IMPROVED METHODS AND APPARATUS TO DETERMINE VESSEL DRAFT AND AMOUNT OF CARGO LOADED IN A VESSEL

摘要

The present invention discloses the methods and apparatus to determine the draft and/or amount of cargo loaded in a vessel. The apparatus includes a portable, handheld housing containing an ultrasonic transducer and receiver, or, alternatively, a laser emitter and receiver, that directs sound, or, alternatively light, toward the surface of the water body in which the vessel is placed. Within the housing is electrical circuitry to receive either the sound or light beam signals reflected from the water surface. These signals are processed by a computer programmed to utilize an arraying analytical technique to determine the distance of the vessel above the waterline. Using known vessel displacement characteristics and cargo unit weight, the processed data will then be used by the computer or transmitted wirelessly to a central computer, to determine the amount of cargo that has been loaded in the vessel.