Patent ID: 8568076

Claim:
A fueling system for securing and fueling a water vessel at a floating receptacle, the fueling system comprising: a parent ship for supplying fuel; a floating receptacle remote from the parent ship, the floating receptacle having a substantially V-shape with a substantially V-shaped aperture, and comprising; a first arm, a second arm, and a mounting member, wherein the first and second arm are adjustably attached to the mounting member so that the mounting member, the first arm, and the second arm form the substantially V-shape and substantially V-shaped aperture, with the mounting member at the apex of the substantially V-shape, the adjustably attached first and second arms allowing for an adjustable apex angle α, and wherein the mounting member further includes a receiver; a fuel conduit for transporting fuel from the parent ship to the floating receptacle, a water vessel comprising a probe for positioning within the receiver of the floating receptacle to contemporaneously latch the water vessel to the receiver and to receive fuel via the fuel conduit at the floating receptacle; a towing bridle having a plurality of tow lines, the tow bridle attached to and extending between the parent ship and the floating receptacle maintaining a towing tension on the first and second arms of the floating receptacle so that the adjustable apex angle α is at a maximum angle; and an inter arm line connected to each of the first and second arms for restricting the adjustable apex angle α at the maximum angle and for reducing the angle α to an angle commensurate with the shape of the water vessel, as the water vessel enters into the substantially V-shaped aperture thereby automatically guiding the water vessel towards the receiver.