A modular seismic unit storage and handling system with a gantry robot and charging magazine is provided. The storage and handling system can include a storage container. The storage and handling system can include a top hat and a top hat extension. The storage and handling system can include an automated connection and charging magazine. The top hat can be connected to a gantry robot. The gantry robot can include a robotic arm.

A release system for a tether line includes a housing having a side that is at least partially open. A tether lead within the housing is adjacent to the side of the housing. A release mechanism in the housing includes a shackle having a closed end and an open end. The shackle is disposed in the housing at a portion therein that is lower than that of the tether lead. The release mechanism also includes a hinge for mounting the shackle within the housing. In a tether-retention mode, the open end of the shackle faces the top of the housing and the shackle is prevented from rotation about the hinge. In a tether-release mode, the shackle is free to rotate about the hinge under gravity wherein the open end of the shackle rotates to face the side of the housing.

The invention relates to methods of putting a boat in the water and removing the boat from the water and to a boat launch and recovery platform (1) comprising a frame (10) for receiving a boat (2), flotation means (20) fixed to the frame (10), and a floating floor (30) coupled to the frame (10) so as to be vertically translatable. The launch and recovery platform (1) is arranged for, and the methods enable, a transition from a configuration in which the floating floor (30) rests on a support floor (11) when the launch and recovery platform (1) is out of the water, to a configuration in which the floating floor (30) floats on the surface (S1) of the water when the launch and recovery platform (1) is afloat.

Disclosed is a base ship that can receive, in a removable and interchangeable manner, a particular module among various modules, the module being adapted to a functional specialization of the ship. The base ship is similar to a catamaran in its rear portion because it includes two parallel rear lateral volumes that are substantially symmetric with respect to a vertical longitudinal sagittal plane of the base ship, and the removable module is inserted and secured between the two rear lateral volumes of the base ship in order to form a functionalized ship.

A method for cycling autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) that record seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The method includes deploying plural current AUVs on the ocean bottom; recording the seismic signals during the marine seismic survey with plural current AUVs; releasing from an underwater base a new AUV to replace a corresponding current AUV from the plural current AUVs; recovering the current AUV; and continuing to record the seismic signals with the new AUV.

Storage tank comprising—an outer container (2) having a first closable opening (23), and—an inner bladder container (3) disposed within said outer container (2) and having a second closable opening (30), said outer container (2) and inner container (3) being sealed with respect to each other, said inner container (3) being adapted to be filled and or emptied with a liquid through said second closable opening (30), a space (8) between the outer container (2) and the inner container (3) being adapted to be filled with liquid through the first closable opening (23). The outer container (2) is rigid with at least one flexible portion incorporated in the rigid outer container and configured to flex so as to expand and contract to compensate volume variations caused by pressure and or temperature variations to which the storage tank (1) is subjected.

A method for pulling an autonomous submersible vehicle into a mother ship. The method includes the steps of letting out a floating line from the mother ship, allowing at least part of a capturing line to rise from the submersible vehicle using a capturing buoy, to cause the submersible vehicle to cross under the floating line in such a way that the capturing line with the capturing buoy becomes caught on the floating line, and to draw the submersible vehicle to the mother ship by pulling in the floating line.

Disclosed is a system for recovering, in a support and storage structure, an autonomous aquatic vehicle, the structure including an access opening through which the autonomous vehicle can pass to enter into a housing of the structure or leave the housing in a main access direction, at least one drive member of the autonomous vehicle being arranged in the access opening, the drive member including at least one movable motorised drive element, which can be engaged with the shell of the autonomous vehicle and which enables the autonomous vehicle to be driven into or out of the structure.

The present invention provides a capturing mechanism and method for the recovery of at least one vessel to at least one marine platform; the at least one vessel having at least one engagement device either permanently or at least partially reversibly connectable to the same; the capturing mechanism including: a. at least one tensioned capturing line connected to the at least one marine platform; and b, at least one line maneuvering mechanism configured to displace the at least one tensioned capturing line in at least one direction selected from a group of up, down, left, right, forward, backward, playable into the at least one marine plat form, playable out of the at least one marine platform, playable into and out of the water and any combination thereof.

Devices and methods for recovering an unmanned underwater vehicle. The device includes a gantry mounted on a recovery vehicle, a frame, and a shaft extending between the gantry and the frame and configured to vertically move the frame relative to the gantry. Attached to the frame are a plurality of rotatable arms movable between an opened position and a closed position. A first end of each arm is attached to the frame at a pivot. A flexible strap extends between each of the second ends of the arm and the frame. As the arms are moved to the closed position around the unmanned underwater vehicle, the straps will support the unmanned underwater vehicle.