The invention relates to a buoy comprising a buoyant, plastic core component, and a plurality of detachable flotation components that support and surround the core component. The buoy is preferably more than 2.5 meters diameter, but the diameter of the core component is preferably less than or equal to 2.35 meters diameter. This facilitates transport in a single shipping container. A novel tie bar assembly and novel lifting/mooring mounts are also disclosed.

The invention relates to a buoy comprising a buoyant, plastic core component, and a plurality of detachable flotation components that support and surround the core component. The buoy is preferably more than 2.5 meters diameter, but the diameter of the core component is preferably less than or equal to 2.35 meters diameter. This facilitates transport in a single shipping container. A novel tie bar assembly and novel lifting/mooring mounts are also disclosed.

Disclosed is a mechanical connection device designed for the detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines, advantageously a mooring line and a messenger line. The mechanical connection device includes two modules that are attached to a free end of the offshore lines. The mechanical connection device includes a locking unit that includes an operating member, to operate the locking unit from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. The operating member is movable between two positions with a translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state, preferably in a downstream to upstream direction.

Disclosed is a mechanical connection device designed for the detachable mechanical connection of the free ends of two offshore lines, advantageously a mooring line and a messenger line. The mechanical connection device includes two modules that are attached to a free end of the offshore lines. The mechanical connection device includes a locking unit that includes an operating member, to operate the locking unit from a locked configuration to an unlocked configuration. The operating member is movable between two positions with a translational degree of freedom parallel to the longitudinal axis of the modules in the assembled state, preferably in a downstream to upstream direction.

A floating power-generation group comprises a floating hub such as a spar buoy that is anchored to subsea foundations by anchor lines. Floating power producer units such as wind turbines are connected electrically and mechanically to the hub. The power producer units are each moored by mooring lines. At least one mooring line extends inwardly toward the hub to effect mechanical connection to the hub and at least one other mooring line extends outwardly toward a subsea foundation. The groups are combined as a set whose hubs are connected electrically to each other via subsea energy storage units. Anchor lines of different groups can share subsea foundations. The storage units comprise pumping machinery to expel water from an elongate storage volume and generating machinery to generate electricity from a flow of water entering the storage volume. The pumping machinery may be in deeper water than the generating machinery.

A floating power-generation group comprises a floating hub such as a spar buoy that is anchored to subsea foundations by anchor lines. Floating power producer units such as wind turbines are connected electrically and mechanically to the hub. The power producer units are each moored by mooring lines. At least one mooring line extends inwardly toward the hub to effect mechanical connection to the hub and at least one other mooring line extends outwardly toward a subsea foundation. The groups are combined as a set whose hubs are connected electrically to each other via subsea energy storage units. Anchor lines of different groups can share subsea foundations. The storage units comprise pumping machinery to expel water from an elongate storage volume and generating machinery to generate electricity from a flow of water entering the storage volume. The pumping machinery may be in deeper water than the generating machinery.

A marine propulsion system, comprising a drive shaft secured to a propeller to rotationally drive the propeller; a motor selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft; an electrical energy storage unit coupled to the motor to supply an on-board electrical power supply to the motor, the electrical energy storage unit configured to be recharged by an on-shore electrical power supply; an engine selectively coupled to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shall, the engine not coupled to the electrical energy storage unit for use as a generator to recharge the electrical energy storage unit; and a control system coupled to the motor and to the engine for selecting one of the motor and the engine to rotate the drive shaft. A hybrid marine propulsion method, comprising rotationally driving a drive shaft and propeller using an engine; shifting the engine into neutral; turning on an electric motor by manually activating a motor toggle; disengaging the engine from rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft and engaging the electric motor in rotational driving engagement with the drive shaft; and turning on a fluid sub-system to supply fluid to the drive shaft by manually activating a fluid sub-system toggle.

A system (100) and method for mooring and anchoring of floating solar panels (150) on water surface is disclosed. The system (100) has a floater unit (154) for securing the solar panels (150), The floater unit (154) has securing means (152) along its circumference. Buoys (122, 124, 126, 128) are floated on the surface of the water body such that each buoy is anchored to at least one anchor (142, 144, 146, 148) at a floor of the water body. Main mooring lines (112, 114, 116, 118) are connected to the buoys (122, 124, 126, 128). A parabolic curve is formed by connecting one end of the adjacent main mooring lines to the same buoy. A plurality of connecting lines (162, 164, 166, 168) are used for connecting each main mooring line (112, 114, 116, 118) with the securing means (152) at corresponding side of the floater unit (154).

A system (100) and method for mooring and anchoring of floating solar panels (150) on water surface is disclosed. The system (100) has a floater unit (154) for securing the solar panels (150), The floater unit (154) has securing means (152) along its circumference. Buoys (122, 124, 126, 128) are floated on the surface of the water body such that each buoy is anchored to at least one anchor (142, 144, 146, 148) at a floor of the water body. Main mooring lines (112, 114, 116, 118) are connected to the buoys (122, 124, 126, 128). A parabolic curve is formed by connecting one end of the adjacent main mooring lines to the same buoy. A plurality of connecting lines (162, 164, 166, 168) are used for connecting each main mooring line (112, 114, 116, 118) with the securing means (152) at corresponding side of the floater unit (154).

A floating beverage holding apparatus includes a c-shaped body, a webbing, and a collapsible fastener. The c-shaped body is an inflatable apparatus and includes a top surface, an outer lateral surface, an inner lateral surface, a bottom surface, a lateral opening, and a central opening. The top surface and the bottom surface are perimetrically connected to each other by the outer lateral surface and the inner lateral surface. The central opening is delineated by a curved section of the inner lateral surface and the webbing is terminally connected onto the curved section of the inner lateral surface to receive a beverage container. The lateral opening is delineated in between a first section and a second section of the inner lateral surface. The collapsible fastener is connected onto the outer lateral surface and extended across the lateral opening to secure a beverage container to the c-shaped body.