Details of hulls, hydrofoils and keels:

Other structural parts of ships or other waterborne vessels:

Docking, moving and anchoring equipment::

Equipment for navigation, position-marking, signalling, or lighting:

Equipment for controlling and indication vessel attitude:

Onboard safety features:

Cleaning of ships or other waterborne vessels:

Means for controlling ballast water or for removing unwanted onboard water:

Loading equipment or accommodation for cargo or passengers:

Other:

B63B is the general home for ships or other waterborne vessels, and covers in particular their hydrostatic, hydrodynamic, structural and design features. It is also the place for equipment adapted for use on ships, and onboard arrangements thereof. Further it provides a residual place for equipment for shipping, wherein 'shipping' is interpreted in its broadest sense within the naval context.

Whilst methods of designing, building, maintaining, converting, repairing of vessels are classified in B63B, subclass B63C covers the storing and handling of ships or other waterborne vessels to and from a non-floating position, e.g. launching, hauling-out, dry-docking, as well as equipment usable both on slipways and dry docks. B63C also covers salvaging of disabled, stranded or sunken vessels.

B63B covers onboard safety equipment and handling of lifeboats, yet devices for life-saving in water are classified in B63C.

Whilst vessels or floating structures for aircraft are classified in B63B, military aircraft carriers and other vessels characterised by their offensive or defensive capabilities, such as surface warships or submarines, are classified in B63G.

Whilst B63B provides for the hydrodynamic and hydrostatic features of ships and other waterborne vessels (e.g. hulls, hydrofoils, keels), details of marine propulsion and steering (e.g. propellers or paddle wheels and their arrangement on vessels, sails, jets propulsion, oars, rudders) are classified in B63H.

Whilst B63B 17/06 provides for refuse discharge, e.g. ash, the arrangements of installations for treating waste water or sewage are classified in B63J 4/00.

B63B 29/00 provides for crew or passenger accommodation, yet B63J covers all other auxiliary equipment designed to render vessels habitable or operative (e.g. fresh water production, ventilation, heating and cooling arrangements).

In this subclass, two different Indexing Schemes are used:

The first Indexing Scheme represents a further sub-division of the CPC scheme (breakdown codes). The symbols of this first Indexing Scheme are hierarchically arranged under CPC groups. They are limited in their scope by the scope of the respective symbols of the CPC scheme under which they are indented. This first Indexing Scheme is used for invention information and additional information.

The second Indexing Scheme covers the range B63B 2201/00 - B63B 2241/00, and is used in this subclass and in all other subclasses of the class B63 "Ships or other waterborne vessels; Related equipment". This second Indexing Scheme is a horziontal scheme, and is used for indexing non-trivial information related to the invention information, as far as for this information no place is provided for in a particular group in the class B63.

The use of both Indexing Schemes is obligatory for documents published after July 2011. The contents of these groups are not complete before this date.

Hydrodynamic and hydrostatic features of hulls, such as hull shapes or hull arrangements of multihulls, hydrodynamic features or arrangements of hydrofoils, and means for varying inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls, such as means for reducing surface friction, or wave resistance. In particular, this main group covers:

Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of single hulls deriving lift mainly from water displacement:

Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of multiple hulls deriving lift mainly from water displacement:

Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls of hydroplane type deriving additional lift from hydrodynamic forces:

Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls deriving additional lift from hydrodynamic forces by means of hydrofoils:

Hydrofoils with means for varying the lift or angle of attack, e.g. using flaps

Other means for controlling or varying inherent hydrodynamic features of hulls:

B63B 1/00 is the general home for hull shapes and hull arrangements of vessels of the displacement- or planing-type or of floating structures, as far as hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features are concerned. It further covers hulls comprising hydrofoils for generating additional lift, as well as constructional and hydrodynamic features of such hydrofoils. B63B 1/00 is further the home for means for varying hull resistance, aerodynamic lift producing means, or other means for varying inherent hydrodynamic hull characteristic.

Whilst single hulls with channels are classified in B63B 1/042, shapes of fore parts in B63B 1/06, and shapes of after parts in B63B 1/08, B63H 5/00 covers arrangements of paddle wheels, or of propellers with stationary water-guiding elements, and of arrangements of propellers mounted in recesses.

Whilst hulls exhibiting a spherical shape or a vertically arranged toroïdal shape are classified in B63B 1/047, A63B 19/02 covers freely movable rolling hoops for exercising, like e.g. gyrowheels.

Whilst single hulls extending principally vertically as such are classified in B63B 1/048, B63B 35/44 covers floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, among which those of spar-type semi-submersible structure, or oscillating platforms.

Whilst shapes of fore parts as such are classified in B63B 1/06, and shapes of after parts as such in B63B 1/08, constructional aspects of hull parts, e.g. of stern posts or stems are covered by B63B 3/14, and B63B 35/08 covers ice-breakers, or other vessels or floating structures for operation in ice-infested waters.

Whilst semi-submersibles and their hydrodynamic and hydrostatic features as such are classified in B63B 1/04 (single hulls) or B63B 1/107 (multiple hulls) respectively, B63B 35/44 covers floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, among which semi-submersible offshore structures.

Whilst hydroplane hulls comprising adjustable planing surfaces as such are classified in B63B 1/22, trimflaps are covered by B63B 39/061.

Whilst safety arrangements on vessels of the hydrofoil type are classified in B63B 1/244, B63B 43/18 covers means or arrangements on vessels for preventing collision or reducing collision damage in general, and B63H 20/10 covers outboard propulsion units with or without stabilising fins, foils or anticavitation plates, comprising means for tilting or lifting of the propulsion element when an obstruction is hit.

Whilst arrangements, shape and construction of hydrofoils for producing hydrodynamic lift to the hull are classified in B63B 1/24, B63B 39/06 covers hydrofoils for decreasing vessel movements.

Whilst hydrofoils arranged for rotation around a vertical axis are classified in B63B 1/28, B63H 25/00 covers steering of vessels in general, e.g. by rudders.

In this main group, subject-matter concerning the control of course or position, or the control of attitude, i.e. the control of roll, pitch or yaw, specially adapted to waterborne vehicles, is also classified in the respective subgroups of G05D 1/00 (reference is made to the Special rules of classification within main group G01D 1/00).

Construction of hulls and of hull parts, especially hulls and hull parts made of metallic material, as well as constructional features of hulls or hull parts in which the material has no relevance. In particular, this main group covers:

Construction of hulls of particular type:

Construction of hull parts:

B63B 3/00 is the general home for constructional features of hulls, inparticular of metallic hulls, such as armoured hulls, or hulls assembled from pre-fabricated sections, as well as for constructional features of parts of hulls, such as shells, frames, stern frames, stems, decks, bulkheads, or local reinforcements.

Whilst B63B 3/02 covers the construction of metallic hulls assembled from pre-fabricated sub-units, B63B 7/00 covers collapsible or foldable vessels.

Whilst B63B 3/40 provides for stern post or stern frames, propeller sahft stern tubes are classified in B63B 23/36.

Whilst B63B 3/54 covers the construction of hatch openings in the ship's hull, e.g. of hatch coamings, B63B 19/00 covers arrangements and adaptations of hatches or hatchways, hatch covers, hatch beams or hatch fastenings.

Whilst B63B 3/70 covers localized reinforcements in the ship's hull, e.g. for carrying propulsion power plants or guns, B63B 21/00 covers equipment or arrangements for tying-up, towing or anchoring, e.g. anchor winches, mooring turrets, or towing hooks, B63G 1/00 covers arrangements of guns or missile launchers, and B63H 21/30 covers the mounting of propulsion power plants or units, e.g for anti-vibration purposes.

Concrete hulls with reinforcing members arranged external to the shell.

Hulls predominantly made of plastics, e.g. with reinforcements.

B63B 5/00 is the general home for hulls constructed from non-metallic material, such as wood, concrete or plastics, opposite to hulls made of metallic material, which are classified in B63B 3/00.

However, inflatable hulls are covered by B63B 7/08, the construction of surf-boards, or sailboards, e.g. made of plastics is covered by B63B 32/57, and waterskis or watersledges and their constructional features are classified in B63B 32/30, B63B 34/54.

Vessels characterised by being collapsible or foldable, or deriving at least a substantial portion of hydrostatic lift from inflatable buoyancy members, or the like vessels, as well as related features of such vessels. In particular this main group covers:

Collapsible or foldable vessels comprising rigid parts only:

Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or the like vessels comprising parts of non-rigid material:

B63B 7/00 is the general home for ships, boats, or other waterborne vessels which are adapted for being collapsed or being folded, e.g. by using non-rigid material, or which comprise inflatable hull members.

Whilst B63B 7/00 provides for vessels or boats characterised by being collapsible, foldable or inflatable, B63B 34/20 provides for canoes, kayaks or the like watercraft as such.

Whilst B63B 7/00 and subgroups provide also for collapsible multi-hull vessels, B63B 1/14 provides for multi-hull vessels with resilient connection between the hulls or provided with means for actively varying the hull shape, or configuration, and B63B 3/02 provides for the construction of hulls assembled from prefabricated units, e.g. detachably connetable units.

Whilst B63B 7/08 provides for inflatable vessels with or without having parts of rigid material, B63B 5/24 provides for hulls substantially made from plastics in general, inflatable surf-boards, or the like are classified in B63B 32/51, and inflatable life-saving equipment, like e.g. life-rafts is covered by B63C 9/00.

Whilst B63B 7/085 provides for accessories or mountings specially adapted for inflatable vessels, e.g. seats, sailing kits, or motor mountings, B63B 29/04 provides for furniture peculiar to vessels, B63B 34/20 covers accessories for kayaks or canoes, B63B 32/00 provides for water sports boards and accessories therefor, B63H 8/00 provides for sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing, B63H 9/00 provides for propulsive devices directly acted on by wind, and arrangements thereof on vessels, in general, mountings of outboard propulsion units as such are covered by B63H 20/00, and the mounting of propulsion plant or unit in general, e.g. for anti-vibration purposes is classified in B63H 21/30.

Arrangements and constructional features of means for subdividing the interior of hulls:

B63B 11/00 is the general home for subject-matter concerning the interior subdivision of hulls into smaller compartments.

Whilst B63B 11/02 provides for arrangements of bulkheads, B63B 3/56 provides for constructional aspects of bulkheads, or of bulkhead reinforcements, and arrangements of water-tight doors in bulkheads are covered by B63B 43/24.

Whilst constructional features of bunkers, e.g. structural fuel tanks, or ballast tanks, e.g. with elastic walls, are provided for in B63B 11/04, tanks for fuel, or the like not forming subdivisions of the hull are found in B63B 17/0027, load-accomodatations for fluid cargo are provided for in B63B 25/08, and B63B 57/00 provides for methods or apparatus specially adapted for cleaning of tanks or cargo holds onboard marine vessels.

Whilst propeller-shaft tunnels are classified in B63B 11/06, propeller shaft tubes are provided for in B63H 23/36.

Means and arrangements for taking-in or disposal of ballast water, or for getting-off of unwanted onboard water, e.g. bilge water, or on-deck water:

B63B 13/00 is the general home for pipe system, or the like specially adapted for taking-in or discharging ballast water, as well as for equipment for bailing or discharging unwanted onboard water.

While B63B 13/00 provides for scuppers, i. e. for draining holes for discarging water on deck, draining means for hatches are classified in B63B 19/26.

Whilst B63B 13/00 provides for conduits for taking-in or discharging water, e.g. sea-chests or ports for passing water through vessels' sides, B04 provides for centrifugal bilge-water separators, hawse-holes or hawse-pipes are covered by B63B 21/14, B63H 21/383 covers apparatus or methods specially adapted for onboard handling of cooling water for marine power plants or units, B63J 4/002 for arrangements on vessels of installations for treating ballast water, e.g. prior to discharge, treatment of water, waste water, sewage or sludge as such is classified in C02F, and pipes in general are covered by F16L.

Superstructures, i.e. those parts of a ship or waterborne vessel, other than masts and rigging, which protrude above the main deck, e.g. deckhouses, wheelhouses or superstructures extending from side to side.

Arrangements or adaptations of masts or spars:

Staying of masts or other spars, or of superstructures.

B63B 15/00 is the general home for superstructures, deckhouses, or the like, as well as for masts, e.g. masts for sailing boats, and for the staying or rigging of superstructures or masts, e.g. by means of standing ropes or guy ropes.

Whilst B63B 15/00 provides for masts or superstructures of vessels in general, B63B 27/00 provides for equipment for loading or unloading of cargo or passengers, e.g. derrick posts or deck cranes, arrangements on ships of sails, or other propulsive devices directly acted on by wind, e.g. Flettner rotors are classified in B63H 9/00, B63G 8/04 provides for superstructures of submarine vessels, and E04H provides for masts or staying of masts, in general.

Whilst B63B 15/00 provides for mastfoot arrangements on ships in general, e.g. for articulated, counterbalanced masts, mastfoot arrangements for sailboards are classified in B63H 8/24 (for the mast foot) and B63B 32/68 (for the mast foot rails in the board), and conterbalancing of ships with solid ballast is covered by B63B 39/02 or B63B 43/08.

As bowsprits, even if employed for sailing boats, are no masts (= upright poles), they are to be classified in B63B 15/00 (not in B63B 15/0083). If spars like bowsprits are movable for sail rigging purposes, they are (also or only, depending on the case) classified in B63H 9/10 or subgroups, e.g. under spinnaker poles B63H 9/1071. If they serve other purposes they are also classified with the purpose, if available, e.g. for handling anchors B63B 21/22.

Parts or details of ships or other waterborne vessel, or accessories for the same, for which no other more specific classification place in this subclass is provided for. In particular, this main group covers:

Means or methods for preventing theft or unauthorised use of vessels, other than by using locks.

Tanks for fuel or the like, other than bunkers.

Protective hoods or covers:

Rests, props, or supports for booms or the like, e.g. for main sail booms or derricks, or for other movable ship-borne equipment.

Seaway compensators.

Wavebreakers.

Vibration isolation or damping elements or arrangments, other than for propulsion plants or units, e.g. for elastic support of deckhouses.

Stanchions, guard-rails, bulwarks or the like permanent installations for preventing crew or passengers from being lost overboard.

B63B 17/00 is the residual place for parts or details of, or of accessories for ships and other waterborne vessels.

Whilst B63B 17/00 provides for anti-theft devices, or methods other than using locks, locks for boats, surfboards or parts or accessories thereof are classified in E05B 73/007.

Whilst B63B 17/00 covers caps, hoods, or the like devices for protective purposes, not otherwise provided for, means for protecting propellers or rudders, like propeller guards or line cutters are found in B63H 5/165, and means for protecting power legs of outboard propulsion units, e.g. for units not in use, are classifies in B63H 20/36.

Whilst B63B 17/00 provides for rests or supports for movable shipborne equipment, e.g. main sail booms, derricks, B63C 11/02 provides for storage racks for SCUBA breathing gas tank.

Whilst B63B 17/00 provides for seaway compensators for shipborne equipment in general, e.g. for loading or unloading equipment, self-levelling mountings of furniture are classified in B63B 29/12, and equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted solid body movements of vessel as a whole are found in B63B 39/00

Whilst B63B 17/0018 provides for apparatus or installation for faciltating access to underwater elements of vessels while being afloat, e.g. cofferdams, B63H 5/125 provides for retractable propellers, means for lifting or tilting the power leg of outbord propulsion units are classified in B63H 20/08, and B63H 25/00 provides for retractable thrusters or jets for steering or dynamic anchoring.

Whilst B63B 17/0027 provides for fuel tanks, as well as for accessories therefore, and for arrangements for minimizing pollution by accidents, B63B 25/08 provides for corresponding arrangments for fluid cargo, B63B 11/04 provides for constructional features of bunkers, fuel tanks for vehicles in general are classified in B63K15/03, and B63H 21/38 covers handling of liquids for use in propulsion poser plants.

Whilst B63B 17/0081 provides for methods or arrangments for damping or isolating vibration on individual parts of marine vessels, B63H 1/15 covers marine propellers with anti-vibration means, B63H 21/30 provides for mountings of propulsion power plants or units with active or passive vibration damping, and F16F provides for vibration damping means in general.

Whilst B63B 17/02 provides for awnings, sunroofs, tarpaulins or hatchway-tents, as well as for related accessories, non-fixed roofs for vehicles in general are found in B60J 7/00, protective coverings for vehicles when not in use, in general, are classified in B60J 11/00, and tents or canopies in general are found in E04H 15/00.

Whilst B63B 17/04 provides for stanchions, guard-rails or bulwarks, E04F 11/18 provides for balustrades or handrails in general.

Whilst B63B 17/06 provides for methosd or means for discharge of refuse, e.g. of ash, treating refuse or sludge, e.g. of tank washing sludge is classified in B63J 4/00, and removal of domestic or like refuse in general is found in B65F.

Ports, doors, windows, hatches, hatch covers or other openings or covers specially adapted for ships or other waterborne vessels as well as arrangements thereof on ships or other waterborne vessels. In particular, this main group covers:

Ship's windows or the like:

Ports or like openings in the ship's sides, in particular providing access to the interior of the hull:

Hatches, hatchways, or hatch-covers, or related equipment or installations:

B63B 19/00 is the general home for openings in the hull or superstructure, or in structural elements of ships or other waterborne vessels, such as bulkheads or decks, including respective closing members therefor, such as doors, windows, or hatch covers, which openings allow for access from outside to the interior, for access from one interior compartment to another, or for viewing from inside to the outside environment.

Whilst B63B 19/00 provides for arrangements or adaptations of doors in or for use on marine vessels, or the like in general, B63B 43/24 provides for arrangements of watertight doors in bulkheads.

Whilst B63B 19/02 provides for clear-view sreens or windshields, canopies connected to windshields are classified in B63B 17/02.

Whilst B63B 19/08 provides for side ports, bow ports, or stern ports, such ports are classified in B63B 27/143, if the member closing the access opening in the shell itself is adapted for serving as loading or unloading ramp.

Whilst B63B 19/24 provides for hatch fastenings, e.g. cleats, devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together, e.g. nails, bolts, circlips, clamps, clips, wedges, joints or jointing in general are found in F16B.

Whilst B63B 19/26 provides for water draining means specially adapted to hatches or hatchways, draining or bailing unwanted onboard water in general is classified in B63B 13/00.

In this main group, side ports adapted for use as bathing platform are also classified in B63B 29/02.

Means, methods, arrangements or equipment for mooring vessels or other waterborne vessels to piers, posts or the like, or the sea bed, anchors and related means or methods, as well as equipment for shifting, towing or pushing of vessels. In particular, this main group covers:

Mooring bars, mooring yokes or the like, e.g. with articulations on both ends.

Equipment for mooring, anchoring, towing or pushing, not provided for in other places under this main group:

Magnetic mooring equipment.

Equipment for fastening or guiding anchor chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like, e.g. T-shaped cleats, ship-borne bollards, specially adapted clamping devices, fairleads, rat guards or hawse-holes.

Equipment and methods characterised by the use of winches.

Stoppers for anchor chains.

Adaptations of chains, mooring cables, ropes, hawsers, or the like, or parts of the same, e.g. weights attached to mooring lines, or anchor chains and respective arrangements.

Handling or lashing of anchors:

Anchors as such:

Sea-anchors, or drogues.

Arrangements and related methods for anchoring special vessels like offshore structures:

Boat-hooks or the like

Towing or pushing equipment:

B63B 21/00 is the general home for ship-related methods, or shipborne means or equipment for mooring, anchoring, shifting, towing or pushing of vessels.

However, buoys specially adapted for mooring waterborne vessels, in particular if combined with means for transferring liquids to or from these vessel, are classified in B63B 22/02, and fixations or other anchoring arrangements specially adapted for buoys are classified in B63B 22/04.

Whilst B63B 21/00 provides for ship-borne mooring equipment, E02B provides for landborne equipment for shipping, e.g. dockside mooring equipment.

In this main group, next to classifying the respective method in the proper place in this main group, remotely controlled subsea assistance tools, or tool related methods specially adapted for handling of anchors or mooring lines, e.g. using remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV's) for connecting mooring lines to anchors, are indexed with code B63B 2021/007, and are also classified in the respective place for the tool, e.g. underwater tools in B63C 11/52, or remotely operated underwater vehicles in B63G 8/001.

Buoys, i.e. unmanned floating or submerged buoyant objects, either moored or anchored to a particular position, or freely floating, which are adapted for being used in a wide variety of applications, among which anchored buoys which may be used for mooring vessels, wherein such mooring buoys may be adapted for transferring fluids to or from the moored vessel, or may be used for marking navigational routes, or freely floating buoys which may be equipped with sensing devices, e.g. for oceanographic research. In particular, this main group covers:

Mooring buoys in general, among which:

Mooring buoys with means for loading or unloading fluids, e.g. of oil to or from an oil tanker:

Arrangements for anchoring buoys or for fixing buoys to a desired position or to particular object, among which:

Buoys comprising means for controlling the floating conditions or position, e.g. ballast means, foils or tethers.

Buoys for marking navigational routes, e.g. whistle buoys or buoys supporting lights.

Buoys of particular types or adapted for particular use or purpose, among which:

B63B 22/00 is the general home for buoys, i.e. for small, substantially unmanned floating objects which are either moored or anchored to a particular position, e.g. for marking navigational routes or underwater obstacles, or which are freely drifting, e.g. for oceanograhic purposes.

Whilst B63B 22/00 provides for buoys in general, B63C 9/08 provides for buoys or the like specially adapted for life-saving purposes.

Whilst B63B 22/02 provides for buoys adapted for mooring vessels, mooring of ships or other waterborne vessels in general is found in B63B 21/00.

Whilst B63B 22/04 provides for fixations, or other anchoring arrangements of buoys, B63B 21/00 provides for tying-up or mooring of ships or other waterborne vessels in general, in particular anchoring for special vessels is classified in B63B 21/50.

Whilst B63B 22/16 provides for buoys specially adapted for marking navigation routes, arrangements of such buoys are classified in B63B 51/00.

In this main group, buoys specially adapted for indicating the location of underwater objects, e.g. sunken vessels, which are classified in B63C 7/26, and marker buoys specially adapted for signalling the presence of divers underwater which are classified in B63C 11/26, are also classified in the respective group under this main group, if particular technical features are of general interest. Marker buoys for anchors are also indexed in B63B 2021/225.

In this main group, the indexing code for submerged mooring buoys B63B 2022/028 is allocated independent of the classification in any of the sub-groups for buoys for transferring fluids B63B 22/021 - B63B 22/026.

Equipment onboard ships, or other waterborne vessels for handling lifeboats, or other small boats, e.g. dinghies or tenders adapted for being used as service boats, or as links between ships riding at anchor and the shore. In particular, this main group covers:

Davits, i.e. crane-like devices with arms from which boats, or the like water-craft can be lowered by means of cables or ropes:

Free fall devices or installations, with means for projecting or releasing boats to perform a free fall movement to the water surface.

Apparatus or devices for controlling the boat's movement to the water surface by means of guides:

Methods or means for transporting boats from a storage position to the respective davit.

Use of particular means for boat lowering or hoisting:

Methods and devices for securing or stowing boats on deck:

Automatic condition controlled equipment for handling lifeboats, e.g. with tackle release upon boat's contact with water surface.

B63B 1/00 is the general home for

Arrangements in or on ships, or other waterborne vessels for stowing, trimming or otherwise accomodating loads or cargo, as well as ships or vessels specially adapted correspondingly. In particular this main group covers:

Arrangements for non-bulk cargo, and vessels chacterised by such arrangments:

Arrangements for bulk cargo, and vessels chacterised by such arrangements:

B63B 23/00 is the general home for arrangements on ships for accomodating load or cargo, as well as for vessels characterised by such arrangements.

Whilst cargo vessels characterised by the accomodation of particular kinds of load, such as LASH-carriers, Ro-Ro-vessels or tankers are typically classified in B63B 23/00, some special vessels, such as vessels for carrying very large loads, e.g. topsides or modules of offshore structures, fishing vessels, barges or ferries have found their place in B63B 35/00.

Whilst arrangements for fluid cargo comprising separation membranes, e.g. for separating different kind of fluid cargo, or for segregated ballast are classified in B63B 25/08, bunkers or ballast tanks with elastic walls are classified in B63B 11/04.

In this main group, elastic separations in tanks for fluid cargo, are indexed with B63B 2025/085, however if this separation is adapted for separating, within a tank, variable size spaces for fluid cargo from variable size spaces for water ballast, such as to provide for a segregated ballast configuration, then such separations are also classified in B63B 11/04.

Arrangements in or on ships, or other waterborne vessels for loading or unloading freight, or for embarking or disembarking passengers, as well as methods and devices specially adapted therefor. In particular this main group covers:

Arrangements and methods for loading or unloading ships involving an intermittent action:

Arrangements and methods for loading or unloading ships involving a continuous action:

Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment specially adapted for transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures:

Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment specially adapted for for floating cargo.

B63B 27/00 is the home for ship-borne arrangements or methods for loading or unlading ships or other waterborne vessels, or for embarking or disembarking passengers or crew members.

Whilst B63B 27/00 provides for ship-based loading or unloading means, B65G 67/60 provides for loading or unlading ships in general, and for land-borne arrangements and methods for loading ships in particular.

Whilst ramps simultaneously serving as bow-, stern- or side-ports are classified in B63B 27/14, bow-, stern- or side-ports in general are found in B63B 19/08.

Whilst B63B 27/16 covers, among others, the deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts or hoists, B63G 8/001 provides for docking stations for unmanned underwater vessels, or the like.

Whilst B63B 27/34 covers ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo transfer at sea between ships or between ships and off-shore structures using pipe-lines, buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids , e.g. liquids are classified in B63B 22/021

Ramps adapted for use as bathing platforms are also classified in B63B 29/02.

Onboard arrangements or areas adapted for serving as habitat for crew or passengers, as well as devices specially adapted for this purpose, as far as there is no other classification place provided for such arrangements or devices. In particular this main group covers:

Cabins or other living spaces as such, as well as their construction or arrangement on ships, or other waterborne vessels:

Furniture specially adapted for use on vessels:

Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices specially adapted for use on ships:

Soil water discharges.

Arrangements or adaptations of swimming pools.

Arrangements or adaptations of ladders, e.g. on masts.

Galleys.

In this main group, bathing platforms arranged in the form of side-ports, or stern-ports are also classified in B63B 19/08, and bathing platforms arranged in the form of ramps are also classified in B63B 27/143.

Furniture such as seats specially adapted for inflatable vehicles are also classified in B63B 7/085.

Accessories specially adapted for canoes, kayaks, or the like are classified in B63B 34/26.

Boards where the user lies in a prone position, e.g. for use in sports-like hydro speed or river-boarding.

Water skis or monoskis, i.e. one or two skis fastened to the user's feet.

Boards characterised by the materials, which include laminated materials, the layup of materials, i.e. the arrangement of the different material layers.

Board appendages characterised by the materials, which include laminated materials, the layup of materials, i.e. the arrangement of the different material layers.

Structures which are not necessarily buoyant, but which are using hydrofoils allowing the lifting of the structure at a certain speed, e.g. Air-chair, Aqua skipper, hydrofoil bikes, or hydrofoil kayak.

Ships or other waterborne vessels or structures which are designed or adapted for fulfilling special tasks or for serving a particular purpose, e.g. icebreakers, fishery vessels, lightships, rafts, offhore structures, or pleasure boats, like surfboards, but also waterskis or the like. In particular, this main group covers:

Vessels or other floating structures specially adapted for particular transport tasks:

Vessels or other floating structures specially adapted for particular operational tasks:

Vessels or other floating structures specially adapted for particular navigation conditions:

Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, workshops, or the like floating strutures adapted for special purposes, in particular:

Unmanned surface vessels, e.g. remotely controlled.

Barges or lighters, e.g flexible barges or self-discharging barges.

Pontoons, e.g. foldable or rigidly-interconnected.

Wind propelled vessels comprising arrangements, installations or equipment specially adapted therefor, charcterised by features other than wind propulsion arrangements, installations, or devices, such as sails, running rigging, or the like, and other than sailboards, or the like or related equipment.

Rafts, e.g. formed from logs or the like.

Canoes, kayaks or the like; Equipment specially adapted therefor;

Boats, or other floating structures for pleasure or sport, not otherwise provided for, in particular:

B63B 35/00 is the general home for ships, floating structures or other water-craft, which are particularly designed for special purposes.

Whilst B63B 35/00 provides for ships or other floating vessels adapted for special puposes, anchoring arrangments for such special vessels are classified in B63B 21/50.

Whilst B63B 35/44 provides for offshore structures or platforms which are floating or have substantial positive buoyancy when in use, construction of the hull of such floating offhore platforms is classifed in B63B 75/00, E02B 17/00 is the home of offshore platforms which, when in use, rest on the sea bed, even if the platform or parts thereof exhibit positive buoyancy during transport to or during installation at the site of use, or during recovery or relocation after use, in particular, jack-up platforms with floating topsides, which are jacked-up above the sea level when in use, are classified in E02B 17/021.

Whilst B63B 35/50 provides for ships or other floating structures for ar carrying aircaft, e.g. floating landing strips, B63B 17/00 provises for seaway-compensators, B63G 11/00 for military aircraft-carriers, and aircraft-carrier-deck installations, like arresting gear or catapults are classified in B64F 1/00.

Whilst B63B 35/56 provides for lightships as such, marking of naviagational routes, and related arrangements are classified in B63B 51/00, and buoys specially adapted for marking navigational routes are provided for in B63B 22/16.

Whilst B63B 34/20 provides for canoes, kayaks or the like boats as such, and related equipment, vessels characterised by being collapsible, foldable or inflatable are classified in B63B 7/00, and equipment contributing to the propulsion of canoes or cayaks, like movable thwarts or footrests, or paddles is classified in B63H 16/00.

Whilst B63B 34/50 provides for body supporting buoyant devices with seat, e.g. with ring or U-shaped buoyant member, floating general purpose seats are classified in A47C 15/006, B63C 9/08 provides for life-buoys or life-rings, and B63C 9/30 for floating furniture specially adapted for life-saving.

In this main group, subject-matter concerning vessels, or floating structures specially adapted for operation in ice-infested water, and at the same time adapted for an other particular purpose, is classified in B63B 35/08 and subgroups, and is also classified in the respective other particular groups of B63B 35/00, e.g. floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms or workshops for operation in ice infested waters are also classified in B63B 35/44.

In this main group, subject-matter concerning devices or installations for collecting pollution from the surface of open water installed on board of vessels specially adapted for this task, e.g. devices for collecting spilled oil, is also classified in E02B 15/00 and subgroups.

In this main group, towed floating structures for pleasure or sport, i.e. structures having the towing member, e.g. tow-rope, directly connected thereto, are indexed with code B63B 34/54, and are also classified in the respective place for the towed structure as such, e.g. water sledges B63B 34/54.

Reference B63B 21/56 is non-limiting in the subgroup B63B 35/66. CPC will be corrected once this inconsistency is resolved in IPC.

Ship-borne devices, installations or means for reducing the amplitude of the ship or vessel motions such as pitch or roll, as well as devices for indicating the position of a vessel in relation to its line of travel, or the vessel's orientation in space, e.g. the heeling angle, or for indicating the rolling period, or the like. In particular, this main group covers:

Equipment to decrease ship's vibrations produced externally to the ship, e.g. wave-induced vibrations.

Equipment to decrease solid body motions of ships or other waterborne vessels:

Apparatus for indicating vessel attitude, e.g.

B63B 39/00 is the general home for a variety of ship-borne equipment adapted for minimizing ship movements like pitch or roll, or for apparatus for indicating the vessel's attitude.

Whilst equipment for minimizing ship motions, e.g. gyroscopes, bilge-keels or lift-controlled stabilizing foils are classified in B63B 39/00, B63B 1/00 covers hull shapes adapted for minimizing such motions, e.g. semi-submersible hulls, B63B 3/00 provides for the construction of rigid keels, B63B 41/00 provides for movable keels, and B63B 43/04 provides for means for improving ship stability, such as solid or water ballast.

In this main group, subject-matter concerning the control of attitude, i.e. the control of roll, pitch or yaw, specially adapted to waterborne vehicles, is also classified in G05D 1/49 (reference is made to the Special rules of classification within main group G01D 1/00).

The breakdown indexing codes B63B 2039/063, B63B 2039/065, B63B 2039/066 and B63B 2039/068 arranged under subgroup B63B 39/06 are also used for indexing movable keels, like drop keels, classified in B63B 41/00.

Keels which are movable with respect to the hull of the water-craft, e.g. retractable, collapsible or telescoping keels, such as daggerboards or lee-boards.

Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils:

Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils:

Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils:

In this main group, the breakdown indexing codes B63B 2039/063, B63B 2039/065, B63B 2039/066 and B63B 2039/068 arranged under subgroup B63B 39/06 are also used for indexing the corresponding features of movable keels.

Means or methods for improving the safety of ship or other waterborne vessels, e.g. by improving stabilty or buoyancy, as far as there is no other classification place provided for. In particular, this main group covers:

Methods or means for reducing the risk of capzising or sinking:

Methods or means for preventing collision, or reducing collision damage, e.g. feelers.

Assemblages or relative disposition of apparatus for signalling or lighting on ships or other waterborne vessels, as well as modifications of such apparatus if of interest for the respective arrangement concerned, and signalling or lighting devices specially adapted for use onboard marine vessels or other waterborne structures. In particular this main group covers:

Arrangements or adaptations of illuminating devices:

In this main group, the use of the indexing scheme B63B 2201/00 (Signalling devices) is mandatory for indexing non-trivial features which are related to the invention information.

Assemblages or relative disposition of nautical instruments or navigational aids, e.g. on a vessel's bridge, as well as modifications of such instruments or aids if of interest for the respective arrangement concerned.

Systems or methods for marking navigational routes, or arrangements of devices or installations specially adapted therefor. In particular this main group covers:

Arrangements of lightships, as well as systems or methods using lightships for marking navigational routes.

Arrangments of lighthouses, as well as systems or methods using lighthouses for marking navigational routes.

Arrangements of freeley floating devices that produce a bright light for signalling, illumination, or identification, e.g. torches, as well as systems or methods using such freely floating devices for marking navigational routes.

While B63B 51/00 is the general home for means and methods for marking navigational routes, B63B 22/16 provides for buoys specially adapted for marking a navigational route, lightships a such are covered by B63B 35/56, and constructional aspects of lighthouses are covered by E04H 12/00.

The scope of this main group deviates from the scope of the corresponding IPC group in as far as it covers also arrangements of buoys for marking navigational routes, i.e. assemblages or relative dispositions of such buoys, as well as systems or methods for marking navigational routes using buoys, while buoys specially adapted for marking a navigational route as such are classified in B63B 22/16.

Devices or methods specially adapted for cleaning tanks or cargo holds of ships or other marine vessels. In particular, this main group covers:

Protection methods or means peculiar to the protection of the hull of ships or other waterborne vessels, as well as devices specially adapted for cleaning ships, other marine vessels or hulls thereof. In particular, this main group covers:

Fenders or rubbing strakes integral with ship's hulls or the like, or specially adapted for protecting such hulls against impact damage, e.g. inflatable fenders.

Preventing hull fouling with barnacles or the like marine growth, e.g. by using anti-fouling paints, or by wrapping the hull with an impermeable sheet.

Devices specially adapted for cleaning ship's hulls or hulls of other waterborne vessels, in particular:

B63B 1/00 is the general home for methods or means for protecting ship's hulls, for preventing marine growth, as well as for cleaning devices specially adapted for cleaning vessels, in particular for cleaning ship's underwater hulls. However, cleaning of vehicle in general is found in B60S, whereas cleaning in general is classified in B08B, C09D 5/16 covers anti-fouling coatings, and C23F 13/00 covers inhibiting corrosion of metals by means of anodic or cathodic protection.

Equipment, not otherwise provided for, used for shipping in its broadest sense, i.e. concerning ships collectively, for marine navigation, or in view of putting persons or things onboard ships, or transporting them by ships. This main group serves as residual place for such equipment.

Methods to manufacture vessel hulls or marine structures, e.g. manufacturing of modules or hull blocks with subsequent assembling in dock.

Methods to manufacture floating marine structures, e.g. floating offshore platforms are classified in B63B 75/00. Artificial islands mounted on piles or like supports, e.g. platforms on raisable legs or offshore constructions and their construction methods are classified in E02B 17/00.

E.g. transporting or installing floating offshore platforms on site by means of specially adapted marine structures, e.g. by means of barges or heavy-lift vessels, able to sink and be placed under the platform and then to lift the platform using floating equipment, e.g. using ballasts.

Monitoring in order e.g. to determine fatigue, to predict failure, to predict life time of vessel parts or for safety

Monitoring in order to determine e.g. speed, routing, maintenance schedules, energy saving, fuel economy

Indexing codes related to a non-trivial use, characteristics or special adaptations of signalling devices, as far as related to invention information. In particular, this main group covers:

Signalling devices characterised by the type of the signal:

Signalling devices charcterised by the apparatus of signal generation:

Acessories for signalling:

Adaptations for particular purposes, e.g. for signalling anomalies.

Indexing codes related to a non-trivial use, characteristics or special adaptations of communication means, as far as related to invention information, e.g. making use of telephones.

Indexing codes related to a non-trivial use, characteristics or special adaptations of ropes, cords, line, leash or the like adapted for providing a line connection between a user, an object or a location in space, like the water surface, and another object, e.g. a submerged object, as far as related to invention information, and as far as not otherwise provided for in this class B63. In particular, this main group covers:

Tethers combined with tether payout means:

Tethers adapted for salvaging or recovering underwater objects.

Indexing codes related to a non-trivial use or adaptations of means providing buoyant lift or of ballast means, as far as related to invention information, e.g. means adapted for varying buoyancy or ballast, as far as not otherwise provided for in this class B63.

Indexing codes related to non-trivial ways of energy supply to devices or systems, including watercraft, or to non-trivial means for activating an apparatus, which ways or means are related to invention information, e.g. using solar energy as energy source, or activating an inflation device by contact with water, and as far as not otherwise provided for in this class B63.

Indexing codes related to non-trivial use or applications which are related to the invention information, e.g. oceanography, diving, or operation in ice-infested waters, and as far as not otherwise provided for in this class B63.

Indexing codes related to a non-trivial use of particular navigational aids, as well as to non-trivial adaptations of such navigational aids for use onboard ships or other waterborne vessel, which is related to invention information, and which is not otherwise provided for in this class B63, e.g. a non-trivial use of the Global Positioning System GPS.

Indexing codes related to a non-trivial use of particular means or methods for releasably or permanently, rigidly or movably connecting members, parts or elements together, as far as related to invention information, and as far as not otherwise provioded for in this class B63. In particular, this main group covers:

Connecting means or methods characterised by the joining method, or by the use of particular joining means:

Connecting substantially rigid members in a way that one or more degrees of freedom are allowed, e.g. using hinges, articulations or universal joints, or using telescoping joints.

Indexing codes related to a non-trivial use of particular materials for some parts or elements, or in view of particular purposes, which is related to invention information, e.g. the use of stainless steel for the blades of an ice-going propeller, opposite to the use of AlCuNic-bronce as usual for propellers. In particular, this main group covers:

The use of metallic materials, e.g. of stainless steels, titanium or shape-memory alloys.

The use of magnetic materials.

The use of vegetable materials, e.g of wood products.

The use of synthetic materials, e.g. of synthetic rubber, fibre-reinforced plastics or foamed synthetic materials.

The use of concretes, e.g. of prestressed concrete.

The use of glass, e.g. of hollow glass microspheres.

The use of bituminous materials.

The use of ice, e.g. as a construction material or for closing leaks.

Indexing codes related to particular non-trivial design characteristics related to invention information, e.g. particular shapes or particular intended use, and not otherwise provided for in this class B63. In particular this main group covers: