Cargo Transfer from Offshore Supply Vessels to Large Deck Vessels

The Navy desires better methods of personnel transfer between two vessels at sea, especially when one vessel is large and the other small. The use of rope and accommodation ladders is common today and well-known to be dangerous and inefficient. Starting with concepts developed in Phase I, a personnel transfer system that employs a cable-driven manipulator and is capable of compensating for relative motion between the large and the small vessels will be developed under the Phase II effort. The system will be designed to be mounted on the upper deck of a large vessel such as an LMSR and will be capable of transferring people in a gondola in up to at least sea state three conditions. The gondola will also be able to accommodate a casualty with attendant or up to 1000 lbs. of stores. The small vessels can range from a RHIB to a JHSV. The system will provide increased safety, reliability, and cost effectiveness over current personnel transfer methods.