METHOD OF PILOTAGE OF TRIMARAN ICEBREAKER IN ICE Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: water transport; pilotage of trimarans and icebreakers in ice. SUBSTANCE: proposed method is performed by means of trimaran icebreaker provided with hydraulic ice breaking plants; provision is made for motion of these plants and control of width of pilotage and sizes of ice pieces; these plants are arranged in fore above-water extremities of ship's hulls. Center hull of trimaran icebreaker is equipped with ice-separating wedges with inclined surfaces diverging towards side hulls. At least two inter-hull hydrofoils are mounted between center and side hulls. Units for saturation of water under bottom with air are arranged in hulls. Shipboard power plants with steering gears are arranged in all hulls of ship. Ship approaches ice field and hydraulic ice-cutting plants are switched on. They are adjusted to selected width of lane and sizes of ice pierces. Simultaneously, engine thrust and hydrofoil incidence are increased. Then, ice field is entered and water under ship's bottom is saturated with air, thus causing lowering of hulls on ice field and consequently breaking the ice. EFFECT: enhanced efficiency of ice breaking. 2 dwg 2 cl, 2 dwg