Maritime Boarding Assembly With Post-Engagement Ladder Deployment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Boarding poles used in maritime boarding actions face challenges due to strong winds and waves interfering with the rope ladder hanging from the hook, causing instability during engagement with the target vessel.

Innovation Solution

A boarding assembly comprising a boarding engagement device and an elongated device carrier with a holding assembly that allows the engagement device to attach to the target vessel without the climbing device initially, and a flexible mounting system to move the holding assembly aside, enabling the climbing device to be pulled up securely once engaged.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the climbing device is suspended from the engagement device during engagement, then the boarding assembly is ready for immediate use, but strong winds and waves cause instability and interference with the engagement process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereadiness for useVSAvoidengagement stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The boarding assembly is divided into separate functional components: the engagement device (hook) and the climbing device (ladder) are separated during the engagement phase. The hook engages the target vessel independently, and only after stable engagement is achieved does the ladder attach to the hook. This segmentation eliminates the interference problem while maintaining operational readiness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement device performs its engagement action with the target vessel before the climbing device is attached. This preliminary action ensures that the engagement structure is stable and secure before the climbing device is suspended, preventing wind and wave interference during the critical engagement phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a lightweight climbing device is used, then it is less affected by wind and waves, but it cannot support heavier boarding personnel or equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind and wave interferenceVSAvoidload-bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the engagement function from the load-bearing function. The engagement device (hook) is optimized for secure attachment to the target vessel, while the climbing device (ladder) is optimized for supporting personnel weight. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The climbing device is extracted from the engagement process entirely. It does not participate in the engagement phase at all, eliminating any possibility of it being affected by wind and waves during that phase. The ladder is only attached after the hook has securely engaged the target vessel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the climbing device is attached to the engagement device before engagement, then the complete boarding system is deployed, but the climbing device interferes with the engagement process and creates safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveboarding efficiencyVSAvoidengagement reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The boarding process is segmented into distinct phases: engagement phase and climbing phase. During the engagement phase, only the hook is deployed to engage the target vessel. During the climbing phase, the ladder is attached to the engaged hook. This segmentation ensures that each phase is performed optimally without interference from other components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The engagement of the hook to the target vessel is performed as a preliminary action before the climbing device is attached. This ensures that the engagement structure is established and stabilized before the climbing device is introduced into the system, eliminating safety risks associated with simultaneous deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250360988A1A boarding assembly and a method for use thereof

Publication Date: 2025.11.27 FRODE MARINA AB

AI summary

The invention provides a boarding assembly (3) for maritime boarding actions,—wherein a device carrier (307) is arranged to be erected, while attached via a flexible joint (303) to a support structure of a marine vessel, so as for an engagement device (305) attached to the device carrier (307) to engage a part of a target marine vessel to be boarded,—wherein upon such an engagement an elongated flexible element (322), e.g. a rope or a wire, can be pulled through a support device (325), e.g. a pulley block, of a holding assembly (321) mounted to the engagement device, so as to pull an elongated climbing device (323), e.g. a rope ladder, attached to the elongated flexible element (322), up towards the engagement device (305),—wherein the holding assembly (321) comprises an engagement mechanism (328) arranged to engage and retain the climbing device.