A vessel

Abstract

A vessel (1) comprises a hull (2) including a bow (3) and a stern (4) and has a length-to-beam ratio which is smaller than 10:1, preferably smaller than 5:1. The hull (2) has a vertical centre plane (CP) extending in a direction from the bow (3) to the stern (4). At each side of the centre plane (CP) the vessel (1) has at least two azimuth thrusters (6) including respective propellers (6a), which azimuth thrusters (6) are located next to each other in transverse direction of the centre plane (CP). Each azimuth thruster (6) drivably coupled to its own prime mover (7).

1 . A vessel comprising a hull including a bow and a stern and having a length-to-beam ratio which is smaller than 10:1, wherein the hull has a vertical center plane extending in a direction from the bow to the stern, at each side of the center plane the vessel has at least two azimuth thrusters each including respective propellers, which azimuth thrusters are located next to each other in a transverse direction of relative to the center plane (CP) and each azimuth thruster is coupled to its own prime mover in a manner whereby each azimuth thruster Is capable of being driven by the respective prime mover. 
     
     
         2 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the azimuth thrusters are aligned in transverse direction relative to the center plane. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein distances between centerlines of the propellers of each two of the neighbouring azimuth thrusters are the same. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters have different diameters. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel according to  claim 4 , wherein the propeller of one of the at least two azimuth thrusters which is located at a larger distance from the center plane than another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters has a larger diameter than the propeller of the another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the azimuth thrusters are located at the bow or at the stern. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the prime movers is an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel according to  claim 7 , wherein the internal combustion engine is a diesel engine. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel according to  claim 8 , wherein the diesel engine has a maximum speed above 1000 rpm. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least two azimuth thrusters and their prime movers are functionally coupled to a common controller for operating the at least two azimuth thrusters simultaneously. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel according to  claim 10 , wherein the common controller for each of the at least two azimuth thrusters and their prime movers is a joystick configured such that an operator can operate two joysticks, the joystick for simultaneously controlling the at least two azimuth thrusters including their prime movers at one side of the center plane and the second joystick for simultaneously controlling the at least two azimuth thrusters including their prime movers at the other side of the center plane. 
     
     
         12 . The vessel according to  claim 1  wherein at each side of the center plane a skeg is mounted to a lower side of the hull, which skeg extends in longitudinal direction of the hull. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel according to  claim 12 , wherein the skeg is located at a horizontal position between axes of rotation of the respective propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters, as seen in a direction from the stern to the bow. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel according to  claim 12 , wherein a maximum height of the skeg is smaller than a diameter or of each of the propellers of the respective azimuth thrusters. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a tug boat. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel according to  claim 1 , wherein the length-to-beam ratio is smaller than 5:1. 
     
     
         17 . The vessel according to  claim 14 , wherein maximum height of the skeg is smaller than 1.5 times the diameter of each of the propellers of the respective azimuth thrusters. 
     
     
         18 . The vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein distances between centerlines of the propellers of each two of the neighbouring azimuth thrusters are the same. 
     
     
         19 . The vessel according to  claim 2 , wherein the propellers of the at least two azimuth thrusters have different diameters. 
     
     
         20 . The vessel according to  claim 19 , wherein the propeller of one of the at least two azimuth thrusters which is located at a larger distance from the center plane than another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters has a larger diameter than the propeller of the another one of the at least two azimuth thrusters.