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.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A watercraft comprising a battery ballast system is shown and described. The battery ballast system comprises a plurality of carriage assemblies, each comprising a plurality of tiers along the watercraft's height axis, and each being movable along the watercraft's length axis. The batteries sit on movable supports that are movable along the watercraft's width axis. Each tier is loaded to less than 50 percent with batteries and battery supports so that the batteries in each tier can be moved along the ship's width axis relative to the hull in a manner that will affect the ship's list. The carriage assemblies occupy a portion of the length along which they are movable so that they can be moved along the ship's length axis relative to the hull to affect the ship's trim. In certain examples, the ship's potable water system is used to change the watercraft's total amount of ballast by changing the total volume of treated water on board such as by expelling treated water overboard or changing the rate of untreated water being fed to the potable water system.

A system for a boat includes a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat, a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck, and a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway. A controller is electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator. A user input device is electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck.

A system for a boat includes a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat, a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck, and a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway. A controller is electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator. A user input device is electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck.

A system for a boat includes a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat, a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck, and a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway. A controller is electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator. A user input device is electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck.

A system for a boat includes a first guideway installed under a main deck of the boat, a first battery pack coupled to the first guideway under the main deck, and a first actuator configured to move the first battery pack along the first guideway. A controller is electrically and/or signally coupled with the first actuator. A user input device is electrically and/or signally coupled with the controller. The controller is configured to control the first actuator to move the first battery pack along the first guideway in response to an input to the user input device so as to relocate the weight of the first battery pack under the main deck.

A biomimetic aquatic device includes a housing, a driving module, a cam, and a weight unit. The driving module is disposed in a receiving space of the housing, and includes a driving shaft rotatable about its own axis. The cam is mounted co-rotatably to the driving shaft, and has a cam groove formed in an outer surface of the cam and having at least a portion that extends spirally about the axis. The weight unit is mounted to the driving module, is movable along the axis relative to the driving module, and includes an engaging member engaging and movable along the cam groove. When the driving shaft and the cam are rotated, the weight unit moves relative to the driving module along the axis via engagement between the engaging member and the cam groove, thereby changing a center of gravity of the biomimetic aquatic device.