Patent ID: 9434460
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: B63H

Claim Text:
1. A method of maneuvering a marine vessel, the marine vessel comprising a longitudinal centerline and a plurality of propulsion devices comprising a port propulsion device, a starboard propulsion device and an intermediate propulsion device, each of the port propulsion device, starboard propulsion device and intermediate propulsion device comprising forward and rearward ends, wherein the intermediate propulsion device is disposed between the port and starboard propulsion devices, and wherein the intermediate propulsion device is rotatable about a steering axis, the method comprising: operating an input device to request a lateral movement of the marine vessel with respect to the longitudinal centerline; controlling an orientation of the forward ends of the port and starboard propulsion devices inwardly towards the longitudinal centerline so as to create propulsive thrusts along axes that intersect at a common point, maintaining an orientation of the forward end of the intermediate propulsion device parallel with the longitudinal centerline so as to create propulsive thrusts parallel to the longitudinal centerline; and operating one of the port and starboard propulsion devices in a forward gear, operating the other of the port and starboard propulsion devices in a reverse gear, and operating the intermediate propulsion device in a reverse gear to thereby achieve the lateral movement.