Recreational watercraft and methods of operating recreational watercraft are described. Recreational watercraft can include an aluminum hull, a plurality of ballast tanks, a first surface defining a first opening that extends from an interior of a ballast tank of the plurality of ballast tanks to an exterior of the hull, a valve configured to selectively open or close the first opening, and a second surface defining a second opening that is fixed permanently open and extends from an interior of the ballast tank through a bottom portion of the hull to an exterior of the hull.

A portable, pumpless water ballast system can be constructed of a flexible water-proof membrane molded or formed of welded panels to make a desired shape, such as cube-shaped when filled with water. Along the top side is an opening for filling the container. A water-proof closure is provided in the opening to prevent water leaking out. An air release valve can be installed near the top area of the container's top or side panels. A handle or strap can also be provided on one or more of the adjacent sides of the container. A plastic threaded drain and closure can be provided on one or more sides to allow for emptying of the container or to attach other features like a hose or other accessory.

An aquatic transportation, storage, and distribution system, including one or more storage containers and a guide structure. The storage container is capable of retaining one or more items therein and is configured to selectively vary the buoyancy thereof to urge the storage container to float up or sink down within an aquatic environment. The guide structure is supported at least partially within the aquatic environment and includes at least one non-horizontal segment. The storage container is configured to interact with the at least one segment as the storage container is urged to float up or sink within the aquatic environment such that the storage container is moved along the guide structure and is routed to a specified extraction point for retrieval from the aquatic environment.

Various embodiments are directed to interconnectable tiles configured for operation in an aquatic environment or a near-zero/zero gravity environment. The interconnectable tiles are configured to interconnect relative to one another to form interconnected surfaces, and individual interconnectable tiles provide thrust, ballast, and/or buoyancy to the overall interconnected surface so as to move the interconnected surface in a desired configuration.

Embodiments include a retrofit pontoon system including a pontoon, the pontoon having a pontoon body defining a first cavity, the pontoon body having a first aperture; a retrofit assembly, the retrofit assembly including a selectively fillable container sized to pass through the first aperture; and a pump. The pump is operably coupled with the selectively fillable container such that operation of the pump selectively fills and drains water from the selectively fillable container, wherein filling the selectively fillable container lowers the profile of the pontoon in the water and emptying the selectively fillable container raises the profile of the pontoon in the water.

An underwater data capture and transmission system has a base configured to sink in water, at least one sensor configured to capture data while submerged in water, a processing unit configured to receive data collected by the sensor, and a variable buoy. The variable buoy has a ballast system configured to adjust a depth of the variable buoy in the water, and a communication device configured to transmit data to a remote communications device. The system further has at least one tether connecting at least the base, the processing unit, and the variable buoy.

A ballast and de-ballast system and method for an articulated tug barge (ATB) or integrated tug barge (ITB) are described herein. The system includes a tug ballast tank located on the tug, the tug ballast tank being configured to hold ballast water; and a barge trim tank located on the barge, the barge trim tank being configured to hold ballast water. The system further includes at least one umbilical line connecting the tug ballast tank to the barge trim tank. The system is configured to transfer ballast water between the tug ballast tank and the barge trim tank via the at least one umbilical line.

A system includes a first jacket that contains seawater and a first tank storing a first fluid under pressure. A second jacket contains seawater and a second tank storing a second fluid under pressure. An actuator cylinder defines a space that receives the fluids from the first and second tanks. The actuator cylinder includes an actuator piston that divides the space into a first volume for the first fluid and a second volume for the second fluid. A hydraulic cylinder includes a hydraulic piston configured to move and change an amount of hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the hydraulic piston is fixedly coupled to the actuator piston. A buoyancy plug changes a position in connection with the amount of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the position of the buoyancy plug affects a buoyancy of a vehicle.

A submersible node and a method and system for using the node to acquire data, including seismic data is disclosed. The node incorporates a buoyancy system to provide propulsion for the node between respective landed locations by varying the buoyancy between positive and negative. A first acoustic positioning system is used to facilitate positioning of a node when landing and a second acoustic positioning system is used to facilitate a node transiting between respective target landed locations.

An aquaculture system which has a pen, a control system, a pumping mechanism coupled to the pen, and a set of buoyancy tanks coupled to the pen. The pen can be disposed in a body of water and at least temporarily stores aquatic animals during development. The control system receives electric power from a power source and provides electric power to the pumping mechanism to provide a flow of water through the pen. A portion of the control system is in fluid communication with the set of buoyancy tanks and adjusts a volume of fluid in at least one buoyancy tank to move the pen from a first position in which the pen is partially submerged in the body of water to a second position in which the pen is fully submerged in the body of water.