Patent ID: 8578872

Claim:
A system for retrieving a life vessel from water and drawing the life vessel onto a deck of a rescue vessel, the system comprising: a) a life vessel system comprising: i) a tow-line comprising a first end portion secured to the life vessel and an opposed second end portion; and ii) a deployment system configured to deploy the second end portion of the tow-line into the water; and b) a rescue vessel system comprising: i) a towing device on the rescue vessel, the towing device configured to receive the second end portion of the tow-line and retract the tow-line to draw the life vessel towards the rescue vessel; and ii) a retrieval assembly assembled to the deck of the rescue vessel, the retrieval assembly configured to receive the life vessel as the life vessel is drawn towards the rescue vessel and to lift the rescue vessel onto the deck; and c) a first and a second control line, each control line mounted between the life vessel and the tow-line, wherein the first end portion of the tow-line is secured to a forefoot of a keel of the life vessel, comprising a drogue mounted to the second end portion of the tow-line.