A ferry and a method of operating a ferry

Abstract

A ferry with a first loading port defining a first portion and a second portion, the loading port allowing vehicles to roll onto a ferry deck. The first portion is closeable by a first closure, and the second portion is closable by a spray cover. The first closure is movable between an open position opening the first portion of the first loading port and forming an extension of the ferry deck and a closed position extending in an upright direction from the ferry deck to a frontal position at which it terminates and closes the first portion of the first loading port. The spray cover is movable between an open position in which it opens the second portion of the first loading port and a closed position in which it extends from a central roof position to the frontal position and closes the second portion of the first loading port.

1 .- 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A ferry with a first loading port defining a first portion and a second portion, the loading port allowing vehicles to roll onto a ferry deck, the first portion being closable by a first closure and the second portion being closable by a spray cover,
 wherein the first closure is movable between an open position in which it opens the first portion of the first loading port and forms an extension of the ferry deck and a closed position in which it extends in an upright direction from the ferry deck to a frontal position at which it terminates and closes the first portion of the first loading port, and   wherein the spray cover is movable between an open position in which it opens the second portion of the first loading port and a closed position in which it extends from a central roof position to the frontal position and closes the second portion of the first loading port,   wherein the spray cover terminates at the frontal position in the closed position.   
     
     
         21 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein a first height h 1  being a vertical distance from the ferry deck to the central roof position is larger than a second height h 2  being a vertical distance from a plane defined by the ferry deck to the frontal position. 
     
     
         22 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein the ferry deck terminates at an edge portion, the first closure being pivotally attached to the ferry deck along a pivot axis extending along the edge portion of the ferry deck. 
     
     
         23 . The ferry according to  claims 22 , wherein movement of the first closure between the open position and the closed position is a pivotal movement around the pivot axis. 
     
     
         24 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein movement of the spray cover between the open position and the closed position is a movement along a path. 
     
     
         25 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein the first closure in the closed position and the spray cover in the closed position engage each other. 
     
     
         26 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein the spray cover in the closed position extends in an at least partly inclined position from the central roof position to the frontal position. 
     
     
         27 . The ferry according to  claim 21 , wherein the first closure has a length  11  being defined as the dimension of the first closure in a loading direction, the length  11  being of the same size as the second height h 2  or being larger than the second height h 2  and smaller than the first height h 1 . 
     
     
         28 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein the spray cover comprises at least one sliding panel. 
     
     
         29 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein the spray cover comprises at least two sliding panels arranged to move into a stacked configuration in the open position of the spray cover. 
     
     
         30 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , further comprising a top opening arranged between the central roof position and a top roof position. 
     
     
         31 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , the ferry comprising an additional closure and an additional spray cover to provide a second loading port at the opposite end of the ferry relative to the first loading port. 
     
     
         32 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein a bending stiffness of the spray cover is lower than a bending stiffness of the first closure. 
     
     
         33 . The ferry according to  claim 20 , further comprising a sealing element arranged along an edge portion of the first loading port. 
     
     
         34 . A method of operating a ferry according to  claim 20 , wherein the spray cover is moved independent on movement of the first closure. 
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the ferry is sailed with the spray cover in the open position or in an at least partly open position, and the first closure in a closed position. 
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the spray cover is moved, while the ferry sails. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising a step of determining a height of a vehicle, and a step of moving the spray cover in direction of the central roof position in dependency of the determined height.