Obstruction for use with security bulwarks, perimeter protection system and method of protecting a perimeter

Abstract

An obstruction positioning in a recess between an adjacent pair of security bulwarks mounted outside a perimeter railing of a vessel or marine installation is provided. The obstruction comprises a rear end for positioning towards the perimeter railing, a front end for positioning away from the perimeter railing, and a top side, an underside and a pair of opposing lateral cheeks separating the front end from the rear end. The obstruction comprises a connection facility for connecting the obstruction to at least one of the perimeter railing and the adjacent pair of security bulwarks. The top side slopes downwardly from the rear end towards the front end during use of the obstruction between an adjacent pair of security bulwarks, so that a hand of an unauthorized potential boarder placed on the top side of the obstruction will tend to slide off it in a seaward direction.

1 . An obstruction for positioning in a recess between an adjacent pair of security bulwarks mounted outside a perimeter railing of a vessel or marine installation, wherein the perimeter railing comprises a handrail, the obstruction comprising:
 a rear end for positioning towards the perimeter railing;   a front end for positioning away from the perimeter railing;   a top side;   an underside;   a pair of side faces each for abutting a corresponding side face of a respective one of the adjacent pair of security bulwarks;   a pair of opposing lateral cheeks separating the front end from a respective one of the pair of side faces;   a connection facility for connecting the obstruction to at least one of the perimeter railing and the adjacent pair of security bulwarks; and   a shoulder facing the rear end, located between one of the opposing lateral cheeks ( 85   a,    85   b ) and the respective one of the side faces, for abutting a feature of a respective one of the adjacent pair of security bulwarks;   wherein the top side slopes downwardly from the rear end towards the front end during use of the obstruction between an adjacent pair of security bulwarks;   the breadth of the obstruction being substantially less than the depth of the obstruction from the front end to the rear end.   
     
     
         2 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , wherein the side face is substantially parallel to a sagittal plane of the obstruction. 
     
     
         3 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , wherein the side face subtends an angle (α) substantially equal to 22.5 degrees to a sagittal plane of the obstruction. 
     
     
         4 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection facility is located on the side faces. 
     
     
         5 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , wherein the connection facility comprises a through-hole for receiving a rod, located in a corner between the rear end and the top side. 
     
     
         6 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear end comprises a bay to accommodate the handrail of the perimeter railing. 
     
     
         7 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , wherein the lateral cheeks are both substantially flat. 
     
     
         8 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , wherein the separation between the pair of opposing lateral cheeks tapers from the rear end towards the front end. 
     
     
         9 . An obstruction according to  claim 1 , comprising a rounded corner between the top side and the front end and between the front end and the underside. 
     
     
         10 . A perimeter protection system comprising:
 a plurality of security bulwarks arranged side-by-side and adjacent to each other along a perimeter railing of a vessel or marine installation; and   an obstruction according to any one of the preceding claims positioned in a recess between an adjacent pair of the plurality of security bulwarks.   
     
     
         11 . A perimeter protection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of security bulwarks comprises a security bulwark having a side face, which security bulwark is located along a substantially straight run of the perimeter railing, and wherein the obstruction is positioned with its side face abutting the side face of the security bulwark located along the substantially straight run of the perimeter railing. 
     
     
         12 . A perimeter protection system according to  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of security bulwarks comprises a security bulwark having a side face, which security bulwark is located at a corner of the perimeter railing, and wherein the obstruction is positioned with its side face abutting the side face of the security bulwark located at the corner of the perimeter railing. 
     
     
         13 . A vessel or marine installation comprising a perimeter protection system according to  claim 10  arranged along the perimeter of the vessel or marine installation. 
     
     
         14 . A vessel or marine installation according to  claim 13 , further comprising cargo protected by the perimeter protection system. 
     
     
         15 . A method of protecting a perimeter of a vessel or marine installation, the method comprising:
 positioning a plurality of security bulwarks side-by-side and adjacent to each other along a perimeter railing of the vessel or marine installation;   providing an obstruction according to  claim 1 ; and   positioning the obstruction in a recess between an adjacent pair of the plurality of security bulwarks.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a first one of the plurality of security bulwarks with a side face;   locating the first one of the plurality of security bulwarks along a substantially straight run of the perimeter railing;   providing the obstruction; and   positioning the obstruction with its side face abutting the side face of the first one of the plurality of security bulwarks.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a second one of the plurality of security bulwarks with a side face;   locating the second one of the plurality of security bulwarks at a corner of the perimeter railing;   providing the obstruction  claim 3 ; and   positioning the obstruction with its side face abutting the side face of the second one of the plurality of security bulwarks.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled)