A floating structure for transport is presented, formed by a train arrangement of rotary bodies of revolution that reduces the drag of same during sailing, the train arrangement of rotary bodies being formed by a front body, intermediate bodies and a rear body that have rotation synchronized with the speed of travel of the structure, the intermediate bodies of revolution being connected together by longitudinal rotation shafts by connections secured to an upper platform, while the longitudinal rotation shafts of the front body and the rear body are connected to the rotation shafts of adjacent bodies by hinges, which are pivotably connected to an end of draft-adjustor, pivotably connected at their other ends to the upper platform, the longitudinal rotation shafts being disposed perpendicular to the structure's travel direction and associated with actuators. The rotary bodies are separated by a distance of approximately 5% or less of their diameter.

A floating structure for transport is presented, formed by a train arrangement of rotary bodies of revolution that reduces the drag of same during sailing, the train arrangement of rotary bodies being formed by a front body, intermediate bodies and a rear body that have rotation synchronized with the speed of travel of the structure, the intermediate bodies of revolution being connected together by longitudinal rotation shafts by connections secured to an upper platform, while the longitudinal rotation shafts of the front body and the rear body are connected to the rotation shafts of adjacent bodies by hinges, which are pivotably connected to an end of draft-adjustor, pivotably connected at their other ends to the upper platform, the longitudinal rotation shafts being disposed perpendicular to the structure's travel direction and associated with actuators. The rotary bodies are separated by a distance of approximately 5% or less of their diameter.

The invention pertains to the use of an easy-to-clean soft fiber-coated material on the underwater surface of structures to mimic mammal pelage and as such reducing residual drag, wherein said material comprises or consists of fibers having an average fiber length between 0.3 and 4 mm, and an average fiber thickness between 5 and 80 μm. The underwater surface of structure is preferably the hull of a movable or moving vessel, or the underwater part of a static structure such as offshore wind monopiles and off-shore rigs. In some embodiments, the invention pertains to the reduction of fuel consumption of a nautical vessel passing through water.

The invention pertains to the use of an easy-to-clean soft fiber-coated material on the underwater surface of structures to mimic mammal pelage and as such reducing residual drag, wherein said material comprises or consists of fibers having an average fiber length between 0.3 and 4 mm, and an average fiber thickness between 5 and 80 μm. The underwater surface of structure is preferably the hull of a movable or moving vessel, or the underwater part of a static structure such as offshore wind monopiles and off-shore rigs. In some embodiments, the invention pertains to the reduction of fuel consumption of a nautical vessel passing through water.

Wettable structures that retain liquid layers are defined at surfaces of substrates. The wettable structures include grooves or ridges that are spaced apart by between 10 nm and 10 μm and can be defined in substrate or in a layer formed on a surface of the substrate. In typical examples, wettable structures are defined with hydrophobic materials or at hydrophobic surfaces and produce hydrophilic surfaces.

Wettable structures that retain liquid layers are defined at surfaces of substrates. The wettable structures include grooves or ridges that are spaced apart by between 10 nm and 10 μm and can be defined in substrate or in a layer formed on a surface of the substrate. In typical examples, wettable structures are defined with hydrophobic materials or at hydrophobic surfaces and produce hydrophilic surfaces.

A ground effect craft having a ground effect wing, a plurality of sponsons, and a control system is disclosed. The ground effect wing may include a fore ground effect wing and an aft ground effect wing. The ground effect wing may generate a stabilizing moment on at least one sponson to stabilize the ground effect craft. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to the body. The plurality of sponsons may be dynamically coupled to each other. The dynamic coupling may permit the sponsons to move relatively independent of the body and each other, thereby stabilizing the ground effect craft. The ground effect craft may include a stabilizing wing.

An arrangement for reducing resistance to the advance of a vessel its navigation includes:

at least one rotating body of revolution attached to the vessel by support and draft control means associated with its longitudinal rotation axis which is arranged perpendicular to the direction of advance of said vessel, and associated with driving means, the at least one rotating body of revolution located in front of the bow or behind the stern of said vessel. The rotation of rotating body of revolution is synchronized with the vessel’s forward speed. The rotating body of revolution closest to the hull of the vessel is separated from the hull by a clearance of approximately 5% or less of its maximum diameter. The support and draft control means are forks associated with pistons and maintain the rotating body of revolution submerged in the order of 30% of its maximum diameter during navigation.

An arrangement for reducing resistance to the advance of a vessel its navigation includes:

at least one rotating body of revolution attached to the vessel by support and draft control means associated with its longitudinal rotation axis which is arranged perpendicular to the direction of advance of said vessel, and associated with driving means, the at least one rotating body of revolution located in front of the bow or behind the stern of said vessel. The rotation of rotating body of revolution is synchronized with the vessel’s forward speed. The rotating body of revolution closest to the hull of the vessel is separated from the hull by a clearance of approximately 5% or less of its maximum diameter. The support and draft control means are forks associated with pistons and maintain the rotating body of revolution submerged in the order of 30% of its maximum diameter during navigation.

An apparatus including a controllable fluid-contacting surface is provided. In another aspect, the present apparatus includes a flexible membrane and multiple actuators each having an output shaft or activation member coupled to a water-contacting membrane, with the shafts extending in a direction offset from the nominal outer surface of the membrane. A further aspect of the present apparatus includes an underwater vessel including a propulsion source, a flexible membrane having a water-contacting outer surface and an electronic controller including programmable software for actuating the actuators.