Maritime Vessel Stabilizer

Abstract

A stabilization system for a maritime vessel including a stabilizer module. The stabilizer module includes a stabilizer housing and an extendable body. An extension feature couples the extendable body with the stabilizer housing. The extension feature is configured to allow movement of the extendable body between a first position adjacent to the stabilizer housing and a second position separated from the stabilizer housing below the maritime vessel. An actuator is provided for moving the extendable body between the first position and the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stabilization system for a maritime vessel comprising:
 a stabilizer module including:
 a stabilizer housing; 
 an extendable body; 
 an extension feature coupling the extendable body with the stabilizer housing, the extension feature configured to allow movement of the extendable body between a first position adjacent the stabilizer housing and a second position separated from the stabilizer housing below the maritime vessel; and 
 an actuator for moving the extendable body between the first position and the second position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The stabilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein the maritime vessel comprises one of more of:
 a sea truck;   a barge; and   a maritime platform.   
     
     
         3 . The stabilization system according to  claim 2 , wherein the sea truck comprises:
 a bow module;   a payload module; and   a propulsion module;   wherein one or more of the bow module, payload module, and pro-pulsion module includes a plurality ISO standard intermodal container three-face twistlock connector features for coupling with at least another of the bow module, the payload module, and the propulsion module.   
     
     
         4 . The stabilization system according to  claim 3 , wherein the stabilization module is one or more of integrated with and coupled to one or more of the bow module, the payload module, and the propulsion module. 
     
     
         5 . The stabilization system according to  claim 3 , wherein the payload module comprises one or more of:
 an ISO standard intermodal container; and   a support frame having ISO standard intermodal container dimensions.   
     
     
         6 . The stabilization system according to  claim 3 , wherein the sea truck comprises:
 a first sea truck ensemble comprising a first bow module coupled with a first propulsion module;   a second sea truck ensemble comprising a second bow module couple with a second propulsion module; and   a central payload module coupled between the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble, the central payload module being rotatable between a transit position generally parallel with the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble, and an active position angled relative to the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble;   wherein the stabilization module is one of couple to and integrated with one or more of the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble.   
     
     
         7 . The stabilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein the extension feature is configured to transmit one or more of rotational and translational forces between the extendable body and the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The stabilization system according to  claim 7 , wherein the extension feature includes one or more of:
 a scissor extension arrangement; and   a telescoping arrangement.   
     
     
         9 . The stabilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein the extendable body includes one or more thrusters configured to provide dynamic stabilization of the maritime vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The stabilization system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an extendible baffle configured to extend between at least a portion of the extendable body and at least a portion of the stabilizer housing when the extendable body is in the second position.   
     
     
         11 . The stabilization system according to  claim 10 , wherein the extendible baffle at least partially surrounds the extension feature to define a captured mass of water between the stabilizer housing and the extendable body in the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The stabilization system according to  claim 10 , wherein the extendible baffle has a cruciform configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The stabilization system according to  claim 10 , wherein the extendible baffle has a lattice configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The stabilization system according to  claim 10 , wherein the extendible baffle includes one or more bypass flaps for controlling movement of water through the extendible baffle in at least one direction. 
     
     
         15 . The stabilization system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a gyroscopic stabilizer.   
     
     
         16 . The stabilization system according to  claim 1 , wherein the extendable body includes one or more power sources, and wherein the one or more power sources are coupled for transmitting power to the maritime vessel. 
     
     
         17 . A stabilization system comprising:
 a sea truck comprising:
 a bow module; 
 a payload module having an ISO standard intermodal container form factor; and 
 a propulsion module, wherein the bow module is coupled to a first end of the payload module and the propulsion module is coupled to a second end of the payload module; 
   a stabilizer module including:
 a stabilizer housing; 
 an extendable body; 
 an extension feature coupling the extendable body with the stabilizer housing, the extension feature configured to allow movement of the extendable body between a first position adjacent the stabilizer housing and a second position separated from the stabilizer housing below the maritime vessel; and 
 an actuator for moving the extendable body between the first position and the second position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The stabilization system according to  claim 17 , wherein the stabilizer module is one or more of:
 coupled to the sea truck; and   integrated with the payload module.   
     
     
         19 . The stabilization system according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 one or more thrusters associated with the extendable body and configured to provide dynamic stabilization of the sea truck; and   an extendable baffle disposed between at least a portion of the stabilizer housing and the extendable body in the second position.   
     
     
         20 . A stabilization system comprising:
 a first sea truck ensemble including at least a first bow module and a first propulsion module;   a second sea truck ensemble including at least a second bow module and a second propulsion module;   a payload module coupled between the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble, the payload module being rotatable between a transit position generally parallel with the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble and an active position angled relative to the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble; and   a stabilizer module coupled to at least one of the first sea truck ensemble and the second sea truck ensemble, the stabilizer module including:
 a stabilizer housing; 
 an extendable body; 
 an extension feature coupling the extendable body with the stabilizer housing, the extension feature configured to allow movement of the extendable body between a first position adjacent the stabilizer housing and a second position separated from the stabilizer housing below the maritime vessel; and 
 an actuator for moving the extendable body between the first position and the second position.