Patent ID: 7845297

Claim:
A ship, comprising: a power system; a plurality of vessels, each vessel comprising at least two spaced-apart hulls extending from fore to aft of the vessel, each parallel with the other with the two spaced-apart hulls defining a cavity between the hulls when the vessel is afloat, such that when the vessels are connected to one another the plurality of vessels provide a series of interconnected cavities forming a chamber, each vessel capable of occupying a first draft when afloat without aid of the power system and a second draft smaller than the first draft with aid of the power system, each hull on each vessel configured as a portion of a coupling mechanism with fore and aft portions of each hull reduced in width relative to an intermediate portion of the same hull, such that pairs of hull fore portions of two of said spaced-apart hulls and pairs of hull aft portions of two other of said spaced-apart hulls can be lapped and connected with one another to form complete coupling mechanisms each operable to connect one vessel to another vessel so that the plurality of vessels can form a single assembly and so power can be transferred between vessels to move the vessels through water in a tandem arrangement.