Vessel-capturing berthing facility incorporating relative motion- mitigating apparatus

摘要

An open ocean-based berthing facility for capturing a ship or similar vessel in order to mitigate wind, wave and current-induced relative motion between the berthing facility and the vessel includes a buoyant platform having an enclosure formed therein for receiving the vessel. When the vessel is positioned within the platform enclosure, it is isolated from the open ocean yet remains afloat since the enclosure is filled with water. When the vessel is positioned within the enclosure and isolated from the open ocean, its movement is coupled to the movement of the platform. Coupling the movement of the vessel to the movement of the platform greatly reduces the relative motion between the vessel and the platform and thereby reduces the risk of both physical damage to the vessel and platform and reduces the risk of injury to operating and maintenance personnel.