Patent ID: 6591773
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
In combination with a protection system for covering of a hull of a surface ship while floatingly supported in a body of water during transfer of cargo therefrom to lighterage craft, the improvement residing in a fender unit, comprising: cavity enclosing floatation means responsive to submergence within said body of water for receiving the water therein; base means operatively mounting the cavity enclosing floatation means for displacement from a stowage condition to a deployed condition in response to the cavity enclosing floatation means being filled with the water received therein while partially submerged to a predetermined depth in the body of water; and fender elements projecting from opposite sides of the cavity enclosing floatation means to respectively abut the hull of the ship when the cavity enclosing floatation means is in said deployed condition and project into abutment with the lighterage craft.