SBIR-STTR Award

The proposed work to establish one or more techniques for offloading containers and break-bulk in all types of weather during a lots mission consists of a review of concepts for ship stabilization, lighter stabilization and load stabilization as individual systems and as members of combined systems. A number of representative stabilization, load transfer and load control systems have been identified and briefly described in this proposal under categories of passive and active roll stabilization, lighter-to-ship stabilization, ship-to-ship stabilization, computer-aided crane systems, tracked cargo-transfer systems and cable stabilized systems. A selection of these, including combined systems, will be made with army participation and will be evaluated to determine performance, safety, adaptability, pendulation, spotting, approach control, installation, set-up, space, weight, manpower, research and development requirements, and costs. Following this, a final selection will be made of the best all-around system for experimental verification in phase ii, using a dynamically correct scale model, simulated ship and lighter motion, and full scale control package. Phase iii includes full-scale demonstration of the system on a selected ship.

Phase-I work on the U.S. Army Belvoir Rd&E Center SBIR contract "stablization of the ship/lighter interface" has resulted in the development of a conceptual design of a system that is expected to improve the army's ability to offload containers to lacv-30s or similar lighters in a jlots mission in sea-states up to at least 4 conditions. the current capability is limited to approximately Seastate 2. it is also expected to improve offload productivity in all sea states. the proposed system is designated the high-Seastate container-transfer system (HISEACOTS). the deliverables of the Phase I effort will include a final report (due 31 march 1987), a briefing (13 february 1987) on work accomplished, a feasibility level design of the HISEACOTS, and a 1/30-scale model of the HISEACOTS. during phase ii it is proposed to carry out a series of full-scale verification and demonstration tests of the principal components of the HISEACOTS system. it is proposed to enlist the support of an army lacv-30 and of the navy ses test facility at Lexington Park, Maryland to conduct some of these tests.