Patent ID: 7685955

Claim:
A method of operating a ship, comprising: providing multiple vessels over water with each having a hull section defining a cavity extending between a fore portion of the vessel and an aft portion of the vessel with portions of the hull section extending along starboard and port sides to define walls extending into the water to define first and second opposing walls along the cavity while the cavity extends to a first opening in the hull section positioned along the fore portion of the vessel and to a second opening in the hull section positioned along the aft portion of the vessel; providing a single chamber among cavities by joining the first opening in the hull section of a first of the vessels to a second opening in the hull section of a second of the vessels; and providing a gaseous fluid flow into one cavity and allowing the flow to extend through one or more of the cavity openings, resulting in a positive air pressure within two or more of the cavities relative to atmospheric pressure outside the hull sections wherein two or more of the vessels, when in level trim, generally occupy a first draft in the absence of the gaseous fluid flow and a second draft during times when the positive air pressure is present in cavities of said two or more vessels.