US 12,077,249 B1
Method and apparatus for unloading fishing vessels
Gene Patrick Glaab, Sitka, AK (US)
Assigned to Circle Seafoods, Inc., Portland, OR (US)
Filed by Circle Seafoods, Inc., Portland, OR (US)
Filed on Aug. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/239,688.
Application 18/239,688 is a continuation of application No. 18/132,933, filed on Apr. 10, 2023, granted, now 11,745,833.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B63B 21/20 (2006.01); A01K 97/20 (2006.01); B63B 21/16 (2006.01); B63B 27/30 (2006.01); B63B 35/14 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 21/20 (2013.01) [A01K 97/20 (2013.01); B63B 21/16 (2013.01); B63B 27/30 (2013.01); B63B 35/14 (2013.01); B63B 2021/203 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. On a fish tender vessel, a fish processing facility, or a barge (hereinafter, “the vessel”), an apparatus, comprising:
a power source;
a line hauler mounted to the vessel and coupled to the power source by which to operate the line hauler;
a line wrapped around the line hauler, then extending forward on the vessel to a pulley mounted on a respective port or starboard side of the vessel, then extending down to a surface of a body of seawater, then at least extending on the surface of the body of seawater adjacent the respective port or starboard side of the vessel to a position substantially below the location at which the line hauler is mounted to the vessel, and then extending from the surface of the body of seawater back to the line hauler, thereby forming a loop of line that moves along its length when the line hauler pulls the line; and
a plurality of lead lines each having a first end coupled to the line and a second end removably coupled to a fishing vessel so that fishing vessels can be pulled alongside the respective port or starboard side of the vessel when the line hauler pulls on the line.