This invention relates to a drilling tender unit. In particular, the invention relates to a drilling tender unit having a hull of trimaran or catamaran configuration.

The invention relates to a ducted wind turbine having a turbine rotor assembly which extracts kinetic energy from air flowing there past. The rotor assembly includes a plurality of rotor blades having rotor tips at their outermost ends which define a rotor tip sweep circumference. A duct assembly at least partially surrounds said rotor tip sweep circumference and a base platform supports the ducted wind turbine. The duct assembly is mounted on the base platform by way of a weathervane bearing arrangement such that the duct assembly may weathervane around the turbine rotor assembly in response to changes in wind direction. A semi-submersible support platform, wave energy capture apparatus, torsional bearing mechanism and a latticework wind turbine tower associated with the ducted wind turbine are also provided.

A pontoon boat is provided that includes a deck and a plurality of pontoons running longitudinally beneath the deck and providing buoyancy to the pontoon boat. The plurality of pontoons include a multi-chine configuration that increases the stability of the pontoon boat and provides handling characteristics similar to that of a hulled boat. The plurality of pontoons may include two outer pontoons and a third pontoon positioned laterally intermediate the outer pontoons. The third pontoon may include a plurality of chines, and each of the outer pontoons may include at least one chine. At least a portion of each of the at least one chines of the outer pontoons may be positioned vertically below the plurality of chines of the third pontoon. The chines on the third pontoon may extend longitudinally further than each of the at least one chines of the outer pontoons.

A pontoon boat includes at least two pontoon tubes, a platform supported on the at least two pontoon tubes, and an occupancy compartment capable of containing at least one occupant, the occupancy compartment having a length, a width, an upper portion extending vertically above the platform that includes a ceiling, and a lower portion extending vertically below the platform and into one of the at least two pontoon tubes, the lower portion including a floor surface for supporting the occupant. An entrance to the occupancy compartment is provided in the upper portion that permits the occupant to enter and exit the occupancy compartment.

A structure for stabilizing a barrel on a pontoon vessel includes a deck structure. First And second hull frame members are affixed to the deck structure and extend therealong. In spaced relationship to each other. A first and second conduit extends along a respective hull frame member; the first conduit being spaced from the second conduit by a distance to receive a portion of a barrel therebetween and each conduit contacting the barrel above a barrel central line. A strap having a first end anchored near the first conduit, and tracing a path from the anchor beneath, and in contact with, the barrel disposed between the first conduit in the second conduit, along the second conduit, and returning to the first conduit by tracing a path from the second conduit to the first conduit beneath and in contact with the barrel. The strap having a second end anchored near the first conduit.

The invention relates to a method of constructing and launching an offshore semi-submersible platform, comprising: a) making said semi-submersible platform in a dry environment by dividing it into a plurality of sub-assemblies each of which comprises at least one of the floating columns and at least one semi-arm of a respective lower structural connection arm; b) providing each sub-assembly in a dry environment with at least one temporary thrust box; c) separately launching in water the individual sub-assemblies; d) adjusting for each sub-assembly the ballast of the respective temporary thrust box so as to obtain a balanced floatation of the sub-assembly; e) bringing the sub-assemblies at the free ends of the respective semi-arms close to each other two-by-two until they are aligned; f) connecting the temporary thrust boxes to each other two-by-two; g) welding the free ends of the semi-arms together; h) removing the temporary thrust boxes.

A floating downwind turbine comprising: a floating foundation; a tower which is rotationally fixed on the floating foundation; an energy conversion unit which is mounted on the tower, comprises a rotor and is rotationally fixedly connected to the tower; and at least one tensioning element which connects the tower or the energy conversion unit to the foundation in the upwind direction, the foundation having three legs, one leg of which is longer than the other two legs, the legs being interconnected in a Y shape and the tower, being arranged on the foundation in the connecting region of the legs, and the longest leg extending in the upwind direction and being connected to the tower or to the energy conversion unit by the tensioning element.

Framework structure (70) and method for modular construction of an offshore framework structure comprising frameworks (50) with a first bar (51) functioning as a floating body, a second bar (52), with two posts (53) for substantially parallel support of the bars (51, 52) and two bands (54) for tensioning the framework (50). A connection element (55) is arranged at each end of the bars (51, 52), each of which has a single flange (56) for attaching a single bar (51, 52) to the connection element (55). In the connection elements (55), receiving areas (57) are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction (61) of the bars (51, 52) for attaching the posts (53). Further, the connection elements (55) have securing means (58) for securing bands (54) provided with tensioning devices (60) in such a way that the framework (50) can be held in shape or diagonally tensioned by means of the tensioning devices (60). The connection elements (55) are constructed with respect to the longitudinal direction (61) of the bars (51, 52) in such a way that an extension (62) is configured on one side and a holder (66) can be arranged on the opposite side so that the extension (62) of a connection element (55) of a framework (50) can be joined with the holder (66) of another connection element (55) of a further framework (50).

A multihull module is provided. The multihull module includes multiple power floats, an actuation interface controller, and a vehicle controller. The power floats are disposed on a vehicle. The actuation interface controller is coupled to the power floats, and is configured to control the power floats. The vehicle controller is coupled to the actuation interface controller, and is configured to provide a control signal to the actuation interface controller. The actuation interface controller controls the power floats according to the control signal.

A variable trimaran that uses natural power has an outer hull, which is capable of ensuring stability with respect to a center hull in the middle thereof. The variable trimaran can be selectively expanded and contracted in the horizontal and vertical directions thereof. The variable trimaran includes a sail unit, which uses wind power, and a solar power generation unit so as to enable efficient long-term sailing without the use of fossil fuel. To this end, a horizontal and vertical adjustment units are provided for adjusting the position of the outer hull, and the solar power generation unit and the wind power sailing unit are used such that the position of the outer hull can be freely adjusted with respect to the center hull and efficient long-term sailing is enabled without the supply of an oil energy source due to the use of sunlight and wind power as power sources.