Embodiments described herein relate generally to a sailing vessel that can substantially obviate the heeling problem experienced by classical sailboats. During navigation, the sailing vessel is driven forward by an aerodynamic force exerted by wind on the sail, and balanced by a hydrodynamic force exerted by water on a float on the stern of the sailing vessel, the aerodynamic force and the hydrodynamic force being parallel or substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sailing vessel.

Disclosed is a semi-submersible floater defining an operating state and a non-operating state, and including at least two outer columns, a central column for receiving a payload, and, for each outer column, a branch in the form of pontoon connecting the outer column to the central column and defining a branch axis oriented from the central column towards the outer column. Each branch is formed from a first portion and a second portion which extend successively along the corresponding branch axis, each one over at least 10% of the total extent of the branch, along the branch axis. In the operating state of the floater, the second portion of each branch is at least partially filled with a ballast material, and the first portion does not contain any ballast material.

The present invention refers to a hybrid vessel with a ballast system in which the position of the cabin (102) is changed vertically, from emerged to submerged and vice versa, according to the decision of its operator. Thus, the present invention describes a hybrid vessel with ballast water system comprising at least one cabin (102) and at least one main tank (101) of ballast water, and the tank (101) is connected directly to the CAB (102) or partially above the water level.

A watercraft according to the present disclosure may include an outer hull that defines an interior or hull cavity, and a ballast system located within the hull cavity. The ballast system may include at least three ballast tanks longitudinally distributed along the hull cavity, and each of the tanks being configured to be independently operated enabling selective entrapment of ballast at three or more different longitudinal locations to enable an intentional shifting of the longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) of the watercraft relative to the design location of the LCG of the watercraft. The watercraft may include at least a forward, a center, and an aft ballast tank, and in some embodiments, additional tanks, in some cases in sponsons, may be included and/or one or more of the forward, center and aft tanks, may be further subdivided for additional active LCG control.

Disclosed herein are aquatic substructures capable of supporting a weight such as a wind tower and turbine. The aquatic substructures may include a central column and at least one buoyancy container connected by means of a system of cables and beams as described herein.

An entertainment barge includes at least two pontoons, a first deck having a front, rear, right side and left side, is attached to both pontoons. A second deck is disposed above and substantially parallel to the first deck. At least two retractable spuds are attached to the deck and are adapted to be lowered into the water to secure the barge in a fixed position.

An entertainment barge includes at least two pontoons, a first deck having a front, rear, right side and left side, is attached to both pontoons. A second deck is disposed above and substantially parallel to the first deck. At least two retractable spuds are attached to the deck and are adapted to be lowered into the water to secure the barge in a fixed position.

A moored floating offshore wind semi-submersible platform with at least three columns characterized in that columns are supported on a T-shaped underwater hull made up of two elongated pontoons, where one pontoon is perpendicular to the other pontoon and a method that allow that the semi-submersible platform is constructed in hull-assemblies and blocks at a first location, transported efficiently to a second location close to the final offshore location where the hull-assemblies and blocks may be assembled quay-side while floating in the water. The platform will support at least one wind turbine on a supporting structure (tower) but may also support two turbines and in the latter case the platform will be moored offshore with a mooring turret to allow the platform to align in a favourable direction to the wind.

A method of assembling and deploying a floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) platform includes floating a buoyant floater and a hollow outer tank in a floating assembly, placing permanent ballast material in the outer tank to define a mass, and sinking the mass to a seabed. The buoyant floater is moved to a position over the mass. Transit lines are attached between a lifting device in the buoyant floater and the mass to define a FOWT platform. The mass is lifted to a point directly under the buoyant floater and the FOWT platform is towed to an installation site. Mooring lines are attached between anchors in the seabed and the buoyant floater, and the mass is lowered to a depth wherein suspension lines attached thereto are taught, the mass with the suspension lines defining a suspended mass. The transit lines are then stored or removed from the mass.

A method of ballasting a vessel comprises positioning a vessel having a first draft adjacent to or underneath an offshore installation. The vessel has at least one ballasting tank and at least one port in fluid communication with the at least one ballasting tank. The at least one ballasting tank is arranged to selectively adjust the flow of ballast water in and out of the at least one ballasting tank. The method comprises pushing down from the offshore installation on the vessel to increase the draft of the vessel from the first draft to a second draft. The method further comprises opening the at least one port when the vessel is at the second draft and the at least one port is below a waterline. The method also comprises filling at least part of the at least one ballasting tank.