A semi-submersible offshore platform for operations in a body of water includes a buoyant hull configured to be at least partially submerged in the water. In addition, the platform includes an equipment deck coupled to the hull and configured to be positioned above the water. The hull includes a first vertical column and a second vertical column horizontally spaced from the first vertical column. Each column has a longitudinal axis, an upper end, a lower end, and a tapered section axially positioned between the upper end and the lower end. Further, the hull includes a horizontal pontoon having a longitudinal axis, a first end coupled to the lower end of the first column, and a second end coupled to the lower end of the second 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 an apparatus for automatically managing the ballast water of a dual-hulled ship and, more specifically, to an apparatus for automatically managing the ballast water of a ship, the apparatus dividing the structure of an integrated ballast water tank into ballast water tanks of a multi-layered structure, and filling each ballast water tank with seawater, so as to perform the original function thereof of maintaining the water-line by means of the ballast water, and having a structure and a device so as to utilize the seawater, used as cooling water, residential water, water for miscellaneous use, and the like, as the seawater of the ballast water tanks, thereby integrally managing the usage of the seawater of the ship, and continuously and successively changing the seawater of the ballast water tanks while the ship is sailing.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically managing the ballast water of a dual-hulled ship and, more specifically, to an apparatus for automatically managing the ballast water of a ship, the apparatus dividing the structure of an integrated ballast water tank into ballast water tanks of a multi-layered structure, and filling each ballast water tank with seawater, so as to perform the original function thereof of maintaining the water-line by means of the ballast water, and having a structure and a device so as to utilize the seawater, used as cooling water, residential water, water for miscellaneous use, and the like, as the seawater of the ballast water tanks, thereby integrally managing the usage of the seawater of the ship, and continuously and successively changing the seawater of the ballast water tanks while the ship is sailing.

Various embodiments of a submerged sailing vessel are disclosed. Such a submerged sailing vessel may comprise a submersible hull assembly, a keel coupled to and extending upwards from hull assembly towards a water surface, and a wind-catching assembly coupled to and extending upwards into the air from the keel for propelling the submerged sailing vessel. The hull assembly and keel are submerged below the water surface as the vessel is propelled by the wind-catching assembly above the water surface.

Described herein is a floating wind turbine platform comprising a hull, a wind turbine tower. The hull comprises a pontoon base and a first, second and third column integrally formed with the pontoon base, and the wind turbine tower is fixed to and extends upwardly from the first column. The pontoon base and the first, second and third columns are formed substantially of concrete.

Described herein is a floating wind turbine platform comprising a hull, a wind turbine tower. The hull comprises a pontoon base and a first, second and third column integrally formed with the pontoon base, and the wind turbine tower is fixed to and extends upwardly from the first column. The pontoon base and the first, second and third columns are formed substantially of concrete.

One or more exemplary embodiments comprise a system having: a primary ballast tank; an auxiliary ballast tank; and a Venturi valve having a fluid input channel, a first fluid output channel, and a second fluid output channel that outputs fluid at a pressure that is higher than that of the first fluid output channel, wherein the first fluid output channel of the Venturi valve is coupled to the primary ballast tank for filling the primary ballast tank with fluid, and the second fluid output channel of the Venturi valve is coupled to the auxiliary ballast tank for filling the auxiliary ballast tank with fluid.

A method for controlling an inclination of a floating wind turbine platform comprising a generator, a set of turbine blades connected to a shaft inside a turbine nacelle, the turbine nacelle being mounted onto a tower, and at least three stabilizing columns is presented. Each of the at least three stabilizing columns have an internal volume for containing ballast. Position data associated with an orientation of the floating wind turbine is received. A heel angle in reference to the floating wind turbine platform is determined based on the position data. A first signal for adjusting at least one of a blade pitch of the set of turbine blades, and a torque of the generator is sent based on the determined heel angle. A second signal for distributing the ballast among the at least three stabilizing columns is also sent. The second signal for distributing the ballast is based on the determined heel angle and the first signal.