Anti-terrorism shipping control

• US 6,658,332 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John L. Rogitz
• Original Assignee: John L. Rogitz
• Inventors: Rogitz, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TO, TUAN C
• Application Number:
  US09/973,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20030069672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 701/21, 114/437, 114/342, 114/259, 342/357, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.17, 340/539, 340/573.6, 340/984, 340/851, 340/985, 340/986, 340/987, 340/989
• US Class Current: 701/21
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa

Abstract

An anti-terrorist ship control system includes satellites that automatically take control of a waterborne vessel when the vessel'"'"'s position or speed deviate from planned tracks or when the vessel transmits a distress signal or when the vessel stops reporting its status to the satellites.

Claims

1. A manned vessel, comprising:

at least one hull including quarters for a crew of people;

at least one control system supported on the hull and responsive to control signals from at least one control satellite to automatically control the speed and/or course of the vessel.

2. The vessel of claim 1, comprising at least one position reporting system mounted on the hull and communicating at least one of:

a position of the vessel, a speed of the vessel, and a course of the vessel, to a satellite.

3. The vessel of claim 2, further comprising at least one receiver on the hull for receiving signals from the control satellite and communicating with the control system.

4. The vessel of claim 3, wherein the control signals are generated when a reported position of the vessel deviates from a track position by at least a predetermined distance.

5. The vessel of claim 3, wherein the control signals are generated when a reported speed of the vessel deviates from a predetermined speed by at least a predetermined amount.

6. The vessel of claim 3, wherein the control signals are generated in response to an unplanned cessation of report signals from the position reporting system.

7. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the vessel is an oil tanker.

8. The vessel of claim 1, wherein the control system can receive at least one override signal, and the control system automatically activates a scuttling system to scuttle the vessel in the presence of the override signal and absence of an override authorization signal.

9. The vessel of claim 3, wherein the control signals are generated in response to a distress signal from the vessel.