Marine Vessel Having Modular Mission Pods

Abstract

A marine vessel capable of being equipped and reequipped for use in marine support tasks is disclosed. The marine vessel comprises a hull having a fore bow, an aft stern, and port and starboard sides, and a wheelhouse disposed between the bow and stern and extending above the hull. A substantially flat platform extends between the wheelhouse and the stern and between the port and starboard sides. At least one modular mission pod is provided having a lower surface adapted to be releasably secured to the platform. The modular mission pod carries equipment suitable to equip the marine vessel to perform at least one marine support task.

Having thus described the aforementioned invention, what is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marine vessel capable of being equipped and reequipped for use in marine support tasks, said marine vessel comprising:
 a hull having a fore bow, an aft stern, and port and starboard sides;   a wheelhouse disposed between said bow and stern and extending above said hull;   a substantially flat platform extending between said wheelhouse and said stern and between said port and starboard sides; and   at least one modular mission pod having a lower surface adapted to be releasably secured to said platform, said modular mission pod carrying equipment suitable to equip said marine vessel to perform at least one marine support task.   
     
     
         2 . The marine vessel of  claim 1  further including a plurality of releasable fasteners configured to releasably fix said modular mission pod lower surface to said platform. 
     
     
         3 . The marine vessel of  claim 2 , each said releasable fastener defining a quick-release mechanism to allow for swift fastening and release of said modular mission pod to and from said platform. 
     
     
         4 . The marine vessel of  claim 3 , each said releasable fastener being in communication with a control disposed remote from said releasable fastener and configured to allow remote fastening and release of said modular mission pod to and from said platform. 
     
     
         5 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein an aft wall of said wheelhouse defines a door to provide access to an interior of said wheelhouse from said platform. 
     
     
         6 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said modular mission pod includes a cargo container. 
     
     
         7 . The marine vessel of  claim 6 , said cargo container being sized to span between said port and starboard sides of said hull and between said wheelhouse and said stern. 
     
     
         8 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , said modular mission pod comprising:
 a liquid storage tank configured to carry a measure of liquid, said liquid storage tank defining at least one orifice to allow access to and from an interior of said liquid storage tank; and   a cap received by said orifice for limiting flow to and from said liquid storage tank.   
     
     
         9 . The marine vessel of  claim 8 , said modular mission pod further comprising at least one fluid conduit to allow utilization of liquid from within said liquid storage tank by said marine vessel. 
     
     
         10 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , said modular mission pod further comprising a plurality of rails extending generally upwardly about a perimeter of said lower surface, said rails allowing cargo to be contained by said modular mission pod. 
     
     
         11 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , said modular mission pod being configured to equip said marine vessel for transportation, launch, or retrieval of a device selected from the group consisting of a boat, a submarine, an unmanned vehicle, a torpedo, and a missile. 
     
     
         12 . The marine vessel of  claim 11 , said modular mission pod comprising a frame configured to support said device and at least one conveyance apparatus configured to launch or retrieve said device to or from said marine vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The marine vessel of  claim 12 , said frame having an aft portion configured to extend aft of said stern when said modular mission pod is secured to said platform, said aft portion being configured to assist in launch or retrieval of the device. 
     
     
         14 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , said modular mission pod equipment comprising fire emergency response equipment. 
     
     
         15 . The marine vessel of  claim 14 , said fire emergency response equipment including a hose nozzle in fluid communication with a source of fire retardant and a pump configured to pump fire retardant from said fire retardant source through said nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , said modular mission pod defining a substantially enclosed room. 
     
     
         17 . The marine vessel of  claim 16 , said modular mission pod further defining a door along an aft wall of said wheelhouse, said door being openable to allow access to an interior of said substantially enclosed room from an interior of said wheelhouse. 
     
     
         18 . The marine vessel of  claim 16 , said modular mission pod equipment comprising medical emergency response equipment. 
     
     
         19 . The marine vessel of  claim 16 , said modular mission pod equipment including at least one weapon mounted externally of said room. 
     
     
         20 . The marine vessel of  claim 1  further comprising a launch ramp hinged along an aft portion of said modular mission pod and rotatable between a stored position in which an opposite second end of said ramp extends generally upward from said stern and a deployed position in which said ramp second end extends below said platform aft of said stern. 
     
     
         21 . The marine vessel of  claim 20 , said launch ramp further including a flotation buoy secured to said ramp second end. 
     
     
         22 . The marine vessel of  claim 1 , said modular mission pod equipment comprising at least one chemical containment boom. 
     
     
         23 . The marine vessel of  claim 22 , said modular mission pod defining an aft feed portal configured to dispense said chemical containment boom from an aft portion of said modular mission pod to allow placement of said chemical containment boom on a surface aft of said marine vessel. 
     
     
         24 . The marine vessel of  claim 1  further including at least one electrical connection between said modular mission pod and said platform, said electrical connection configured to convey power to said equipment.