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.

Provided are an apparatus and a method of controlling swimming for a robotic fish. The robotic fish, which is operated in a narrow space like an aquarium, often hits the outer wall during submerging or upwardly swimming. In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides an inclination adjusting means, which adjusts the inclination while generating the rotational propulsive force, it is possible to do smooth submergence and upwardly swimming in the narrow space.

Wakeboat ballast pump systems and methods are provided to monitor the operational condition and parameters of wakeboat ballast components. Systems and methods for sensing and measurement are provided to detect parameters associated with wakeboat ballast pumps and compartments, including systems and methods that can economically retrofit into existing wakeboat ballast systems. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action based on various operational conditions and parameters to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast pumps.

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 offshore floating rocket launch platform (12) is disclosed. The platform (12) floats on the surface of a body of water (14). A rocket (16) and a rocket launch support tower (18) are shown on the top surface (19) of the platform (12) in preparation for launch. The platform (12) includes a statically buoyant chamber 20) and more than one variable buoyancy-generating variable buoyancy-generating chambers (22). A number of variable buoying-generating variable buoyancy-generating chambers (22) are capable of being pressurized with a fluid to provide counter-acting forces that compensate for position changes of the platform incurred by natural forces. Other embodiment of the invention may be used for floating offshore structures like buildings (26), bridges (46) and wind turbines (50).

A Method and Apparatus for Wake Enlargement System have been disclosed. By using water pick-ups that are mounted on a boat, controlled filling of ballast tanks is possible without the use of pumps.

A buoy, comprising a body, an inflatable bladder, a bladder cover, a pressure vessel, a variable-volume, gas-filled chamber, a controller, a compressor, and a ballast. The bladder cover surrounds the inflatable bladder. When the inflatable bladder is deflated, the bladder cover is configured to compress the inflatable bladder so as to conform to an exterior contour of the body. The variable-volume, gas-filled chamber provides passive, variable buoyancy to the buoy. The controller is configured to control a transfer of compressible gas between the inflatable bladder and the first pressure vessel. The compressor is configured to remove gas from the inflatable bladder, compress the removed gas, and introduce the compressed gas to the first pressure vessel for storage. The ballast maintains a substantially vertical orientation of the buoy when the buoy is in water.

An offshore floating rocket launch platform (12) is disclosed. The platform (12) floats on the surface of a body of water (14). A rocket (16) and a rocket launch support tower (18) are shown on the top surface (19) of the platform (12) in preparation for launch. The platform (12) includes a statically buoyant chamber 20) and more than one variable buoyancy-generating variable buoyancy-generating chambers (22). A number of variable buoying-generating variable buoyancy-generating chambers (22) are capable of being pressurized with a fluid to provide counter-acting forces that compensate for position changes of the platform incurred by natural forces. Other embodiment of the invention may be used for floating offshore structures like buildings (26), bridges (46) and wind turbines (50).

An aquaculture system includes a pen configured to be disposed in a body of water and configured to at least temporarily store aquatic animals during development. A control system is configured to receive electric power from a power source and is configured to provide electric power to a pumping mechanism coupled to the pen such that the pumping mechanism provides a flow of water through the pen. A set of buoyancy tanks are coupled to the pen. A portion of the control system is in fluid communication with the set of buoyancy tanks and is configured to adjust 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.