Patent ID: 8047150

Claim:
A powered spacing dock operable to be located on a shore to berth a ship spaced from a shoreline, said powered spacing dock comprising: first and second supports spaced from one another and operable to be positioned on shore; a first swingable dock arm pivotally mounted on the first support and presenting a first outermost ship berthing end; a second swingable dock arm pivotally mounted on the second support and presenting a second outermost ship berthing end, said first swingable dock arm including a ship fender positioned along the first outermost ship berthing end and operable to engage the berthed ship; and a powered drive that pivots the first swingable dock arm relative to the first support, said first swingable dock arm being swung by the powered drive between a ship docking position wherein the first swingable dock arm extends outwardly beyond the shoreline to engage the berthed ship with the fender, and a storage position wherein the first swingable dock arm is positioned substantially entirely over the shore, said second dock arm being swingable between respective ship docking and storage positions, said berthing ends of the dock arms being positioned adjacent one another in the ship docking position; and a latch that releasably interlocks the dock arms in the ship docking position.