A buoyant hydrodynamic pump is disclosed that can float on a surface of a body of water over which waves tend to pass. The pump incorporates an open-bottomed tube with a constriction. The tube partially encloses a substantial volume of water with which the tube's constriction interacts, creating and/or amplifying oscillations therein in response to wave action. Wave-driven oscillations result in periodic upward ejections of portions of the water inside the tube that can be collected in a reservoir that is at least partially positioned above the mean water level of the body of water, or pressurized by compressed air or gas, or both. Water within such a reservoir may return to the body of water via a turbine, thereby generating electrical power (making the device a wave engine), or else the device's pumping action can be used for other purposes such as water circulation, propulsion, or cloud seeding.

A method for establishing a situational awareness of a surface of a body of water is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes deploying a plurality of autonomous buoys under or on the surface of the body of water; and scattering the plurality of autonomous buoys to form a mesh communication network.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a navigation system which, on the one hand, is arranged on sides of the underwater vehicle/AUV and, on the other hand, includes a surface transmitter as a counterpart. The two units communicate with each other such that the surface transmitter emits its signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle and/or that the surface transmitter follows the underwater vehicle to improve the position determination capability.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a navigation system which, on the one hand, is arranged on sides of the underwater vehicle/AUV and, on the other hand, includes a surface transmitter as a counterpart. The two units communicate with each other such that the surface transmitter emits its signal directed to the position of the underwater vehicle and/or that the surface transmitter follows the underwater vehicle to improve the position determination capability.

A seismic survey system for recording seismic data underwater in the presence of underwater currents. The system includes first plural buoys configured to descend in water at a predetermined depth (H1) and each having a seismic receiver for recording the seismic data; a first vessel configured to launch the first plural buoys along a first line; and a second vessel configured to recover the first plural buoys at a second line, wherein there is a predetermined distance between the first and second lines. The first plural buoys are configured to travel underwater, at substantially the first predetermined depth (H1), from the first line to the second line, due exclusively to the underwater currents.

A seismic survey system for recording seismic data underwater in the presence of underwater currents. The system includes first plural buoys configured to descend in water at a predetermined depth (H1) and each having a seismic receiver for recording the seismic data; a first vessel configured to launch the first plural buoys along a first line; and a second vessel configured to recover the first plural buoys at a second line, wherein there is a predetermined distance between the first and second lines. The first plural buoys are configured to travel underwater, at substantially the first predetermined depth (H1), from the first line to the second line, due exclusively to the underwater currents.

A mooring system (10) for use in mooring a marine device (24) within a fluid (12) subject to flow comprises a mooring line (16) to be secured to an anchor (18) and defining a tether point for a marine device (24), and a loading assembly (20) secured to the mooring line (16) and configured to generate hydrodynamic lift when exposed to flow to apply tension to the mooring line (16). In embodiments of the invention the loading assembly (20) is configured to also generate a buoyancy force, such that tension is applied to the mooring line (16) by a combination of the hydrodynamic lift force and the buoyancy force.

A mooring system (10) for use in mooring a marine device (24) within a fluid (12) subject to flow comprises a mooring line (16) to be secured to an anchor (18) and defining a tether point for a marine device (24), and a loading assembly (20) secured to the mooring line (16) and configured to generate hydrodynamic lift when exposed to flow to apply tension to the mooring line (16). In embodiments of the invention the loading assembly (20) is configured to also generate a buoyancy force, such that tension is applied to the mooring line (16) by a combination of the hydrodynamic lift force and the buoyancy force.

A vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly includes a multi-directional signal display assembly comprising a plurality of signal display panels. Each of the plurality of signal display panels comprising at least one display surface, and a plurality of signal indicia are affixed onto different ones of each of the plurality of display surfaces. A signal support assembly is provided such that the multi-directional signal display assembly is disposable into a deployed orientation about the signal support member. A vessel mount assembly is operatively interconnected to the signal support assembly and comprises a mount member to facilitate deployment of the multi-directional signal display assembly on the vessel.

A vessel mounted multi-directional signal assembly includes a multi-directional signal display assembly comprising a plurality of signal display panels. Each of the plurality of signal display panels comprising at least one display surface, and a plurality of signal indicia are affixed onto different ones of each of the plurality of display surfaces. A signal support assembly is provided such that the multi-directional signal display assembly is disposable into a deployed orientation about the signal support member. A vessel mount assembly is operatively interconnected to the signal support assembly and comprises a mount member to facilitate deployment of the multi-directional signal display assembly on the vessel.