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McGrath Industries’ Elevating Ferry Dock is an unique innovation for passenger ferry terminals. It is a passenger embarkation platform that mechanically adjusts height relative to docking ferries. It allows a wide variety of vessel types and sizes to use the same berth and is completely independent of tide level.
A typical pontoon platform limits the functionality of a dock to one class of vessel with a common passenger deck height above water level, otherwise gangways can’t be kept horizontal for ease of passenger transfer including efficient disabled access. Potentially to optimise maritime infrastructure and investment, an assortment of passenger ferries could service the needs of commuters from the same berth. The solution is to install a platform that is raised or lowered to match the deck height of each ferry as it docks. A simple suspended pendant control allows the crew of the ferry to manually adjust the platform height before running out the ship's gangway to disembark passengers. Alternatively the platform height could be adjusted automatically, from a dock control room or the ferry’s bridge, stopping at heights predefined for the range of vessels utilising the berth. When not in use, automated sensing will raise the platform to prevent submersion by a rising tide. |