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Cargo Transfer from Offshore Supply Vessels to Large Deck Vessels

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Navy
Contract: N65538-06-M-0172
Agency Tracking Number: N061-057-1150
Amount: $99,965.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N06-057
Solicitation Number: 2006.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2006
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-05-08
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-09-30
Small Business Information
15210 Dino Drive
Burtonsville, MD 20866
United States
DUNS: 016565277
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Gilbert Lovell
 Principal Engineer
 (301) 989-8047
 glovell@atrcorp.com
Business Contact
 David Lupi
Title: Contracts Manager
Phone: (301) 989-8058
Email: dlupi@atrcorp.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The Sea Base concept requires innovative means of transferring cargo between ships offshore. Of particular interest is the transfer of cargo to large deck vessels and vessels with overhanging decks. The proposal presents an innovative approach to transferring cargo using autonomous watercraft, automated materiel handling equipment, and automated launch and recovery equipment. The system relies on an overarching control system to integrate the major subsystems and state-of-the-art robotic control concepts provide coordination and stable operation. BENEFITS: The system has non-military applications in the offshore oil industry where it could be used to ferry supplies to and between offshore oil platforms autonomously, a function now performed only by manned vessels. The system could also be used to transfer materiel in and out of ports too shallow to accommodate conventional cargo ships and service ports with primitive materiel handling equipment that cannot unload a cargo ship in a timely manner. Ports with low volume but regular demand would stand to benefit the most. Emergency response and disaster relief agencies might use the system to deliver medical supplies to stricken coastal areas. In the case of the recent tsunami disaster, where most if not all ports were compromised and not safe to enter, emergency supplies could have been transferred from ships offshore directly to the beach zone.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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