A method for ship ballasting includes receiving, at a carbon negative energy storage system, input comprising calcium oxide and water and reacting, within a reaction chamber of the carbon negative energy storage system, the calcium oxide and water to release energy and generate calcium hydroxide. The method includes directing, by the carbon negative energy storage system, the released energy to a requesting end user and providing, by the carbon negative energy storage system, the calcium hydroxide to a marine vessel ballasting system. The method includes releasing a mixture of the calcium hydroxide and ballast water from the marine vessel ballasting system into the ocean to sequester atmospheric COCO.sub.2.

A reverse osmosis water production apparatus for use in a body of water includes a first section defining a buoyancy chamber and an elongate second section connected to the first section and configured to define an elongate chamber which extends downward beneath a waterline in use. The elongate chamber is provided with a plurality of elongate reverse osmosis membrane tubes, each tube containing a reverse osmosis membrane. A longitudinal axis of each reverse osmosis membrane tube is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the elongate chamber and the reverse osmosis membrane tubes are arranged around a passage.

A lifting device (14) is disclosed comprising a lift arm (16) and a first support structure (31) which is adapted to be placed on a lifting vessel (61). The lifting device (14) comprises a first attachment unit (33) that comprises a first attachment element (121) which connects the lift arm (16) rotatably to the first support structure (31). The lift arm comprises a load transfer device (19) that is secured to a first end portion (17, 27) of the lift arm (16). The lifting device (14) further comprises a second support structure (44) and a second attachment unit (46) including a second attachment element (123) which connects the lift arm (16) rotatably to the second support structure (44). The first attachment element (121), the second attachment element (123) and the load transfer device (19) all lie substantially in a straight line (L) or substantially in the same plane. There is also defined a lifting vessel carrying said lifting device, as well as the use of the lifting device and of the lifting vessel.

An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a rudder. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The rudder may be mechanically coupled to the hull. A heading of the autonomous sailing vessel may be regulated by actively controlling the rudder without actively controlling the sail. Alternatively or additionally, the autonomous sailing vessel may include an anticapsize stabilizer tank, a lidar system, and/or marine mammal monitoring and identification.

An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a rudder. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The rudder may be mechanically coupled to the hull. A heading of the autonomous sailing vessel may be regulated by actively controlling the rudder without actively controlling the sail. Alternatively or additionally, the autonomous sailing vessel may include an anticapsize stabilizer tank, a lidar system, and/or marine mammal monitoring and identification.

Wakeboat fluid housing compartment fluid level sensing assemblies are provided. The assemblies can include: a wakeboat having a hull; a fluid housing compartment associated with the hull; a nonconductive sensor chamber positioned within the fluid housing compartment of the hull; and at least a pair of conductive electrodes associated with the sensor chamber, at least one of the pair of conductive electrodes being positioned within the nonconductive sensor chamber and electrically isolated from fluid within the fluid housing compartment. Methods for sensing a fluid level within a fluid housing compartment aboard a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include: maintaining fluid communication between the fluid level within the fluid housing compartment and a sensor chamber; and determining the electrical communication between at least a pair of electrodes operatively associated with the sensor chamber.

The present disclosure provides power source assemblies aboard a watercraft. The power source assemblies can include: an engine having a crankshaft; a variable ratio drive assembly operably engaged with the crankshaft; and an engine powered accessory operably engaged with the variable ratio drive assembly. The present disclosure also provides methods for distributing power aboard a watercraft from a crankshaft of an engine. The methods can include: using a crankshaft of an engine to drive a variable ratio drive assembly; and using the variable ratio drive assembly to drive an engine accessory over a narrower RPM range while operating the crankshaft over a wider RPM range.

The present disclosure provides hydraulic power sources for watercraft. Example power sources can include: a watercraft having an engine; a variable ratio drive assembly operably engaged with the engine; a hydraulic pump operably engaged with the variable ratio drive assembly; and a hydraulic motor powered by the hydraulic pump. The present disclosure also provides methods for providing hydraulic power aboard a watercraft. Example methods can include: using an engine of the watercraft to drive a variable ratio drive assembly; using the variable ratio drive assembly to drive a hydraulic pump; using the hydraulic pump to power a hydraulic motor; and using the hydraulic motor to drive a load.

The systems and associated methods are for autonomously launching and recovering payload objects such as vessels, equipment and people by partially submerging a multi-mode unmanned vehicle in a controlled manner. Mechanical, power, signal and logical system components operate in a coordinated manner to repeatedly and reliably perform unmanned launch and recovery of payloads in a variety of conditions and sea states from a catamaran style hull with multi-mode, high-performance characteristics.

A system on a marine vessel or platform supports a load while allowing heave compensation. The load is supported via a hydraulic actuator. A transformer of the system includes a power source and at least one hydraulic pump/motor, for communicating energy between any two of: the hydraulic actuator; a hydraulic accumulator; and a power source. A valve associated with the pump/motor is switchable during at least one cycle of the pump/motor for selectively providing fluid communication between a drive chamber of the pump/motor and any of the hydraulic actuator, the hydraulic accumulator, and a hydraulic fluid reservoir, via at least one port of the drive chamber, so as to allow a desired displacement of hydraulic fluid from the pump/motor to be obtained.