A towing apparatus has a spine with multiple generally parallel spine members extending in a longitudinal direction and having a length of at least 100 m, and with a leading end and a trailing end. A series of blades are mounted to the spine by couplers which allow the blade to rotate about an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction, each blade having a first surface facing generally in the trailing end direction and a second surface facing generally in the leading end direction. Restraints prevent rotation of each blade by more than a pre-set amount towards the leading end, so that impingement of a wave on the first surface applies a force to the apparatus in the leading end direction. A pair of the towing apparatus' may be arranged to connect to a floating collector with a beach shape to collect floating debris on the sea surface, ridges helping to retain the debris on the slope until it is washed up into a channel.

A towing apparatus has a spine with multiple generally parallel spine members extending in a longitudinal direction and having a length of at least 100 m, and with a leading end and a trailing end. A series of blades are mounted to the spine by couplers which allow the blade to rotate about an axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction, each blade having a first surface facing generally in the trailing end direction and a second surface facing generally in the leading end direction. Restraints prevent rotation of each blade by more than a pre-set amount towards the leading end, so that impingement of a wave on the first surface applies a force to the apparatus in the leading end direction. A pair of the towing apparatus' may be arranged to connect to a floating collector with a beach shape to collect floating debris on the sea surface, ridges helping to retain the debris on the slope until it is washed up into a channel.

The present invention includes systems and methods for a continuous-wave (CW) radar system for detecting, geolocating, identifying, discriminating between, and mapping ferrous and non-ferrous metals in brackish and saltwater environments. The CW radar system generates multiple extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves simultaneously and uses said waves to detect, locate, and classify objects of interest. These objects include all types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as changing material boundary layers (e.g., soil to water, sand to mud, rock to organic materials, water to air, etc.). The CW radar system is operable to detect objects of interest in near real time.

The present invention includes systems and methods for a continuous-wave (CW) radar system for detecting, geolocating, identifying, discriminating between, and mapping ferrous and non-ferrous metals in brackish and saltwater environments. The CW radar system generates multiple extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic waves simultaneously and uses said waves to detect, locate, and classify objects of interest. These objects include all types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as changing material boundary layers (e.g., soil to water, sand to mud, rock to organic materials, water to air, etc.). The CW radar system is operable to detect objects of interest in near real time.

A self-propelled towing simulator for a hydraulic lift system carries a gyro pose control system and a six-degree-of-freedom (DOF) platform to control the overall pose of the simulator, so that the simulator simulates six-DOF motion states including swaying, surging, yawing, rolling, pitching and heaving generated by a mining vessel under the combined action of waves and flows and required by the experimental working conditions; interventions in the pose of the simulator may be positive or negative, so that the simulator may be applied to the uncontrollable natural water bodies so as to approximate to the working conditions of the experimental requirements. The simulator may carry out experiments in open natural water bodies by use of its own autonomous sailing capability under remote wireless control and may acquire parameters such as dynamic characteristics and spatial configuration and the like of a deep-sea mining hydraulic lift subsystem in real time.

A self-propelled towing simulator for a hydraulic lift system carries a gyro pose control system and a six-degree-of-freedom (DOF) platform to control the overall pose of the simulator, so that the simulator simulates six-DOF motion states including swaying, surging, yawing, rolling, pitching and heaving generated by a mining vessel under the combined action of waves and flows and required by the experimental working conditions; interventions in the pose of the simulator may be positive or negative, so that the simulator may be applied to the uncontrollable natural water bodies so as to approximate to the working conditions of the experimental requirements. The simulator may carry out experiments in open natural water bodies by use of its own autonomous sailing capability under remote wireless control and may acquire parameters such as dynamic characteristics and spatial configuration and the like of a deep-sea mining hydraulic lift subsystem in real time.

A method of handling a mooring line having a first end portion attached to a vessel comprises capturing a second end portion of a mooring line with a moveable arm mounted to a towboat. The method also comprises securing a mid-portion of the mooring line between the first end portion and the second end portion with respect to the towboat. The method further comprises moving the second end portion of the mooring line from a first position to a second position whilst the mid-portion of the mooring line is secured to the towboat.

A method of handling a mooring line having a first end portion attached to a vessel comprises capturing a second end portion of a mooring line with a moveable arm mounted to a towboat. The method also comprises securing a mid-portion of the mooring line between the first end portion and the second end portion with respect to the towboat. The method further comprises moving the second end portion of the mooring line from a first position to a second position whilst the mid-portion of the mooring line is secured to the towboat.

A watercraft comprises a motor, an inertial mass, and a fin. The motor oscillates the inertial mass about an axis, producing a torque reaction on and oscillation of the motor. Oscillation of the motor is communicated to the fin, producing thrust. The system can be operated in reverse, to generate electric power when the system is in a flowing stream of thrust fluid.

A watercraft comprises a motor, an inertial mass, and a fin. The motor oscillates the inertial mass about an axis, producing a torque reaction on and oscillation of the motor. Oscillation of the motor is communicated to the fin, producing thrust. The system can be operated in reverse, to generate electric power when the system is in a flowing stream of thrust fluid.