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.

The invention describes a partially submerged Detachable Island Rig (DIR) locked on a permanent under-water basement, to be instantly detached upon a rig-fire. The electrical wiring and metal tubing (with intervening rubber tubing) are cut and sealed, before the DIR disengages also from adjacent stationary rig. For stationing back onto the base, submerged despite changing tides, the buoyant forces of DIR are countered by a system of double pulleys within the basement, when also the DIR is aligned to be locked to the permanent base. The DIR has provisions for immediate functions of a conduction platform, living quarters, a basement entry, steering station, and uniquely designed life-boats and lift-boats. The water-seal of the basement entry, not destroyed upon a rig-fire, serves as an ideal fire-escape model, a safe refuge within the rig. A Continuation-in-part application extensively details water-sealed fire-escape devices of off-shore rigs, including a conventional jack-up rig.

The invention describes a partially submerged Detachable Island Rig (DIR) locked on a permanent under-water basement, to be instantly detached upon a rig-fire. The electrical wiring and metal tubing (with intervening rubber tubing) are cut and sealed, before the DIR disengages also from adjacent stationary rig. For stationing back onto the base, submerged despite changing tides, the buoyant forces of DIR are countered by a system of double pulleys within the basement, when also the DIR is aligned to be locked to the permanent base. The DIR has provisions for immediate functions of a conduction platform, living quarters, a basement entry, steering station, and uniquely designed life-boats and lift-boats. The water-seal of the basement entry, not destroyed upon a rig-fire, serves as an ideal fire-escape model, a safe refuge within the rig. A Continuation-in-part application extensively details water-sealed fire-escape devices of off-shore rigs, including a conventional jack-up rig.

The invention describes a schematic of a Detachable Island Rig (DIR) locked on an immovable base (providing stable working platform), to be instantly detached in the event of a rig-fire, the DIR having additional conduction platform, costly equipment, living quarters, a steering station, and uniquely designed life-boats and lift-boats. The electrical wiring and metal tubing (with intervening rubber tubing) are cut after clamping, before the DIR's dis-engagement.

For stationing back onto the base structure devised for staying submerged in water, the DIR is pulled down by a system of double pulleys on the sides of the base structure, when also the DIR is in a position to be locked to the permanent base. The under-water basement houses electrical generators, a power-source not to be destroyed by fire, and accessed at a level far above the ocean waters, through the top of a staircase-room erected from the basement.

The invention describes a schematic of a Detachable Island Rig (DIR) locked on an immovable base (providing stable working platform), to be instantly detached in the event of a rig-fire, the DIR having additional conduction platform, costly equipment, living quarters, a steering station, and uniquely designed life-boats and lift-boats. The electrical wiring and metal tubing (with intervening rubber tubing) are cut after clamping, before the DIR's dis-engagement.

For stationing back onto the base structure devised for staying submerged in water, the DIR is pulled down by a system of double pulleys on the sides of the base structure, when also the DIR is in a position to be locked to the permanent base. The under-water basement houses electrical generators, a power-source not to be destroyed by fire, and accessed at a level far above the ocean waters, through the top of a staircase-room erected from the basement.

A device for recovering a vessel at sea from a surface station, the recovery device includes a cradle with negative buoyancy, intended to support the vessel, a lifting device comprising an upper frame and a set of hangers connecting the cradle to the upper frame, lengths of the hangers being variable so as to make it possible to raise and lower the cradle, a guide float capable of having a predetermined positive buoyancy, the guide float being interposed between the cradle and the upper frame so that the cradle is intended to support the guide float during the raising of the cradle, the guide float being configured and connected to the cradle in order to guide the vessel moving on the surface of the water with a speed of movement comprising a positive component along an axis x associated with the upper frame, toward a front part of the guide float when the guide float has the predetermined positive buoyancy, the guide float being in connection with three degrees of freedom in rotation with the cradle.

A device for recovering a vessel at sea from a surface station, the recovery device includes a cradle with negative buoyancy, intended to support the vessel, a lifting device comprising an upper frame and a set of hangers connecting the cradle to the upper frame, lengths of the hangers being variable so as to make it possible to raise and lower the cradle, a guide float capable of having a predetermined positive buoyancy, the guide float being interposed between the cradle and the upper frame so that the cradle is intended to support the guide float during the raising of the cradle, the guide float being configured and connected to the cradle in order to guide the vessel moving on the surface of the water with a speed of movement comprising a positive component along an axis x associated with the upper frame, toward a front part of the guide float when the guide float has the predetermined positive buoyancy, the guide float being in connection with three degrees of freedom in rotation with the cradle.