A skeg mounts from the stern of a towing vessel and extends below the waterline. A channel in the skeg protects cables for steamers and a source of a seismic system deployed from the vessel. Tow points on the skeg lie below the water's surface and connect to towlines to support the steamers and source. A floatation device supports the source and tows below the water's surface to avoid ice floes. The streamers can have vehicles deployed thereon for controlling a position on the streamer. To facilitate locating the streamers, these vehicles on the streamers can be brought to the surface when clear of ice floes so that GPS readings can be obtained and communicated to a control system. After obtaining readings, the vehicles can be floated back under the surface. Deploying, using, and retrieving the system accounts for ice at the surface in icy regions. In addition, handling the seismic record can account for noise generated by ice impact events.

A skeg mounts from the stern of a towing vessel and extends below the waterline. A channel in the skeg protects cables for steamers and a source of a seismic system deployed from the vessel. Tow points on the skeg lie below the water's surface and connect to towlines to support the steamers and source. A floatation device supports the source and tows below the water's surface to avoid ice floes. The streamers can have vehicles deployed thereon for controlling a position on the streamer. To facilitate locating the streamers, these vehicles on the streamers can be brought to the surface when clear of ice floes so that GPS readings can be obtained and communicated to a control system. After obtaining readings, the vehicles can be floated back under the surface. Deploying, using, and retrieving the system accounts for ice at the surface in icy regions. In addition, handling the seismic record can account for noise generated by ice impact events.

This Apparatus to stop damage from Frozen Ground and expanding Ice is to be used to protect property that could be damage from ground and water when it freezes. As ground and water freezes it expands, and when it thaws and refreezes it expands more this causes damage to property. On ground that freezes it expands with great force that can crush rock, this force will lift, crack, brake, crush, and push in walls. Likewise when water freezes it expands and causes great damage, this can be seen around lakes that people have landscaped and in the spring they have to fix it or redo it all over.

This invention is used to stop damage from frozen ground and ice by creating a brake line in the frozen ground and ice causing a week spot and redirecting the energy instead of pushing in a straight line this invention will cause the energy upward where the expanding ground or ice would pile up, and stops the expanding energy from damaging property. This invention may be made of any type of materials that would be smooth or slippery on at least one side. It may be held in place with bracing that may change to fit the different materials the main body is made of, such as what is required by the Department of Natural Resource or other state or government department.

This Apparatus to stop damage from Frozen Ground and expanding Ice is to be used to protect property that could be damage from ground and water when it freezes. As ground and water freezes it expands, and when it thaws and refreezes it expands more this causes damage to property. On ground that freezes it expands with great force that can crush rock, this force will lift, crack, brake, crush, and push in walls. Likewise when water freezes it expands and causes great damage, this can be seen around lakes that people have landscaped and in the spring they have to fix it or redo it all over.

This invention is used to stop damage from frozen ground and ice by creating a brake line in the frozen ground and ice causing a week spot and redirecting the energy instead of pushing in a straight line this invention will cause the energy upward where the expanding ground or ice would pile up, and stops the expanding energy from damaging property. This invention may be made of any type of materials that would be smooth or slippery on at least one side. It may be held in place with bracing that may change to fit the different materials the main body is made of, such as what is required by the Department of Natural Resource or other state or government department.

An icebreaking vessel (10) with icebreaking reamers (23a, 23b) at each side and, in connection with the reamers, propellers (24a, 24b) for the propulsion of the vessel. The icebreaking vessel can be formed by attaching a detachable icebreaking bow section (31) equipped with reamers and propellers in connection with them to any such ship (30) which is not an actual icebreaker and which has corresponding joint members for attaching the detachable bow section to the ship.

An icebreaking vessel (10) with icebreaking reamers (23a, 23b) at each side and, in connection with the reamers, propellers (24a, 24b) for the propulsion of the vessel. The icebreaking vessel can be formed by attaching a detachable icebreaking bow section (31) equipped with reamers and propellers in connection with them to any such ship (30) which is not an actual icebreaker and which has corresponding joint members for attaching the detachable bow section to the ship.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.