified watercrafts, for example by the thermal wake of the exhaust of the motors of the watercrafts or of the hot parts of the watercrafts same, thus determining said approaching direction. Alternatively, said detection device is a satellite positioning device associated with said program means capable of determining said approaching direction.

Advantageously, said thermal video camera is capable of measuring a temperature difference set between 0.5⁰C and 10^βC, preferably between 1"C and 5°C, in particular between 2⁰C and 4⁰C.

Preferably, a plurality of thermal video cameras is provided suitably arranged on said ship in order to monitor the whole area of sea 360° around the ship. This way, it is possible to sight at a distance the watercrafts of small dimension.

In particular, said launch device comprises:

- a firing device that is adapted to provide a launch energy to a projectile that contains said blocking material;

- a launch barrel for a direct or indirect launch of said blocking material;

- a means for operating said firing device;

— an aiming device associated with said launch barrel.

Preferably, said launch device is a fixed base that comprises, furthermore, a handling mechanism for orienting said launch barrel towards said launch direction.

Alternatively, said launch device is a portable movable device capable of being grasped by an operator and directed towards the launch direction.

In particular, said launch device allows launch said projectile at a distance set between 50 and 700 m, preferably between 100 and 600 m, in particular between 200 and 500m.

In particular, said firing device is a pneumatic cylinder-piston device, said piston movably mounted tightly in said cylinder in order to define a firing chamber connected to said launch barrel, and a charging chamber opposite to said firing chamber, said charging chamber adapted to compress through said piston a firing fluid in order to obtain a predetermined pressure in said firing chamber. This way, when triggering the firing device the compressed fluid present in the firing chamber abruptly enters the. launch barrel where the projectile is present which is launched to a long distance.

Preferably, said firing chamber comprises a feeding mouth for said firing fluid, in particular compressed air. This way, through the feeding mouth it is possible to put compressed air into the firing chamber.

Advantageously, said piston is compressed towards said firing chamber through a fluid, in particular oil, injected at a pressure into said charging chamber. This way, it is possible to compress further the firing fluid obtaining a predetermined pressure.

Advantageously, an adjustment means is provided for adjusting the pressure in said firing chamber in order to set the launch of said projectile. This way, through the pressure adjustment means it is possible to adjust the range of the projectile.

Alternatively, said firing device is a detonation device capable of triggering a firing charge that is adapted to launch said projectile through said launch barrel.

Advantageously, said projectile launched by said launch barrel comprises:

— a tail section of a floating material with a predetermined mass,

- a centre section that contains a skein of said blocking material as wound strings or ribbons and that is adapted to be unwound in order to form said barrier of floating blocking material for a predetermined length;

- a head section of a floating material having a predetermined mass with a predetermined inertia for directing and dragging the centre section along said launch direction, and at the same time fro unwinding said skein of said centre section in order to form said barrier of floating blocking material for a predetermined length.

Advantageously, said projectile is a detonation projectile and comprises in said tail section a detonation chamber where gunpowder is present. This way, the projectile is launched by the propulsion of the gunpowder.

Alternatively, said projectile is a pneumatic projectile that comprises a tail section capable of creating a substantial tight with said launch barrel in order to exploit the propulsion of said firing fluid.

In particular, said projectile comprises an outer shell of biodegradable material and a core also of biodegradable material, in particular said core has a specific weight higher than water so that it works as ballast and lets the string and/or ribbon to sink once said outer shell is dissolved. The core, as above said, allows also to unwind and direct the skein during the launch. This way, once the outer shell is dissolved, after a few hours, the core causes the string or ribbon to sink such that it dissolves without hampering other watercrafts that cross the same sea area. This solution is completely environmentally sustainable and does not cause any type of pollution.

In particular, said skein of blocking material expands linearly along said launch direction generating a floating barrier that covers a rectilinear portion along said launch direction. More precisely, the skein covers a portion of the trajectory when flying until it is completely developed as string or ribbon, along the same launch direction, In particular, the tail section of the projectile allows the string or the ribbon to develop completely for the whole length. This is obtained since the tail section floating with a predetermined mass brakes the movement same of the head section that draws the skein allowing a full distension on a rectilinear extension equal to the length of the string or ribbon same.

Alternatively, said skein of blocking material expands linearly according to a direction transversal to said launch direction generating a floating barrier that. covers an arch of circumference substantially transversal to said launch direction.

In a further alternative, said skein is composed through a plurality of strings or ribbons that expand linearly according to a plurality of directions rotationally spaced with respect to said launch direction. This way, by changing the orientation of the launch barrel and launching a plurality of skeins forms a network of floating strings or ribbons substantially fan-like that act superficially on the surface of the sea, and that is adapted to block the propellers of the watercrafts and the motor while approaching the ship. More precisely, such a barrier made of strings or ribbons of predetermined size is adapted to block propellers of small size that act at a shallow depth with respect to the surface. Vice-versa, the barrier does not damage propellers of ships of medium and large size that can travel on the same route.

Advantageously, said skein is made of a biodegradable or hydrosoluble material. In particular, said biodegradable material is a natural material made of natural starches for example of corn, which is invisible in water. This way, the barrier is not easily detectable obtaining a "surprising" effect to the watercrafts, the barrier furthermore, does not cause a pollution of sea water since after a period of a few hours it dissolves naturally.

In particular, said string or ribbon that makes up the skein have a length set between 50 and 200 m and, in case of the ribbon, a width set between 2 and 30cm.

According to another aspect of the invention an anti-pirates method for ships comprises the steps of:

- detecting suspicious and unidentified watercrafts while approaching said ship, said detecting step covering a sea area within a predetermined radius of action,

- generating an alarm signal in case of presence of said unidentified watercrafts in said area, said signal indicating an approaching direction of said unidentified watercrafts;

- launching in said area, in the presence of said alarm signal, a floating blocking material;

wherein said blocking material is a floating material that is accumulated in a supply in order to develop, during said launch step according to a long linear extension and a minimum transversal extension, so that said floating blocking material forms a linear floating barrier with a maximum length in said launch direction, said floating blocking material adapted to block motors of said watercrafts while approaching said ship when crossing said barrier.

In particular, a step is provided of calculus of a launch direction on the basis of said approaching direction, such that the launch of said blocking material occurs in said launch direction.

Advantageously, before, contemporaneously or after said step of calculus of the launch direction the ship veers suddenly forcing said watercrafts to change the approaching direction so that said watercrafts meet the barrier substantially in a direction transversal to their route.

Advantageously, said detecting step is a step of optical detection, in particular a thermal mapping capable of mapping, remotely, a wide area of sea around the ship by displaying a temperature difference generated for example by the thermal wake of the exhaust of the motors of the watercrafts or by the components of the watercrafts same, thus determining said approaching direction.

Advantageously, said step of making the barrier of blocking material is obtained by a launch step along a launch direction selected from the group comprised of:

- a direct direction along said launch direction; - a direction transversal to said launch direction. In particular, in said launch step said skein, of blocking material, expands along said launch direction generating a floating barrier that covers a rectilinear portion along said launch direction. More precisely, the skein covers a portion of the trajectory flying and then is completely developed as string or ribbon, along the same launch direction.

Alternatively, in said launch step said skein, of blocking material, expands transversally along said launch direction generating a floating barrier that covers a curved arch or a line substantially transversal to said launch direction. In a further alternative, in said launch step said skein that comprises a plurality of strings or ribbons, expands according to a plurality of directions rotationally spaced with respect to said launch direction to make a fan-like covering.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be now shown by the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings, hereinafter briefly described, in which:

- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a ship during an attack attempting to board the ship by two motor watercrafts;

- figure 2 shows a thermal video camera that represents the watercraft detecting device connected to an computing unit capable of determining the approaching direction of such watercrafts and to calculate the subsequent launch direction of the blocking material; - figure 3 shows a perspective view of a launch device in the exemplary embodiment fixed arranged, as shown for example in Fig. 2, on more fronts of the ship;

- figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of a projectile launched by the device of Fig. 3 containing a skein of blocking material;

- figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of the pneumatic launch device;

- figure.5A shows a cross sectional view of a further exemplary embodiment of the projectile launched by the pneumatic launch device of Fig. 5;

- figure 6 shows a top plan view of a ship equipped with the anti-pirates apparatus, according to the invention, capable of detecting suspicious and unidentified watercrafts;

- figure 7 shows a top plan view of a run away step and a launch step of a blocking material towards the approaching direction of the unidentified watercrafts, following to the step of detecting of Fig. 6;

- figure 8 shows a top plan view where the unidentified watercrafts, following the ship, meet in a direction transversal to their own route, the barrier of blocking material that stops momentarily them allowing the ship to run away;

- figure 9 shows a top plan view where the direction of expansion of the blocking material is carried out in a direction substantially orthogonal with respect to the launch direction; this solution is particularly suitable for case where the watercraft come from the front of the ship;

- figure 10 shows a further solution alternative to that of Fig. 9, where the direction of expansion of the blocking material is multiple with respect to the launch direction;

- figures 11 and 12 show a perspective view of the effect of the barrier arranged to ^■ protect the ship that creates a "effect surprising" and makes it possible to block the propellers of the unidentified watercrafts, allowing the ship to run away.

Detailed description of some exemplary embodiments

In Fig. 1 a representation of a ship 100, which we call below "target ship", during an attack by two unidentified watercrafts 150. The latter, according to a typical boarding attack, are at a distance from each other, keeping the two ends of a cable 110. The target ship 100, in normal transit on its own route, cannot detect small watercrafts 150 with normal nautical radar systems, and passes between watercrafts 150 so that cable 110 hooks bulb 101 of ship 100, i.e. the "projection" in front of the prow, under the sea level, which is used to augment the hydrodynamic lift of the ship. The result is that ship 100 is attacked from two opposite sides by watercrafts 150, connected to the prow by cable 110 that is dragged by the movement same of ship 100 and pushed towards the hull, as indicated by arrows 120. This way, the watercrafts keep always in contact of ship 100 during the attack and are freed from the cable only after having concluded the attack;

Figure 2 diagrammatically shows an anti-pirates apparatus, according to the invention, which is arranged on ship 100, as shown for example in Fig. 6, having at least one detection device 10 that is adapted to detect suspicious watercrafts, unidentified, while approaching ship 100, covering a sea area within a predetermined radius of action. Upon the detection, the device 10 generates through a control unit 20, an alarm signal in case of presence of unidentified watercrafts 150 in the above described area; the signal indicates, after a computing step, an approaching direction of the watercrafts towards the ship. It should be noted that watercrafts of reduced size, in normal conditions, cannot reach sea areas too far from the coasts and then are, in most cases, unidentified watercrafts that are transported through at least one support ship in order to reach far sea areas where the ships in transit can be attacked. When the watercrafts are sighted they produce then the alarm signal is produced and the defence procedure, described below, starts.

Advantageously, detection device 10 is an optical device, in particular a thermal video camera connected to control unit 20, capable of mapping, remotely, a wide area of sea around ship 100 by displaying a temperature difference generated for example by the thermal wake of the exhaust of the motors of the watercrafts or by the hot components of the watercrafts same, thus determining said approaching direction. In fact, in operative conditions the thermal video camera is capable of measuring a temperature difference set between 0.5^βC and 10⁰C, preferably between 1°C and 5^βC, in particular between 2°C and 4⁰C. Alternatively, detection device 10 can be a satellite positioning device, connected always to control unit 20, capable of determining the approaching direction of the watercrafts.

As shown in Fig. 6 and following figures, on ship 100 a plurality of thermal video camera 10 can be provided suitably arranged in order to monitor the whole area of sea 360° around the ship. This way, it is possible to sight at a distance the watercrafts of small dimension.

The anti-pirates apparatus comprises, furthermore, at least one launch device 30 that, in the presence of the alarm signal, launches a floating blocking material 50 from a supply, in particular contained in a projectile 40, visible in Fig. 4, in order to provide a barrier 51 of predetermined amplitude, visible in Fig. 6.

In particular, the blocking material is a floating material that is accumulated in the supply in order to develop, during the launch step, according to a long linear extension and a minimum transversal extension, in order to form a linear floating barrier with a maximum length in said launch direction. More precisely, the floating blocking material is adapted to block the motors of the watercrafts while approaching the ship with the movement of barrier 51. This way, it is possible to launch at least one supply of floating blocking material in order to form a barrier that covers a wide sea area in different directions. This way, once defined such watercrafts the ship can start a run away manoeuvre and at the same time develop a defence barrier that prevents the approach of the attacking watercrafts. In fact, such watercrafts, in normal conditions, cannot reach sea areas too far from the coasts and then are, in most cases, unidentified watercrafts, transported through at least one support ship in order to attack the ships in transit.

In particular, as shown always in Fig. 2, control unit 20, which determines and maps the approaching direction, is connected to a further drive unit 25 that sends an actuating signal to each launch device 30 in order to arrange barrier 51 on the approaching direction of the watercrafts. This way, barrier 51 blocks the approaching action of unidentified watercrafts 150 towards ship 100, such that the latter can run away from watercrafts 150 that remain blocked by barrier 51, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

In particular, as shown in Fig. 3, each launch device 30 comprises a firing device 31a, which can be a pneumatic or a detonation device, as described below, adapted to provide energy to projectile 40 that contains the blocking material, and means 31b for operating firing device 31a. Furthermore, launch device 30 provides a launch barrel 31, for a direct or indirect launch of blocking material 50 contained in projectile 40, and an aiming device 32, associated with launch barrel 31 and, in case it is a fixed device like that shown in Fig. 3, a handling mechanism 33 for orienting launch barrel 31 towards the launch direction, allowing the rotation about a vertical axis 34 and the translation along said axis. In this case, launch fixed device 30 is located in appropriate places on the ship, as shown in Fig. 6. Alternatively, launch device 30 can be a portable device (not shown) , that can be grasped by an operator and oriented towards the launch direction. The latter portable device can be used for example in case of watercrafts of average size that move in sea areas subject to sea piracy.

In a first exemplary embodiment, firing device 31a is a detonation device capable of launching a projectile 40 at a distance set between 50 and 700 m, preferably between 100 and 600 m, in particular between 200 and 500 m, In particular, as shown in Fig. 4, projectile 40 is a detonation projectile, which comprises a tail section 41 of a floating material with a predetermined mass, a centre section 42 that contains a skein of the blocking material 50, formed by wound strings or ribbons, and a head section 43 of a floating material having a predetermined mass with function of inertia for directing and driving the skein along the launch direction. Head section 43 carries out the function of unwinding the skein 50 so that it is drawn along a direction selected from the group comprised of: a direction along the launch direction 60 or a direction transversal to the launch direction, as described below. More precisely, in the tail section 41 a detonation chamber 41a is present which contains a gunpowder. This way, projectile 40 is launched by the propulsion of the gunpowder.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5 firing device 31a is a pneumatic cylinder-piston device; the piston 31a' is movably mounted tightly in the cylinder in order to define a firing chamber 133 connected to launch barrel 31, and a charging chamber 132 opposite to firing chamber 133. In particular, charging chamber 132 is adapted to compress through piston 31a' a firing fluid which is present in the firing chamber in order to bring it to a predetermined pressure. This way, by operating firing device 31a, through an operation means 31b, the compressed fluid present in firing chamber 133 enters launch barrel 31, where the projectile is present 40, which is launched to a long distance. More precisely, operation means 31b comprises a valve 31d that opens by a trigger 31c in order to cause the compressed fluid present in the firing chamber to push the tail of projectile 40 and to launch it with high kinetic energy.

In particular, firing chamber 133 comprises a feeding mouth 133a for firing fluid, in particular compressed air. This way, through feeding mouth 133a, it is possible to put compressed air into firing chamber 133. The piston 31a' is compressed towards firing chamber 133 through a fluid, in particular oil, injected at a pressure in the charging chamber 133 through a compressor or a pump 35, visible in Fig. 3. This way, it is possible to compress further the firing fluid arriving to a predetermined pressure. In addition, an adjustment means is provided 150 of the pressure in firing chamber 133 in order to set the launch of projectile 40. In particular, the adjustment means 150 act substantially on valve 31d that adjusts the firing pressure that determines the range of projectile 40' .

As shown in Fig. 5A, associated with the pneumatic firing device, a pneumatic projectile 40' is provided that comprises similarly a tail section 41', a centre section 42' and a head section 43' .

The particular shape of tail section 41' of projectile 40' form a tight connection with the inner surface of launch barrel 31 and makes it possible to exploit at best the air flow exiting from firing chamber 132.

More PrCCiSeIy_x projectile 40' provides an outer shell 44 of biodegradable material and a core 45 also of biodegradable material. In particular, core 45 has a specific weight higher than water so that it works as ballast and lets the string and/or ribbon to sink 50 once shell 44 is dissolved. Core 45 allows with the head section 43' of unwinding most effectively the skein 50 during the launch. This way, once outer shell AA is dissolved, after a few hours, core 45 causes the string or ribbon to sink such that it dissolves without hampering other watercrafts that cross the same sea area. This solution is completely environmentally sustainable and does not cause any type of pollution.

Concerning blocking material 50, as above described, in a possible exemplary embodiment, it is contained in projectile 40/40' launched by launch barrel 31.

Advantageously, skein 50 is made of biodegradable polymeric material that is invisible in water, in particular a natural material made of natural starches for example of corn. This way, the set of the unwound ribbons or strings are in a difficult way detectable obtaining a "surprising" effect to watercrafts 150. In addition, the material with which the skein is made does not cause a pollution of sea water since after a predetermined period it dissolves naturally.

In particular, each string or ribbon of skein 50 has a length set between 50 and 200 m and, in case of a ribbon, a width set between 2 and 30cm.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the succession of operative steps, according to the invention, provides a step of remotely detecting the suspicious and unidentified watercrafts 150 that are approaching the direction of navigation 130 of ship 100. The identification by thermal video camera 10 at a distance d, which can be quantified for example about 5 nautical miles, generates then an alarm signal through control unit 20, visible in Fig. 2, and then a subsequent launch of a plurality of projectiles 40 containing the floating blocking material 50, in order to provide barrier 51 of predetermined amplitude. In detail, for launching each projectile 40 a step is provided of identification of a launch direction, on the basis of the approaching direction detected by the thermal video camera 10, so that this launch is effected in said launch direction.

In particular, as shown in Fig. 7, ship 100 before, at the same time or after ^• step of detecting the launch direction, also responsive to the direction of manoeuvre of the ship, veers suddenly according to a direction 131 forcing watercrafts 150 to change its approaching direction 151. Then, a signal is sent to drive unit 25 which drives launch devices 30, which aims automatically each launch barrel 31, by handling mechanism 33, towards the launch direction adapted to create defence barrier 51.

In other words, once detected the presence of unidentified watercrafts 150 through means for detecting 10, the ship veers suddenly obliging the watercrafts to follow it- Responsive to the veering direction, the blocking material is dispersed in the sea 50 along the launch direction that is determined in order to cut transversally the route of watercrafts 150, as shown in Fig. 8.

In particular, as shown in Fig. 7 each skein 50 of blocking material, expands along the launch direction 70 generating a floating barrier that covers a rectilinear portion along the launch direction. More precisely, skein 50 covers a portion of the trajectory while flying, and then is completely developed as a string or ribbon, along the same launch direction.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 4, skein 50 of blocking material expands transversally along the launch direction generating a floating barrier that covers an arch of circumference or a portion substantially orthogonal to the launch direction 70. This solution is particularly suitable if watercrafts 150 come from a direction lateral with respect to the route 130 of ship 100.

In a further alternative, shown in Fig. 10, the skein composed by a plurality of strings or ribbons and expands according to a plurality of directions rotationally spaced with respect to the launch direction. In this case, each projectile 40 covers a portion of the trajectory while flying and then, always while flying, Is split in a multiple direction. As shown finally in Figs. 11 and 12, by changing the orientation of launch barrel 31 and respectively launching a plurality of skeins 50, a network is created of floating strings or ribbons 50 that act superficially on the surface of the sea on a very wide front line, which is adapted to block the propellers 155 of the motor watercrafts 150 while approaching the ship. More precisely, such a barrier 51 made of strings or ribbons of predetermined size is adapted to block the propellers of small size watercrafts that act at a shallow depth with respect to the surface. Vice-versa, the barrier does not damage propellers of ships of medium and large size that could travel on the same route.

The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, .so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Claims

1. An anti-pirates apparatus for a ship comprising:

- at least one detection device comprising:

- a means for detecting unidentified motor watercrafts while approaching said ship, covering a sea area within a predetermined radius of action,

- a means for generating an alarm signal in case of presence of said unidentified watercrafts in said area, said signal indicating an approaching direction of said unidentified watercrafts in said area;

- a supply of a blocking material;

- at least one launch device that, in the presence of said alarm signal, is adapted to launch in said sea area said blocking material developed from said supply to provide a barrier of predetermined amplitude,

characterised in that

said blocking material is a floating material that is accumulated in said supply in order to develop, during a launch step by said launching device, according to a long linear extension and a minimum transversal extension, so that said floating blocking material forms a linear floating barrier with a maximum length in said launch direction, said floating blocking material adapted to block motors of said watercrafts while approaching said ship when crossing said barrier.

2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said supply of said floating blocking material is a skein of wound strings or cords or ribbons of said floating blocking material that is adapted to be unwound in order to form said barrier, in particular said skein is made of polymeric biodegradable material, in particular a natural material made of natural starches for example of corn, which is invisible in water.

3. An apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein each of said strings or ribbons or cords that make up said skein has a length set between 50 and 200m and, in case of a ribbon, a width set between 2 and 30cm.

4. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein a program means is provided that is adapted to detect a launch direction of• said floating blocking material on the basis of said approaching direction and to cause said launch device to launch the material in said launch direction.

5. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said detection device is selected from the group comprised of:

— a optical device, said optical device associated with said program means, said optical device capable of mapping, remotely, a wide area of sea around the ship, in particular said optical device is a thermal video camera that is adapted to detect a temperature difference generated by said unidentified watercrafts, for example by the thermal wake of the exhaust of the motors of the watercrafts or of the hot parts of the watercrafts same, thus determining said approaching direction, in particular a plurality of thermal video cameras is provided suitably arranged on said ship in order to monitor the whole area of sea 360° around the ship;

- a satellite positioning device, associated with said program means capable of determining said approaching direction.

6.An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said launch device comprises: - a firing device that is adapted to provide a launch energy to a projectile that contains said blocking material;

- a means for operating said firing device;

- a launch barrel for a direct or indirect launch of said blocking material;

- an aiming device associated with said launch barrel,

7. An apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said firing device is a detonation device capable of triggering a firing charge that is adapted to launch said projectile through said launch barrel.

8. An apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said firing device is a pneumatic cylinder-piston device, said piston movably mounted tightly in said cylinder in order to define a firing chamber connected to said launch barrel, and a charging chamber opposite to said firing chamber, said charging chamber adapted to compress through said piston a firing fluid in order to obtain a predetermined pressure in said firing chamber.

9. An apparatus, according to claim 1 and 6, wherein said blocking material is contained in a projectile that is adapted to be launched by said launch barrel, said projectile comprising:

- a tail section of a floating material with a predetermined mass,

10. An apparatus, according to Claim 9, wherein said projectile comprises an outer shell of biodegradable material and a biodegradable core with a specific weight higher than water so that it can act as ballast and allow the string and/or ribbon to sink once said outer shell is dissolved.

11. An apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said projectile is a detonation projectile which comprises in said tail section a detonation chamber where gunpowder is present.

12. An apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said projectile is a pneumatic projectile that comprises a tail section capable of creating a substantial tight coupling with said launch barrel in order to exploit the propulsion of said firing fluid.

13. An apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said skein of blocking material is adapted to expand linearly along a direction selected from the group comprised of: a direction:

— along said launch direction generating a floating barrier that covers a rectilinear portion;

— transversal to said launch direction generating a floating barrier that covers a curved arch or a line substantially transversal to said launch direction; - a plurality of directions rotationally spaced with respect to said launch direction.

14. A projectile, adapted to be launched by an anti- pirates apparatus according to the previous claims and made according to claims from 10 to 13.

15. An anti-pirates method for ships comprising the steps of:

— launching in said area, in the presence of said alarm signal, a floating blocking material,

characterised in that

said blocking material is a floating material that is accumulated in a supply in order to develop, during said launch step according to a long linear extension and a minimum transversal extension, so that said floating blocking material forms a linear floating barrier with a maximum length in said launch direction, said floating blocking material adapted to block motors of said watercrafts while approaching said ship when crossing said barrier.