Patent ID: 7516712

Claim:
A vertical damping system for a plurality of water vessels comprising: a first water vessel comprising a first hull having a forward end, an aft end, and two side portions, wherein each of the first full side portions comprise: a waterline region defining a plurality of possible waterlines; a damper region for supporting a plurality of vertical dampers, the damper region located above the waterline region; a plurality of vertical damping devices, each vertical damping device having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end having a hinge joint pivotally attaching each vertical damping device to the side portion, and the upper end releasably attached to the side portion, the upper end having a joint member; a second water vessel arranged adjacent to the first water vessel, the second water vessel comprising a second hull having a forward end, an aft end, and two side portions, wherein each of the second hull side portions comprise: a waterline region defining a plurality of possible waterlines; a damper region for supporting a plurality of vertical dampers, the damper region located above the waterline region; a plurality of joint openings located in the damper region, each joint opening for securely receiving a corresponding joint member of the first water vessel, wherein a side-by-side damping arrangement between the first water vessel and the second water vessel is formed when a vertical damping device of the plurality of vertical damping devices of the first water vessel pivots about the lower hinged end towards the second water vessel and the corresponding joint member of the first water vessel is secured within a corresponding joint opening of the plurality of joint openings of the second water vessel.