Patent ID: 8554398

Claim:
A system for operating a vessel, wherein the system comprises: a. a plurality of power sources for operating the vessel, wherein the power sources include a battery bank and an AC power source; b. an auxiliary device disposed on the vessel, wherein the auxiliary device comprises an electrical rotating source, and wherein energy harvested from the electrical rotating source is transferred to the DC power source, a load of the vessel, or both; and c. a power management system comprising: (i) a processor; (ii) a data storage in communication with the processor; and (iii) a plurality of computer instructions stored on the data storage, wherein the computer instructions comprise: 1. computer instructions for monitoring the battery bank; 2. computer instructions for determining the most efficient power source to power the vessel; 3. computer instructions for controlling the AC power source to allow transfer of power solely from the battery bank to power the vessel, transfer of power solely from the AC power source to power the vessel; or transfer of power from both the AC power source and the battery bank to power the vessel; 4. computer instructions to determine when the battery bank is at a predetermined level; 5. computer instructions for controlling auxiliary devices of the vessel; and 6. computer instructions for transferring harvested energy from the electrical rotating source to the battery bank, auxiliary equipment of the vessel, or to the battery bank and auxiliary equipment of the vessel.