Device, system, structure, method, computer program product and control system

1. An apparatus for launching at least one free-fall boat into water from a structure that is at least partially surrounded by water, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one launch ramp and means to effect translational displacement of said at least one launch ramp when the apparatus has been mounted on said structure in order to enable the position of said at least one launch ramp to be changed before launching said at least one boat into the water, further comprising a sensor means to determine a height of at least one part of the apparatus above a water level, an angle that is indicative of inclination of said at least one launch ramp, or combination thereof, and further comprising means to effect rectilinear displacement of said at least one launch ramp when the a appraratus has been mounted on said structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said at least one launch ramp is arranged to be inclined at an angle to said structure when the apparatus is mounted on said structure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising means to vary the angle at which said least one launch ramp is arranged to be inclined.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means to effect vertical displacement of said at least one launch ramp in order to change height of said at least one launch ramp above the water.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising means to effect horizontal displacement of said at least one launch ramp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one guide means, wherein said guide means are arranged to be mounted on said structure, and that said at least one launch ramp is slidably mounted on said at least one guide means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said means to effect translational displacement of said at least one launch ramp comprises a hoisting/lowering means powered manually, hydraulically, pneumatically, electrically or by internal combustion drive.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising control means that are arranged to receive information concerning the height of said at least one part of the apparatus above the water level and change position of said at least one launch ramp so that said at least one boat may be launched from a second height within a predetermined interval above the water level.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising control means that are arranged to receive information concerning the height of said at least one part of the apparatus above the water level and to change position of said at least one launch ramp if/when the height of at least one part of the apparatus above the water is less than /greater than a second height within a predetermined interval.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising positioning means to enable the position of said at least one launch ramp to be changed from inside said at least one boat that is to be launched from said at least one launch ramp.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of launch ramps.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising positioning means to change position of each of said plurality of launch ramps independently of the other launch ramp(s).

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of launch ramps are arranged to be displaced in parallel.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said plurality of launch ramps are arranged to launch one boat from each launch ramp.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising means to releasably attach one boat at the top of each launch ramp.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a control system arranged to launch said plurality of boats in a predetermined order and to change the vertical and/or horizontal position of each launch ramp before each of said plurality of boats is launched into the water.

17. An apparatus for launching at least one free-fall boat into the water from a structure that is at least partially surrounded by water wherein the apparatus comprises at least one launch ramp and means to effect translational displacement of said at least one launch ramp when the apparatus has been mounted on said structure in order to enable the position of said at least one launch ramp to be changed before launching said at least one boat into the water, and further comprising at least one guide means, which is arranged to be mounted on said structure, wherein said ramp is inclined at a fixed angle to the guide means and is slidably mounted on said at least one guide means in order to thereby achieve said translational displacement.

18. An apparatus for launching at least one free-fall boat into water from a structure that is at least partially surrounded by water, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one launch ramp and means to effect translational displacement of said at least one launch ramp when the apparatus has been mounted on said structure in order to enable the position of said at least one launch ramp to be changed before launching said at least one boat into the water, further comprising a sensor means to determine a height of at least one part of the apparatus above a water level, an angle that is indicative of inclination of said at least one launch ramp, or combination thereof, and further comprising at least one guide means, wherein said guide means are arranged to be mounted on said structure, and that said at least one launch ramp is slidably mounted on said at least one guide means.

19. An apparatus for launching at least one free-fall boat into water from a structure that is at least partially surrounded by water, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one launch ramp and means to effect translational displacement of said at least one launch ramp when the apparatus has been mounted on said structure in order to enable the position of said at least one launch ramp to be changed before launching said at least one boat into the water, further comprising a sensor means to determine a height of at least one part of the apparatus above a water level, an angle that is indicative of inclination of said at least one launch ramp, or combination thereof, and further comprising positioning means to enable the position of said at least one launch ramp to be changed from inside said at least one boat that is to be launched from said at least one launch ramp.