Patent ID: 7814855
Filing Date: 2010-10-19
Classification: E02B

Abstract:
1. A powered spacing dock operable to be located on a shore to berth a ship spaced from a shoreline, said powered spacing dock comprising: a first support operable to be positioned on shore; a first swingable dock arm pivotally mounted on the support and presenting a first outermost ship berthing end, said dock arm including a ship fender positioned along the first outermost ship berthing end and operable to engage the berthed ship; a powered drive that pivots the first swingable dock arm relative to the first support, said first swingable dock arm being swung by the drive between a ship docking position wherein the first swingable dock arm extends outwardly beyond the shoreline to engage the berthed ship with the fender, and a storage position wherein the first swingable dock arm is positioned substantially entirely over the shore; a second support operable to be positioned on shore spaced from the first support; a second swingable dock arm pivotally mounted on the second support and presenting a second outermost ship berthing end, said second dock arm being swingable between the ship docking and storage positions, said supports being spaced apart a distance measured along the shoreline, said outermost ship berthing ends of the dock arms being positioned adjacent one another in the ship docking position, said dock arms each presenting respective dock arm lengths, said distance between the supports being less than either dock arm length, said dock arms being swingable so as to be positioned partly alongside each other in the storage position; and a latch that releasably interlocks the dock arms in the ship docking position.