Patent ID: 7654211

Claim:
A method of transporting a smaller marine vessel upon a larger marine vessel that is a surface effect ship, comprising the steps of: a) providing a larger marine vessel that is a surface effect ship having a hull, and a propulsion system and one or more powered fans that enable a pressurized volume of air to be placed under the hull, said larger vessel traveling in a first, upper hull position that is generated by placing said pressurized volume of air under the hull of the larger marine vessel, said larger marine vessel having a cargo deck; b) the larger marine vessel traveling to a selected locale that is in deep water so that the hull of the larger marine vessel is not load bearing upon land or the seabed, a water surface area being next to the larger marine vessel; c) depressurizing the volume of air under the hull of the larger marine vessel by deactivating the fans so that the hull of the larger marine vessel lowers to a second, lower hull position; d) wherein in step “c” at least a part of the cargo deck is positioned next to the water surface to define a point of entry; e) the smaller marine vessel traveling to the selected locale; f) positioning the smaller marine vessel next to the larger marine vessel, wherein the smaller marine vessel is in deep water so that the hull of the smaller marine vessel is not load bearing upon land or the seabed; g) the smaller marine vessel traveling from the water surface area surrounding the larger marine vessel to the cargo deck of the larger marine vessel via the point of entry and while the larger marine vessel is in the lower hull position; and h) pressurizing the volume of air under the hull of the larger marine vessel by activating the powered fans until its hull, cargo deck and the smaller vessel that was placed upon the cargo deck in step “f” are elevated to the upper hull position.