Provided is a mobile object including: a mobile object information transmitting unit configured to transmit, to another mobile object by optical wireless communication by a first optical wireless communication unit, first mobile object information including first inertial measurement information and first body control information; a mobile object information receiving unit configured to receive, from the another mobile object by optical wireless communication by the first optical wireless communication unit, second mobile object information including second inertial measurement information and second body control information; and an optical axis direction control unit configured to control a direction of an optical axis of the first optical wireless communication unit on a basis of the first mobile object information and the second mobile object information.

A method for the use in offshore crew transfer when transferring a person between a crew transfer vessel and a structure or vice versa where a prediction system for predicting vessel bow motion in response to sea waves detected by said wave detection device is used. An indicator is adapted to indicate a prediction of vessel bow motion below a first bow motion threshold value within a first predetermined time period based on said prediction system. The transfer of the person only takes place when said vessel bow motion is indicated to be below the first vessel bow motion threshold value within the first predetermined time period.

Methods and apparatus for anchoring a boat are described. Novel methods provide means for sensing and measuring the real time rate and length of rode release based on detecting real time changes in the angular position of a windlass by computer vision using a portable computing device. Rode release is also detected using novel methods based on sensing sound, rode chain movement, and sensing acceleration and/or motion. The apparatus can include software operable to provide safe anchoring based on monitoring real times values of the rate and length of rode release, comparing these values to the speed and position of the boat, and providing local and remote status and alarm information to crew members.

A method for the use in offshore crew transfer when transferring a person between a crew transfer vessel and a structure or vice versa where a prediction system for predicting vessel bow motion in response to sea waves detected by said wave detection device is used. An indicator is adapted to indicate a prediction of vessel bow motion below a first bow motion threshold value within a first predetermined time period based on said prediction system. The transfer of the person only takes place when said vessel bow motion is indicated to be below the first vessel bow motion threshold value within the first predetermined time period.

Devices, systems and methods for real-time wave monitoring are described. One example system for real-time monitoring of wave conditions includes a plurality of buoys, wherein each of the plurality of buoys comprises a sensor array configured to continuously monitor one or more characteristics of the wave conditions, a transceiver configured to transmit, to a remote server, information corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the wave conditions over a wireless communication channel, and a tether that physically couples the buoy to an anchor, wherein the information from each of the plurality of buoys is combined with a user preference to provide a user with a message regarding the wave conditions in response to a user request, and wherein a duration between the user request and transmission of the information from each of the plurality of buoys is less than a predetermined value.

Systems for real-time wave monitoring, which provide real-time updates of wave conditions to users who wish to access the beach for leisure or sporting activities, are described. One example system includes a plurality of buoys and a transceiver. Each of the plurality of buoys includes a sensor array configured to continuously monitor one or more characteristics of the wave conditions, and the transceiver is configured to transmit, to a remote server, information corresponding to the one or more characteristics of the wave conditions over a wireless communication channel. The information from each of the plurality of buoys is combined with a user preference to provide a user with a message regarding the wave conditions in response to a user request, and a duration between the user request and transmission of the information from each of the plurality of buoys is less than a predetermined value.

A watercraft safety flag assembly comprising a flexible planar visibility-enhancing element having a forward edge and a rear edge spaced from the forward edge by a width, and a rigid planar stiffening element secured to the flexible planar visibility-enhancing element, where the planar stiffening element substantially spans the width of the flexible planar visibility-enhancing element and is configured to provide maximum stiffening proximate the forward edge, minimal stiffening proximate the rear edge, and decreasing stiffening with increasing distance from the forward edge. There is also provided a header element joined to the forward edge of the flexible planar visibility-enhancing element and which forms a cylindrical sleeve for receiving a mast, where the rigid planar stiffening element extends into the cylindrical sleeve formed by the header element.

The various embodiments herein provide a safety device for anticipating and detecting a potential incident in a water body. The safety device comprises a sensor unit, a processing unit, a data transceiver and a computer readable program. The sensor unit is installed over a surface of the safety device to monitor a human and a water vehicle activity and assess a water condition in a device's vicinity. The processing unit is a core module connected to the sensor unit within a housing to receive, process and transmit a data in a real time. The data transceiver is connected to the processing unit through a bidirectional channel to a monitoring authority. The computer readable program is installed in the safety device and runs over the processing unit. The computer readable program acts as an interface between the safety device and the monitoring authorities.

A boat includes: a propulsion device configured to generate propulsion force for a vessel body from driving force from an engine; a detection unit configured to detect a current position, a bow direction, and a movement speed of the vessel body; a steering device configured to change a cruising direction of the vessel body; a steering sensor configured to detect an operation amount of the steering device; and a control device that is connected to the propulsion device, the detection unit, and the steering sensor, and is configured to acquire an operating status of the propulsion device and a detection result obtained by the detection unit and the steering sensor, and to control the propulsion device based on the detection result. The control device executes a turning operation with the propulsion device, when the operation amount of the steering device detected by the steering sensor exceeds a threshold.

A method for increasing cargo capacity of a floating vessel with a buoyant hull for cargo, with a load line presentation device affixed to the buoyant hull without interrupting water flow along the buoyant hull the load line presentation device presenting: a baseline load line indicator plimsoll mark and a plurality of increased capacity load line indicator plimsoll marks, with an increased capacity model in memory connected to a processor in communication with the load line presentation device; the increased capacity model configured for automatically integrating a plurality of variables including: wave size, wave period, wind speed, surface current, vessel length, type of vessel, quantity of disconnected superstructures, quantity of sheer, and bow height and identifying increased capacity load line plimsoll mark for a voyage of the floating vessel, the load line presentation device displays the increased capacity load plimsoll mark improving baseline capacity of the buoyant hull from 1% to 30%.