Wash attenuator for a moored vessel

Abstract

A wash attenuator for a moored vessel includes a buoyant member adapted to extend along at least a portion of the waterline of the vessel to isolate the portion of the waterline of the vessel from the wash. The buoyant member includes a first section extending above the water line and a second section extending below the water line. The wash attenuator further includes a barrier extending from the buoyant member and below the waterline for providing lateral stability to the buoyant member.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a wash attenuator for a moored vessel used to reduce the noise which is created within the vessel as a result of the wash impacting on the moored vessel at the waterline. [0002] Throughout the specification the term “wash” includes waves generated by naturally occurring ocean currents, by wind, or by passing vessels or a similar action in a body of water upon which a vessel may be floating when moored and which are incident on the hull of the vessel. Accordingly, a “wash attenuator” is a device that is capable of reducing the strength of a wave. BACKGROUND [0003] In the case of vessels such as boats, which are moored, docked, or otherwise secured in a defined area on the water and which are used for accommodation purposes, one of the difficulties created by such circumstances is the noise generated within the hull of the vessel as a result of the wash incident upon the waterline of the vessel, which noise can cause diffi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] a barrier extending from the buoyant member and below the waterline for providing lateral stability to the buoyant member.

[0022] The buoyant inflatable members may further comprise a plurality of nested liners to mitigate the risk of deflation in the event of an outer liner receiving a puncture.

[0024] In one example, the buoyant member is provided with one or more spacing means for holding the buoyant member in a spaced apart relationship to the hull of the vessel. The spacing means is an optional feature for reducing wear or noise associated with rubbing of the buoyant member on the hull of the vessel. The buoyant member may equally be held in a spaced apart relationship away from the vessel indirectly using a spacer applied to a mooring rope extending from the vessel to the mooring or pen. The spacer effectively pulls the buoyant member away from the vessel but does not lift the buoyant member out of the water.

Problems solved by technology

In the case of vessels such as boats, which are moored, docked, or otherwise secured in a defined area on the water and which are used for accommodation purposes, one of the difficulties created by such circumstances is the noise generated within the hull of the vessel as a result of the wash incident upon the waterline of the vessel, which noise can cause difficulty to persons occupying the vessel and attempting to sleep.

Whilst the shape of the bow section of the vessel may reduce frictional drag, it can also increase the level of noise created by wash incident on the underside of the bow portion of the vessel when the vessel is moored.

The orientation of the pen is fixed relative to the dock and thus when the vessel is moored within a pen, the vessel is not able to move freely to re-orient itself in response to changes in the direction of wind, current or swell.

In this case, the wash may be incident on any portion of the vessel resulting in an unacceptably high level of noise for persons wishing to use the vessel for accommodation purposes.

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