CPC B63H 21/213 (2013.01) [B63H 2021/216 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. A remote-control unit for operating a marine vessel, comprising:
at least one main engine control that is configured to operate each of a port main engine and a starboard main engine of the marine vessel;
at least one thruster control that is capable of controlling both a thruster as well as each of the port main engine and the starboard main engine;
a radio transceiver;
wherein the at least one main engine control is configured to cause the remote-control unit to transmit, via the radio transceiver to a helm unit of the marine vessel, main engine control signals to control at least one of the port main engine or the starboard main engine in a direction and at a speed relative to an amount of actuation of the at least one main engine control;
wherein when the marine vessel does not include a thruster, the thruster control is configured to cause the remote-control unit to transmit, via the radio transceiver, main engine control signals to jointly operate both the port main engine and the starboard main engine to achieve a virtual thruster effect on the marine vessel, according to a thruster profile that is stored in the remote control unit.
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