Patent ID: 6016760
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
A method for supplying goods or services to a plurality of markets with a ship comprising:(a) identifying a plurality of ports having respective populations with a need for the same goods or services by screening a larger number of ports to ascertain a need for establishments providing the goods or services, said screening being used to determine: (i) the number of ports at which the ship moors periodically; (ii) the duration of mooring at each port; (iii) the periodicity of mooring at each port; (iv) a quantity or quality of the goods or services, and (v) the type, tonnage or dimensions of the ship, or the number of decks on the ship;(b) providing the ship with means for dispensing said same goods or services to the respective populations in discrete areas on the ship; and(c) mooring the ship at a first of the plurality of ports, providing traders-dealers, commercial enterprises, consumers or users of services in the population of said first port with access to said discrete areas and dispensing said same goods or services to said members in said discrete areas; and(d) periodically shuttling the ship between the first port and another of the plurality of ports and mooring the ship at the other port for a time sufficient to provide consumers in the population of said other port with access to said discrete areas, and dispensing said goods or services to the consumers in said discrete areas.