METHOD FOR FORMING SHIPS TRAINS (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: operation of water transport; forming trains of ships at different degree of damage to outside structural members (sides and bottom). SUBSTANCE: prior to forming a train, damage to the ships is analyzed and ships are grouped according to their damage in hierarchic order, for example; then ships are located in train depending on degree of damage; ships with badly damaged outside structural members are positioned behind and/or between those whose hulls are deformed slightly. In case pusher is positioned not in area of resultant of resistance of water (for example, not along axis of symmetry of symmetrical train), as well as taking into account specific features of water basin, ships with badly damaged hulls are positioned on side of pusher or towards required torque in plane of train; it is preferably to position ships with badly damaged hulls outside and in front of ships having slightly damaged structural members. EFFECT: increased speed and enhanced maneuverability of ships in train. 2 cl, 2 dwg