Catamaran vessel with hybrid propulsion for embarking and disembarking loads

1. A catamaran vessel for embarking and disembarking loads, the vessel comprising:

two side hulls,

a mobile platform, mobile between the two side hulls;

motorized propulsion devices arranged symmetrically with respect to the mobile platform, in the two side hulls, each of the motorized propulsion devices including:

in the aft portion of the respective side hull, first and second propeller propulsors, each propeller propulsor having a rudder located underneath the side hull, to move and maneuver the vessel at relatively high speeds,

in a forward portion of the respective side hull, a pump-jet propulsor, the pump-jet propulsor having a nozzle located in the side hull proximate a bottom of the side hull, aspirating water vertically, and expelling the water via the nozzle, the nozzle swiveling through 360° relative to the vessel, enabling maneuvering of the vessel at low speeds,

a mechanism for varying the position of the mobile platform relative to the two side hulls, between an upper position, in which the vessel floats solely via the two side hulls on relatively deep water for use of the first and second propeller propulsors, and a lower position in which the vessel floats via the mobile platform and the two side hulls on relatively shallow water for use of the pump-jet propulsor, and

first and second engines for driving the first and second propeller propulsors, the jet-pump propulsor, and the mechanism;

control means for controlling the mechanism of each motorized propulsion device for varying the position of the mobile platform, relative to the two side hulls, between the upper and lower positions, depending on navigation conditions, wherein the first and second engines are respectively selectively coupleable to

the first propeller propulso and the pump-jet propulsor,

and the second propeller propulsor and the control means.

2. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein

the first engine may be coupled to the first propeller propulsor and to the pump jet propulsor and including

a first controlled clutch, a first reduction gear assembly, and a first drive shaft coupling the first engine to the first propeller propulsor, and

a second controlled clutch, a second reduction gear assembly, and a second drive shaft coupling the first engine to the pump jet propulsor, and

the first and second controlled clutches are reciprocally controlled so that when one of the first and second controlled clutches is disengaged, the other of the first and second controlled clutches is engaged.

3. The vessel according to claim 2 , wherein

the second engine may be coupled to the second propeller propulsor and to the control means and including

a third reduction gear, a third controlled clutch, and a third drive shaft coupling the second engine to the second propeller propulsor, and

a fourth controlled clutch coupling the second engine to the control means,

the third reduction gear has an input coupled to the second engine, and first and second outputs, the first output being coupled to the third drive shaft via the third controlled clutch, and the second output being coupled to the control means via the fourth controlled clutch, and

the third and fourth controlled clutches are reciprocally controlled so that when one of the third and fourth controlled clutches is disengaged, the other of the third and fourth controlled clutches is engaged.

4. The vessel according to claim 3 wherein, when the platform is in the upper position, the second engine is coupled to the second propeller propulsor via the third controlled clutch, and the first engine is coupled either to the first propeller propulsor via the first controlled clutch or the pump-jet propulsor via the second controlled clutch.

5. The vessel according to claim 3 , wherein, when the platform is in the upper position,

the second engine coupled to the second propeller propulsor via the third controlled clutch, and

the first engine is stopped and the first controlled clutch disengaged so that propellers of the first propeller propulsor rotate freely.

6. The vessel according to claim 3 , wherein, when the platform is in the upper position,

the second engine is stopped and the third controlled clutch disengaged so that propellers of the first propeller propulsor rotate freely, and

the first engine is coupled to the pump jet propulsor via the second controlled clutch.

7. The vessel according to claim 3 , wherein, when the platform is in the lower position,

the first engine is coupled to the pump jet propulsor via the second controlled clutch, and

the second engine can be coupled to the second propeller propulsor via the third controlled clutch.

8. The vessel according to claim 2 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth controlled clutches are hydraulic.

9. The vessel according to claim 2 , wherein the first, second, third, and fourth controlled clutches are controlled on-board the vessel.

10. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein

the mechanism of each motorized propulsion device comprises hoist means including hydraulic cylinders hinge-mounted between the platform and the two side hulls, and

the control means includes a hydraulic pump connected via a hydraulic circuit to the hydraulic cylinders.

11. The vessel according to claim 10 , wherein

the mechanism of each motorized propulsion device comprises at least two pairs of hydraulic cylinders located along the platform of the vessel and two hydraulic pumps, and

the hydraulic cylinders are controlled by the hydraulic pumps.

12. The vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second engines are Diesel engines.

13. A catamaran vessel for embarking and disembarking loads, the vessel comprising: two side hulls; a mobile platform, mobile between the two side hulls; motorized propulsion devices arranged symmetrically with respect to the mobile platform, in the two side hulls, each of the motorized propulsion devices including: aft in the respective side hull, a propeller propulsor having a rudder located underneath the side hull, to move and maneuver the vessel at relatively high speeds,

in a forward portion of the respective side hull, a pump-jet propulsor, the pump-jet propulsor having a nozzle located in the side hull proximate a bottom of the side hull, aspirating water vertically, and expelling the water via the nozzle, the nozzle swiveling through 360° relative to the vessel, enabling maneuvering of the vessel at low speeds, a mechanism for varying the position of the mobile platform, relative to the two side hulls, between an upper position, in which the vessel floats solely via the two side hulls on relatively deep water for use of the propeller propulsor, and a lower position in which the vessel floats via the mobile platform and the two side hulls on relatively shallow water for use of the pump-j et propulsor, and first and second engines for driving the propeller propulsor, the jet-pump propulsor, and the mechanism; control means for controlling the mechanism of each motorized propulsion device for varying the position of the mobile platform, relative to the two side hulls, between the upper and lower positions, depending on navigation conditions, wherein each of the first and second engines is selectively coupleable to the propeller propulsor, the pump-jet propulsor, and the control means.

14. The vessel according to claim 13 , wherein the first and second engines are Diesel engines.

15. The vessel according to claim 13 , wherein

the second engine can be coupled to the propeller propulsor and to the control means and including

a first controlled clutch, a first reduction gear, and a first drive shaft coupling the second engine to the propeller propulsor, the first reduction gear having a first input/output coupled to the first drive shaft via the first controlled clutch,

a second controlled clutch coupling the second engine to the control means, and

a third controlled clutch coupling the first engine to a second input/output of the first reduction gear, and

the first and third controlled clutches are reciprocally controlled such that when one of the first and third controlled clutches is disengaged, the other of the first and third controlled clutches is engaged.

16. The vessel according to claim 15 , wherein, when the platform is in the upper position,

the second engine is coupled to the propeller propulsor via the first reduction gear and the first controlled clutch,

the first engine can be coupled to the propeller propulsor via the third controlled clutch and the first reduction gear, and

each of the first and second engines is uncoupled from the pump-jet propulsor by the second controlled clutch.

17. The vessel according to claim 15 , wherein, when the platform is in the upper position,

the second engine is coupled to the propeller propulsor via the first reduction gear and the first controlled clutch,

the first engine is coupled to the pump jet propulsor by the second controlled clutch, and

each of the first and second engines is uncoupled from the propeller propulsor by the third controlled clutch.

18. The vessel according to claim 15 , wherein, when the platform is in the upper position,

the second engine is stopped and the first controlled clutch coupling the engineer to the propeller propulsor is disengaged, and

the first engine is coupled to the pump-jet propulsor by the second controlled clutch and is uncoupled from the propeller propulsor by the third controlled clutch, enabling propellers of the propeller propulsor to rotate freely.

19. The vessel according to claim 15 , wherein the first, second, and third controlled clutches are hydraulic.

20. The vessel according to claim 15 , wherein the first, second, and third controlled clutches are controlled on-board the vessel.