Patent ID: 8857361

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a support structure configured to engage at least one surface of a primary vessel; a drive mechanism supported by the support structure; a drawing mechanism configured to be actuated, at least in part, by the drive mechanism and, when actuated to cause, at least in part, a secondary vessel to be moored in a first state to the primary vessel, configured to cause, at least in part, the secondary vessel to be drawn towards the primary vessel in a substantially horizontal direction; and a lifting mechanism configured to be actuated, at least in part, by the drive mechanism and, when actuated to cause the secondary vessel to be moored in the first state to the primary vessel, configured to cause, at least in part, the secondary vessel to be raised from a substantially horizontal plane to the first state, wherein the lifting mechanism comprises an engagement portion configured to detachably engage the secondary vessel after the secondary vessel is drawn the substantially horizontal distance.