Patent ID: 7921793
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. A tugboat surface vessel comprising a buoyant, surface-floating body, an intermediate body and an underbody provided with a propulsion system including one or more engines and one or more propellers, said tugboat vessel being arranged to receive a towline attached between a disabled ship and the tugboat whereby the towline is fastened to the underbody in the propeller's/propellers' direct or resultant force direction, said propeller being mounted in a rotatable thrust ring and the towline being attached to a hook arranged in a straight line from the propeller's pulling direction, wherein said buoyant surface floating body further comprises an inflatable buoyancy member, the inflation of said buoyancy member being automatically activated upon contact with water, said vessel being further adapted for transport in an aircraft is its uninflated state, such that the vessel may be launched into the water, whereupon the inflatable buoyancy member will inflate.