A stabilized flotation platform that is used for supporting supplies for those enjoying time in the water. The uniqueness is the stability provided by its construction such that materials contained on or in the device do not spill into the water.

A vessel includes a vessel body, an engine, a propulsion device, a drive shaft, a partition wall, a bearing, an elastic member, an outer housing, and a positioning member. The drive shaft transmits a driving force of the engine to the propulsion device, and the propulsion device generates a thrust by the driving force. The drive shaft is inserted into an insertion hole of the partition wall. The bearing rotatably supports the drive shaft. The elastic member supports the bearing. The outer housing supports the elastic member, and is fixed to the partition wall. The positioning member positions the elastic member with respect to the bearing and the outer housing by pressing the elastic member.

A vessel includes a vessel body, an engine, a propulsion device, a drive shaft, a partition wall, a bearing, an elastic member, an outer housing, and a positioning member. The drive shaft transmits a driving force of the engine to the propulsion device, and the propulsion device generates a thrust by the driving force. The drive shaft is inserted into an insertion hole of the partition wall. The bearing rotatably supports the drive shaft. The elastic member supports the bearing. The outer housing supports the elastic member, and is fixed to the partition wall. The positioning member positions the elastic member with respect to the bearing and the outer housing by pressing the elastic member.

A floatation system for a marine vessel with a starboard pontoon, a port pontoon, and a center pontoon positioned therebetween. Outer strakes each extending along an outer length between forward and aft ends, each having an outer surface at an outer angle from a horizontal plane and an inner surface at an inner angle from the horizontal plane, and each being coupled to one of the starboard pontoon and the port pontoon. Inner strakes each extending along an inner length between forward and aft ends, each having an outer surface at an outer angle from a horizontal plane and an inner surface at an inner angle from the horizontal plane, and each being coupled to the center pontoon. The outer angles of the inner strakes are greater than the outer angles of the outer strakes and the inner angles of the inner strakes are less than 90°.

A floatation system for a marine vessel with a starboard pontoon, a port pontoon, and a center pontoon positioned therebetween. Outer strakes each extending along an outer length between forward and aft ends, each having an outer surface at an outer angle from a horizontal plane and an inner surface at an inner angle from the horizontal plane, and each being coupled to one of the starboard pontoon and the port pontoon. Inner strakes each extending along an inner length between forward and aft ends, each having an outer surface at an outer angle from a horizontal plane and an inner surface at an inner angle from the horizontal plane, and each being coupled to the center pontoon. The outer angles of the inner strakes are greater than the outer angles of the outer strakes and the inner angles of the inner strakes are less than 90°.

An offshore floating structure such as a wind turbine includes a number of improvements. The floating structure can include a chain engaging system configured to prevent any lengthwise movement of a mooring chain. The floating structure can also include a mooring fixture pivotally coupled to the hull to prevent shock loads from being transmitted directly from the mooring line to the hull. The floating structure can also include installation aid structures that provide additional water plane area and/or buoyancy to the structure. The floating structure can also have a hull that is optimized for use as an offshore wind turbine.

An offshore floating structure such as a wind turbine includes a number of improvements. The floating structure can include a chain engaging system configured to prevent any lengthwise movement of a mooring chain. The floating structure can also include a mooring fixture pivotally coupled to the hull to prevent shock loads from being transmitted directly from the mooring line to the hull. The floating structure can also include installation aid structures that provide additional water plane area and/or buoyancy to the structure. The floating structure can also have a hull that is optimized for use as an offshore wind turbine.

A drag-reducing separator plate for a moonpool, wherein the upper part thereof is a straight wall perpendicular to the sea level, the lower part thereof is connected to a baffle, and a connecting portion is connected between the straight wall and the baffle. The connecting portion may be in the shape of an arc. The shape of the drag-reducing separator plate matches that of the rear wall of the moonpool. During navigation, the drag-reducing separator plate is located in the middle or front of the moonpool, and can cooperate with a drag-reducing notch on the rear wall of the moonpool to greatly reduce the drag induced by intense sloshing of water in the moonpool during navigation of an offshore vessel. When offshore operations are performed under a station keeping condition, the drag-reducing separator plate is moved to the rear wall of the moonpool to avoid hindering the offshore operations.

A drag-reducing separator plate for a moonpool, wherein the upper part thereof is a straight wall perpendicular to the sea level, the lower part thereof is connected to a baffle, and a connecting portion is connected between the straight wall and the baffle. The connecting portion may be in the shape of an arc. The shape of the drag-reducing separator plate matches that of the rear wall of the moonpool. During navigation, the drag-reducing separator plate is located in the middle or front of the moonpool, and can cooperate with a drag-reducing notch on the rear wall of the moonpool to greatly reduce the drag induced by intense sloshing of water in the moonpool during navigation of an offshore vessel. When offshore operations are performed under a station keeping condition, the drag-reducing separator plate is moved to the rear wall of the moonpool to avoid hindering the offshore operations.

A novel rotatable hull that generally includes a hull that is capable of rotating around an attachment point where it is connected to a vessel. In preferred embodiments, an outdoor motor mounted to the rotatable hull will turn to vector thrust and apply a moment to rotate the hull around a nominally vertical axis where the hull connects to the vessel. The invention also is directed to a vessel, which employs a plurality of rotatable hulls. A plurality of rotatable hulls can be arranged into a tripod, square or other stable geometric configuration and connected by a structure to form a vessel that can move in any direction along the plane of the surface of the water with or without changing the yaw axis orientation of the connecting structure. This may be useful in applications such as catching objects that are descending from the sky.