SEA VESSEL TAGGING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

• US 20100245120A1
• Filed: 04/29/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wfs Technologies Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Wfs Technologies Ltd.
• Inventors: Nielsen, Thomas Kurt, Porter, William Luther, Hyland, Brendan Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,213 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/850
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/02 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the earth or a large mass of water thereon, e.g. earth telegraphy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/901 Noise or unwanted signal reduction in nonseismic receiving system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/904 Doppler compensation systems

Abstract

The present invention discloses a tagging and identification device and system for tracking and monitoring sea vessels as they enter sea ports, estuaries and/or other channels. The tagging device of the present invention comprises a receiver, for receiving an underwater electromagnetic signal transmitted by an underwater beacon. An acoustic transmitter is provided for transmitting an identification signal to an acoustic receiver deployed nearby. The acoustic identification signal is transmitted after an electromagnetic trigger signal is received from the underwater beacon. The tagging and device may further comprise a memory device which can store data relating to position and time of the see vessel to which it is attached. The tagging and identification device of the present invention is covert, compact and is capable of extended active deployment without replenishment of batteries etc. The identification tagging device and system of the present invention is capable of being deployed for tracking the location of sea vessels without the knowledge of the vessel crew. The system of the present invention allows third a third party to monitor suspect vessels as they enter specific ports or estuaries.

Claims

1. A sea vessel tagging and identification device comprising:

a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by an underwater beacon;

an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic identification signal to a remote underwater acoustic receiver;

wherein during operation, said acoustic transmitter transmits said identification signal on reception of said underwater electromagnetic trigger signal by said radio receiver.

2. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 1 wherein said tagging device further comprises a memory storage device and a data processor.

3. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 2 wherein, during operation, said tagging and identification device receives an underwater electromagnetic data signal and data encoded in said data signal is decoded by said processor and stored in said memory storage device.

4. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 3 wherein said encoded data provides information regarding position and/or time.

5. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 1 further comprising a detachable mount.

6. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 1 wherein said detachable mount is a magnetic mount.

7. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 1 wherein said tagging and identification device is powered by a battery.

8. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 1 wherein said tagging device is powered by a dynamo driven by sea power.

9. A sea vessel tagging and identification device according to claim 1 wherein said radio receiver comprises a solenoid formed over a core of a material having a high magnetic permeability.

10. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification comprising:

a sea vessel tagging and identification device comprising a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal and an acoustic transmitter for transmitting an acoustic identification signal;

at least one beacon located underwater which transmits an electromagnetic trigger signal;

wherein during operation, said acoustic transmitter transmits said identification signal on reception of said underwater electromagnetic trigger signal by said radio receiver.

11. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 10 further comprising a remote underwater acoustic receiver for receiving said acoustic identification signal.

12. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 11 wherein said remote underwater acoustic receiver and said at least one beacon are integrated into a single unit.

13. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 10 wherein said beacon is activated by one or more sensors which detect the presence of a sea vessel.

14. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 13 wherein said sensors are any one of a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor or an acoustic sensor.

15. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 10 wherein said beacon transmits continuously.

16. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 10 further comprising a plurality of beacons.

17. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 16 wherein said plurality of beacons are disposed on the seabed so as to form a contiguous monitoring zone.

18. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 17 wherein said contiguous monitoring zone is located at the entry to a port, a harbour or an estuary.

19. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 10 wherein said sea vessel tagging and identification device is attached to a portion of a sea vessel which is below water.

20. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 11 wherein said underwater acoustic receiver sends said identification signal to a remote base station.

21. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 20 wherein said underwater acoustic receiver is directly wired to said remote base station.

22. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 20 programmed to command the launch of a torpedo at said sea vessel on receipt of a given acoustic identification signal from said tagging and identification device.

23. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 11 further comprising a torpedo launcher connected to said underwater acoustic receiver via a processor.

24. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 23 wherein said processor is programmed to launch a torpedo at said sea vessel on receipt of a given acoustic identification signal from said tagging and identification device.

25. A sea vessel tagging and data storage device comprising:

a radio receiver, for receiving an underwater electromagnetic data signal transmitted by an underwater transmitter;

a memory storage device and a data processor;

wherein during operation said tagging device receives said underwater electromagnetic data signal and said processor decodes data of said data signal and stores said decoded data in said memory storage device.

26. A sea vessel tagging and data storage device according to claim 25 further comprising an acoustic transmitter for transmitting stored data to a remote underwater acoustic receiver on reception by said radio receiver of an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by said underwater transmitter.

27. A sea vessel tagging and data storage device according to claim 25 wherein said encoded data provides information regarding position and/or time.

28. A system for sea vessel tagging comprising:

a sea vessel tagging and data storage device comprising a radio receiver for receiving an underwater electromagnetic data signal transmitted by an underwater transmitter;

a memory storage device and a data processor;

at least one beacon located underwater which transmits an electromagnetic data signal;

wherein during operation said tagging and data storage device receives said underwater electromagnetic data signal and said processor decodes data of said data signal and stores said decoded data in said memory storage device.

29. A system for sea vessel tagging according to claim 28 further comprising an acoustic transmitter for transmitting stored data to a remote underwater acoustic receiver on reception by said radio receiver of an underwater electromagnetic trigger signal transmitted by said underwater transmitter.

30. A system for sea vessel tagging according to claim 28 wherein said at least one beacon is activated by one or more sensors which detect the presence of a sea vessel

31. A system for sea vessel tagging and identification according to claim 30 wherein said sensors are any one of a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor or an acoustic sensor.

32. A system for sea vessel tagging according to claim 28 further comprising a plurality of beacons.

33. A system for sea vessel tagging according to claim 32 wherein said plurality of beacons are disposed on the seabed so as to form a contiguous monitoring zone.

34. A system for sea vessel tagging according to claim 33 wherein said contiguous monitoring zone is located at the entry to a port, a harbour or an estuary.

35. A system for sea vessel tagging according to claim 28 wherein said sea vessel tagging and data storage device is attached to a portion of a sea vessel which is below water.

36. A method for sea vessel tagging comprising the steps of:

attaching a tagging and identification device to a sea vessel,

transmission of an electromagnetic trigger signal by a beacon located underwater to a radio receiver of said tagging and identification device;

transmission of an acoustic identification signal by said tagging device to a remote underwater acoustic receiver.

37. A method for sea vessel tagging comprising the steps of:

attaching a tagging and data storage device to a sea vessel,

transmission of an electromagnetic data signal by a beacon located underwater to a radio receiver of said tagging and identification device;

decoding of said data signal by a processor of said radio receiver;

storage of decoded data of said data signal by a memory storage device of said tagging device.