A structure of a floating, semi-submersible wind turbine platform is provided. The floating wind turbine platform includes three elongate stabilizing columns, each having a top end, a keel end, and an outer shell containing an inner shaft. Each stabilizing column further includes a water entrapment plate at its keel cantilevered in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column. The floating wind turbine platform also includes three truss members, each truss member including two horizontal main tubular members and two diagonal tubular members. The truss members connect the stabilizing columns to form a triangular cross-section. An elongate wind turbine tower is disposed over the top end of one of the three stabilizing columns such that the longitudinal axis of the tower is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stabilizing column.

Embodiments include a retrofit pontoon system including a pontoon, the pontoon having a pontoon body defining a first cavity, a retrofit assembly, the retrofit assembly including a first lateral tube, wherein the first lateral tube is sized to pass through a first aperture formed in the pontoon body and a selectively fillable container, where the first lateral tube is operably coupled with the selectively fillable container, a main tube, where the main tube is fluidly coupled with the first lateral tube, and a pump, the pump being coupled with the main tube such that operation of the pump selectively fills and drains water from the selectively fillable container, where 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.

Embodiments include a retrofit pontoon system including a pontoon, the pontoon having a pontoon body defining a first cavity, a retrofit assembly, the retrofit assembly including a first lateral tube, wherein the first lateral tube is sized to pass through a first aperture formed in the pontoon body and a selectively fillable container, where the first lateral tube is operably coupled with the selectively fillable container, a main tube, where the main tube is fluidly coupled with the first lateral tube, and a pump, the pump being coupled with the main tube such that operation of the pump selectively fills and drains water from the selectively fillable container, where 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.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for operating a safety system in a floating wind turbine. The floating wind turbine comprises one or more sensors 202, 203, and receives a fore-aft inclination signal from the sensor 202, wherein the fore-aft inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a fore-aft direction. A side-to-side inclination signal is also received from the sensor 203, wherein the side-to-side inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a side-to-side direction. An operational parameter of the floating wind turbine is altered based on either or both of said fore-aft inclination signal and said side-to-side inclination signal.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for operating a safety system in a floating wind turbine. The floating wind turbine comprises one or more sensors 202, 203, and receives a fore-aft inclination signal from the sensor 202, wherein the fore-aft inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a fore-aft direction. A side-to-side inclination signal is also received from the sensor 203, wherein the side-to-side inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a side-to-side direction. An operational parameter of the floating wind turbine is altered based on either or both of said fore-aft inclination signal and said side-to-side inclination signal.

An offshore floating support apparatus includes an underwater base, an anchor unit and a plurality of supporting units. The anchor unit is connected to the underwater base and is adapted to be attached to a water bed. The supporting units are connected to and surround the underwater base. Each of the supporting units has a support member that defines a receiving space for receiving water therein and that has a valve component operable to establish fluid communication between the receiving space and external environment for adjusting quantity of water received in the support member.

An offshore floating support apparatus includes an underwater base, an anchor unit and a plurality of supporting units. The anchor unit is connected to the underwater base and is adapted to be attached to a water bed. The supporting units are connected to and surround the underwater base. Each of the supporting units has a support member that defines a receiving space for receiving water therein and that has a valve component operable to establish fluid communication between the receiving space and external environment for adjusting quantity of water received in the support member.

Device for a structure designed to tilt from one side to the opposite side, with the device comprising: at least one intermediate chamber (17) between the first and second edges, first and second side tanks (15a, 15b) communicating with the intermediate chamber(s) to manage liquid inputs and outputs, the side tanks each including a wall (19) which delimits them externally and being located towards the two extremities of the intermediate chamber, characterised with each side tank comprising: an upper section positioned so that it receives the liquid in line with the elongation direction (17a) of the intermediate chamber which supplies it, and a lower section which will connect to the upper section, with each of the upper and lower sections connected to the intermediate chamber(s) for the liquid inlets and outlets.

Device for a structure designed to tilt from one side to the opposite side, with the device comprising: at least one intermediate chamber (17) between the first and second edges, first and second side tanks (15a, 15b) communicating with the intermediate chamber(s) to manage liquid inputs and outputs, the side tanks each including a wall (19) which delimits them externally and being located towards the two extremities of the intermediate chamber, characterised with each side tank comprising: an upper section positioned so that it receives the liquid in line with the elongation direction (17a) of the intermediate chamber which supplies it, and a lower section which will connect to the upper section, with each of the upper and lower sections connected to the intermediate chamber(s) for the liquid inlets and outlets.

Wakeboats that include an aquatic invasive species control apparatus are provided. These wakeboats can include: a wakeboat with a hull; at least one throughhull fitting in the hull of the wakeboat; an irradiation chamber in fluid communication with the at least one throughhull fitting, the irradiation chamber having a radiation source; and at least one water destination aboard the wakeboat. Methods for irradiating invasive aquatic species aboard a wakeboat are also provided. The methods can include: receiving water from outside the wakeboat hull; and irradiating water aboard the wakeboat prior to discharging the water.