A novel rotatable hull that generally includes a hull that is capable of rotating around an attachment point where it is connected to a vessel. In preferred embodiments, an outdoor motor mounted to the rotatable hull will turn to vector thrust and apply a moment to rotate the hull around a nominally vertical axis where the hull connects to the vessel. The invention also is directed to a vessel, which employs a plurality of rotatable hulls. A plurality of rotatable hulls can be arranged into a tripod, square or other stable geometric configuration and connected by a structure to form a vessel that can move in any direction along the plane of the surface of the water with or without changing the yaw axis orientation of the connecting structure. This may be useful in applications such as catching objects that are descending from the sky.

A wind turbine system comprises a vessel; a wind turbine mounted to the vessel, the wind turbine comprising rotor blades configured to convert an airstream to rotational shaft power, and an electrical generator configured to convert the rotational shaft power to electrical power; a hydrogen production system configured to be powered by the electrical generator; a propulsion system configured to propel the vessel via power from the electrical generator; and a steering system to control orientation of the vessel relative to the water and the airstream. A method of producing hydrogen comprises floating a vessel in open sea in areas of wind; rotating a wind turbine with the wind to produce electrical energy; synthesizing hydrogen gas from seawater utilizing the electrical energy from the wind turbine; storing the hydrogen gas in a storage system transported by the vessel; and offloading the hydrogen from the storage system.

A marine outboard engine including an engine unit; a drive unit operatively connected to the engine unit; an engine unit housing for supporting and covering the engine unit, the engine unit housing having a top surface; and one or more bumpers connected to the engine unit housing. The bumper projects above the top surface of the engine unit housing; or rearward of an upper rear end of the engine unit housing; or both above the top surface of the engine unit housing and rearward of an upper rear end of the engine unit housing. When the marine outboard engine is located under a boat hatch is in a closed position and the marine outboard engine is pivoted in at least one portion of a tilt range, the bumper is adapted for abutting a bottom surface of the hatch.

A semi-submersible floating offshore vessel has a deckbox structure with a main deckbox bottom extending underneath a lower deck. The deckbox structure includes a recessed cellar deck structure that protrudes below the main deckbox bottom, which recessed cellar deck structure has a cellar deck bottom wall that is closed and wave impact resistant and which recessed cellar deck structure has a peripheral wall that is closed and wave impact resistant. The peripheral wall extends between an outer perimeter of the cellar deck bottom wall and the main deckbox bottom of the deckbox structure. The moonpool extends through the recessed cellar deck structure. Seen in plan view, the recessed cellar deck structure includes a number of pointed wave crest splitting sections.

A pontoon boat is provided that includes at least two pontoons running longitudinally beneath the boat and providing buoyancy thereto; a deck framework mounted above and connected to the pontoons; a deck mounted on the deck framework; a recessed deck portion extending downwardly through the deck and the deck framework, the recessed deck portion forming a cavity into the deck including a bottom and side walls forming a basin extending into and beneath the deck; and at least one seat adjacent the recessed deck portion and mounted to the deck.

A wind-energy-power-generating device is disclosed for flotation on a body of water. The device includes a turbine assembly having rotor blades rotating about a rotation axis for harnessing kinetic energy from an airflow. The device includes a cowl at least partially surrounding said turbine assembly and defining an airflow passageway between a cowl inlet and outlet, having an inlet and outlet axis, respectively. The inlet and outlet axis intersect at a redirect angle. The device includes a base platform adapted to support the turbine assembly and cowl on the water. The cowl is rotatably mounted on the base platform such that it is rotatable around the turbine assembly to self-align with a wind direction. Stabilising arms extend from the base platform and are spaced circumferentially around a platform axis, to stabilise it on the water. A wind-energy-power-generating device secured to the ground or other fixed non-floating structure is also described.

An offshore floating structure such as a wind turbine includes a number of improvements. The floating structure can include a chain engaging system configured to prevent any lengthwise movement of a mooring chain. The floating structure can also include a mooring fixture pivotally coupled to the hull to prevent shock loads from being transmitted directly from the mooring line to the hull. The floating structure can also include installation aid structures that provide additional water plane area and/or buoyancy to the structure. The floating structure can also have a hull that is optimized for use as an offshore wind turbine.

A framework (50) for modular construction of an offshore framework structure comprising 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 belts (54) for tensioning the framework (50). Connection elements (55) are positioned at the respective ends of the bars (51, 52), which exhibit flanges (56) for attaching the connection elements (55) to the bars (51, 52). In the connection elements (55), receiving areas (57) are positioned 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 belts (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).

A watercraft includes: a central frame; a deck supported by the central frame; and first and second lateral hulls laterally spaced apart from one another, the central frame being disposed at least in part laterally between the first and second lateral hulls. Each of the lateral hulls includes: a plurality of lower hull panels mounted to the central frame, at least part of an outer surface of each lower hull panel forming a running surface of the watercraft; a plurality of braces connected between the central frame, the plurality of lower hull panels and the deck; and at least one buoyant element received in and substantially filling a space defined between the lower hull panels and the deck. Each brace includes: an inner mount connected to the central frame, a lower mount connected to at least one lower hull panel, and an upper mount connected to the deck.

A method of assembling a watercraft of a family of watercraft includes, when assembling a first watercraft, attaching a front hull panel to a rear hull panel such that the front hull panel extends forwardly of the rear hull panel. The front hull panel and the rear hull panel form a hull of the first watercraft. The method also includes, when assembling the second watercraft: attaching a hull extension panel to the rear hull panel such that the hull extension panel extends forwardly of the rear hull panel; and attaching the front hull panel to the hull extension panel such that the front hull panel extends forwardly of the hull extension panel. The front hull panel, the hull extension panel and the rear hull panel form a hull of the second watercraft. The second watercraft has a second hull length greater than a first hull length of the first watercraft.