Floatable, torus-segment-like pontoon for a torus-like floating body constructed from a plurality of such pontoons, with a torus eye containing the torus axis of rotation. The pontoon comprises connecting means on substantially flat side surfaces, which are designed in such a way that adjacent pontoons can be joined in a positive-fitting manner in the axial direction; Receiving areas on the radially inner pontoon surfaces for receiving a component in the torus eye; Retaining means arranged on the radially outer pontoon surfaces for holding adjacent pontoons together in the torus circumferential direction and in the radial direction; and connecting means configured on one of the side surfaces as at least one groove extending in the radial direction and on the other side surface as at least one opposite, substantially complementary tongue opposite to the groove. Said pontoon made of plastic and produced by rotational melting, extrusion blow moulding or RIM process.

A buoyant structure having a hull, a main deck, an upper cylindrical side section extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, a cylindrical neck, a lower ellipsoidal section that extends from the cylindrical neck, an ellipsoidal keel and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the ellipsoid keel. The upper frustoconical side section located below the upper cylindrical side section and maintained to be above a water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the buoyant structure.

A method for offshore floating petroleum production, storage and offloading comprising receiving hydrocarbons from at least one of an FPSO, production risers, or wellhead on the seabed by a floating hull; processing received hydrocarbons forming hydrocarbon product in the floating hull; storing the hydrocarbon product in the floating hull; and offloading the stored hydrocarbon product. The floating hull contains a hull plan view that is circular and wherein the floating hull has a bottom surface, a top deck surface, at least three connected sections, joined in series and symmetrically configured about a vertical axis with the connected sections extending downwardly from the top deck surface toward the bottom surface. The at least three connected sections contain an upper cylindrical portion, a lower conical section, a cylindrical neck section, and a set of fins secured to the hull configured to provide hydrodynamic performance through linear and quadratic damping.

Modular structure for protecting an offshore vessel in a body of water from forces of ice features in the body of water is described. The modular protective structure comprising a protective harbor wall constructed and arranged to enclose a harbor space and to counteract the forces of ice features in the body of water. The modular protective structure also comprising a flotation support supporting the protective harbor wall. The flotation support having a capacity to position the modular protective structure at a raised position where the flotation support maintains at least a portion of the protective harbor wall above the water surface such that a harbor is established and the offshore vessel is protected from the forces of ice features in the body of water. Methods which utilize such a modular protective harbor structure are also described.

A buoyant structure with a hull, a main deck, a lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section; a lower generally rounded section extending from the lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section; a generally rounded keel; a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the hull proximate the generally rounded keel. In embodiments, the keel has a first frame extending from the keel and a first keel extension connected to the first frame.

A buoyant structure has a hull having a main deck. The hull further contains a lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section that extends from the main deck, a lower generally rounded section extending from the lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section, a generally rounded keel, and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the hull proximate the generally rounded keel, the fin shaped appendage having a shape selected from the group consisting of: a triangular shape, a hump shape and a pair of connected triangular projections shape.

A buoyant structure contains a hull. The hull has a main deck, a lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section that extends from the main deck, a lower generally rounded section extending from the lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section, a generally rounded keel, a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of an exterior of the keel, and an offloading device slidably connected to an outside surface of the hull configured for rotating around an outer circumference of the hull.

A buoyant structure has a hull having a main deck, a lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section that extends from the main deck, a lower generally round section extending from the lower inwardly-tapering frustroconical side section, a keel having an n-polytope shape, a plurality of separate tunnels between columns extending from the keel having an n-polytope shape and a fin-shaped appendage is secured to a lower and an outer portion of the hull. The at least one tunnel contains water at operational depth of the buoyant structure.

A buoyant structure contains a hull having a main deck, a lower inwardly-tapering frustoconical side section that extends from the main deck, a lower ellipsoidal section extending from the lower inwardly-tapering frustroconical side section, a keel having an n-polytope shape, a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the keel having the n-polytope shape, and a plurality of columns connected between the keel having the n-polytope shape and the main deck forming one or more tunnels between the plurality of columns.

A buoyant structure having a hull, a main deck, an upper cylindrical side section extending downwardly from the main deck, an upper frustoconical side section, a cylindrical neck, a lower ellipsoidal section that extends from the cylindrical neck, an ellipsoidal keel and a fin-shaped appendage secured to a lower and an outer portion of the exterior of the ellipsoid keel. The upper frustoconical side section located below the upper cylindrical side section and maintained to be above a water line for a transport depth and partially below the water line for an operational depth of the buoyant structure.