Described herein is an apparatus for coupling a flotation device to a boat. The apparatus includes a clamping device with a clamp base, a fixed clamp portion extending from the clamp base, and an extensible clamp portion extendably coupled to the clamp base. Extension of the extensible clamp portion changes a distance between the extensible clamp portion and the fixed clamp portion so as to permit clamping of a portion of the boat there between. A tether member extends downwardly from the base. A retention device is associated with the tether member and operates to couple the flotation device to the boat.

Described herein is an apparatus for coupling a flotation device to a boat. The apparatus includes a clamping device with a clamp base, a fixed clamp portion extending from the clamp base, and an extensible clamp portion extendably coupled to the clamp base. Extension of the extensible clamp portion changes a distance between the extensible clamp portion and the fixed clamp portion so as to permit clamping of a portion of the boat there between. A tether member extends downwardly from the base. A retention device is associated with the tether member and operates to couple the flotation device to the boat.

Described herein is an apparatus for coupling a flotation device to a boat. The apparatus includes a clamping device with a clamp base, a fixed clamp portion extending from the clamp base, and an extensible clamp portion extendably coupled to the clamp base. Extension of the extensible clamp portion changes a distance between the extensible clamp portion and the fixed clamp portion so as to permit clamping of a portion of the boat there between. A tether member extends downwardly from the base. A retention device is associated with the tether member and operates to couple the flotation device to the boat.

Described herein is an apparatus for coupling a flotation device to a boat. The apparatus includes a clamping device with a clamp base, a fixed clamp portion extending from the clamp base, and an extensible clamp portion extendably coupled to the clamp base. Extension of the extensible clamp portion changes a distance between the extensible clamp portion and the fixed clamp portion so as to permit clamping of a portion of the boat there between. A tether member extends downwardly from the base. A retention device is associated with the tether member and operates to couple the flotation device to the boat.

Virtual anchor features for a navigation/autopilot system for use on a marine vessel are provided herein. An example apparatus associated with a marine vessel includes a processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input indicating at least a first geographic location and a desired offset distance; determine a current geographic location of at least one of the marine vessel or the apparatus; determine if the current geographic location is within a distance threshold of the desired offset distance from the first geographic location; and cause, in an instance in which the current geographic location is not within the distance threshold, one or more motors of the marine vessel to operate to cause the marine vessel to move to a new geographic location accordingly. A desired orbit pattern may also be employed.

Virtual anchor features for a navigation/autopilot system for use on a marine vessel are provided herein. An example apparatus associated with a marine vessel includes a processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input indicating at least a first geographic location and a desired offset distance; determine a current geographic location of at least one of the marine vessel or the apparatus; determine if the current geographic location is within a distance threshold of the desired offset distance from the first geographic location; and cause, in an instance in which the current geographic location is not within the distance threshold, one or more motors of the marine vessel to operate to cause the marine vessel to move to a new geographic location accordingly. A desired orbit pattern may also be employed.

The invention encompasses fire-escape models of off-shore rigs with emphasis on a Detachable Island Rig (DIR) instantly unlocked upon a rig-fire, from a permanent under-water basement, saving property and personnel. The devised water-seal of its basement's in-situ fire-escape entry, not destroyed upon a rig-fire, serves as an exceptional model (named Sumathi Paturu in-situ Model, after its inventor) for an in-site fire-escape with a similar water-seal for jack-up rigs without a basement. An off-site modular is an unlimited air-source for all fire-escape units. A spray-room with converging spray-walks, or spray-tracks with track-drives or a simpler means of spray-drives are safe evacuation accessories workable even with minimal expendable cost and space. In the foregoing, vital needs like safe evacuation, food, and fresh air are devised as affirmed provisions, whereas the wheeled life-boats and lift-boats are let out boarded or un-boarded, upon a click of a remote control, with no collision injury.

The invention encompasses fire-escape models of off-shore rigs with emphasis on a Detachable Island Rig (DIR) instantly unlocked upon a rig-fire, from a permanent under-water basement, saving property and personnel. The devised water-seal of its basement's in-situ fire-escape entry, not destroyed upon a rig-fire, serves as an exceptional model (named Sumathi Paturu in-situ Model, after its inventor) for an in-site fire-escape with a similar water-seal for jack-up rigs without a basement. An off-site modular is an unlimited air-source for all fire-escape units. A spray-room with converging spray-walks, or spray-tracks with track-drives or a simpler means of spray-drives are safe evacuation accessories workable even with minimal expendable cost and space. In the foregoing, vital needs like safe evacuation, food, and fresh air are devised as affirmed provisions, whereas the wheeled life-boats and lift-boats are let out boarded or un-boarded, upon a click of a remote control, with no collision injury.

A system and method of extracting a tube from the water by pulling the tube up a pair of elongated rails extending aft of the stern of a vessel and positioning the tube between a tube containment arm disposed above each of the elongated rails so that the tube is pressure fit therein. The pair of elongated rails can be pivoted up and out of the water for transportation and storage. The elongated rails and the tube containment arms can be telescopic.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cradle assembly for cradling a boat, the cradle assembly comprising: a support, comprising one or more support fenders; one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support; an arrestor located at one end of the support; an open-ended enclosure for a boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor.