Patent ID: 7370598

Claim:
A power driven marine ladder apparatus for use on a marine structure afloat on or otherwise adjacent to a body of water, said apparatus comprising: a retractable ladder including a vertically extendable cable section and horizontally extendable rung section connected transversely to said cable section; an axially rotatable winder for mounting on the structure; said cable section being attached to and wrappable about said winder; a motor for driving said winder in a first direction to unwrap said cable section from said winder and lower said ladder toward the body of water, and in an opposite, second direction to wrap said cable section about said winder and raise said ladder from the body of water; and a guide assembly for mounting to the marine structure and directing movement of said cable section between said winder and the body of water in response to operation of said motor, said cable section including an elongate flexible cable and said guide assembly including a horizontal channel for accommodating said cable section between said winder and a side of the marine structure.