Mooring Device and Mooring System

Abstract

The invention relates to a mooring device for mooring a ship, the mooring device having a moored state, in which it engages the ship, and a non-moored state in which it does not engage the ship, the mooring device comprising a base, a movable arm, which is extendable and retractable, a connector carried by the arm for engaging e.g. a ship, a winch, a tensile element having a first end engaged by the winch and a second, opposite end fixed with respect to the second end of the arm and/or the connector, and a distance keeping system configured for keeping a minimum and non-zero distance between the base and the object engaged by the connector. According to the invention, the distance keeping system is integrated with the movable arm. The invention also concerns a mooring system comprising two such mooring devices.

1 . Mooring device for mooring a ship, the mooring device having a moored state, in which it engages the ship, and a non-moored state in which it does not engage the ship, the mooring device comprising:
 a base;   a movable arm, fixed with respect to the base with a first end, a second, opposite end of the arm being movable with respect to the base between a retracted position, in which the second end is relatively close to the first end and an extended position, in which the second end is relatively far from the first end;   a connector carried by the arm, the connector having an engaged state, in which it engages an object for mooring, such as the hull of a ship, and a disengaged state, in which it does not engage the object; and   a distance keeping system configured for keeping a minimum and non-zero distance between the base and the object engaged by the connector,   wherein the distance keeping system is integrated with the movable arm.   
     
     
         2 . Mooring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mooring device further comprises means for providing a force in an alongships direction between the base and the connector. 
     
     
         3 . Mooring device according to  claim 2 , wherein the means for providing a force in the alongships direction comprise an actuator for rotation the arm around a vertical axis. 
     
     
         4 . Mooring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the mooring device comprises:
 a winch; and   a tensile element having a first end engaged by the winch and a second, opposite end fixed with respect to the second end of the arm and/or the connector;   
     
     
         5 . Mooring device according to  claim 1   any of the preceding claims , wherein the distance keeping system comprises at least one actuator for moving the movable arm. 
     
     
         6 . Mooring device according to  claim 5 , comprising a such actuator having one end fixed with respect to the base, and another, opposite end fixed with respect to the arm, said actuator being arranged for providing a pushing force between the base and the arm. 
     
     
         7 . Mooring device according to  claim 6 , wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator. 
     
     
         8 . Mooring device according to  claim 5 , wherein the distance keeping system comprises a controller operatively connected to the at least one actuator for controlling the at least one actuator,
 wherein in the moored state, the controller is configured to control the arm by controlling the at least one actuator, in order to maintain a distance between the first and second end of the arm.   
     
     
         9 . Mooring device according to  claim 4 , including the winch, wherein the winch is an automatic winch, which is configured to keep a tension on the tensile element at least in the moored state. 
     
     
         10 . Mooring device according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further operatively connected to:
 the winch for controlling the winch; and/or   the means for providing the alongships direction, for controlling said means.   
     
     
         11 . Mooring device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a position determination system operatively connected to the controller, configured for determining a position of the second end of the arm and communicating to the controller said determined position. 
     
     
         12 . Mooring device according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control the winch and/or the means for providing force in the alongships force on the basis of the determined position of the arm. 
     
     
         13 . Mooring device according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to control the at least one actuator on the basis of the determined position of the arm. 
     
     
         14 . Mooring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element is led to an engaging position fixed with respect to the base at a distance from the arm. 
     
     
         15 . Mooring device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a pulley at the engaging position. 
     
     
         16 . Mooring device according to  claim 14 , wherein the winch is arranged closer to the arm than the engaging position. 
     
     
         17 . Mooring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a latching element for latching onto a surface in the engaged state, for example a vacuum pad or a magnetic mooring pad. 
     
     
         18 . Mooring device according to  claim 1 , wherein the arm is rotatable with respect to the base around two mutually perpendicular axes which are both perpendicular to a local axis of the arm at its first end. 
     
     
         19 . Mooring device according to  claim 18 , wherein the distance keeping system comprises actuators configured for actuating rotation of the arm around said two mutually perpendicular axes, wherein optionally the actuators are operatively connected to the controller. 
     
     
         20 . Mooring system, comprising at least two mooring devices according to  claim 1 , the bases of which are fixed with respect to each other, or which share a base. 
     
     
         21 . Mooring system according to  claim 20 , wherein tensile elements of the at least two mooring systems are led to engaging positions on opposite sides of the arms. 
     
     
         22 . Mooring system according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least two mooring devices, in particular the movable arms thereof, are operatively connected for being controlled cooperatively.