Marine craft engagement

摘要

An engagement apparatus for use in the deployment and recovery of a marine craft from a mother ship comprises a receptacle provided on one of the marine craft and the mother ship and an engagement probe provided on the other of the marine craft and the mother ship. The receptacle has a number of spaced channels which receive the engagement probe, engagement between the probe and the channels facilitating alignment between the marine craft and the mother ship. A locking device is also provided to secure the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship for recovery. The locking device may be activated by full engagement between the probe and the receptacle.

主权项

1. An engagement apparatus for use in the recovery of a marine craft to a mother ship, the apparatus comprising:
a receptacle adapted to be coupled to one of a mother ship and a marine craft, the receptacle comprising a plurality of engagement locations, the engagement locations comprising vertically spaced channels; an engagement probe adapted to be coupled to the other of the mother ship and the marine craft, wherein the engagement probe is adapted to engage one or more of the engagement locations in the receptacle to align the probe with the receptacle; and a locking device configured to secure the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship for recovery, and wherein at least one of: the receptacle comprises at least one ramp for directing the engagement probe into an engagement location; and the engagement probe comprises at least one probe first portion arranged to initially engage the receptacle, the engagement probe first portion comprising at least one dagger.