A marker buoy constructed of a main shaft extending vertically when in use and including a marker flag, a floating body, and a spool mounted to the main shaft.

A floating platform dimensioned and configured to receive and transport an automated pool cleaner on the surface of the water is disclosed. For convenience, the floating platform is referred to as a pontoon. The pontoon is also configured to control the retrieval of the pool cleaner. The pontoon includes a buoyant housing having a first end and a second end. An inclined platform ramp is positioned in the pontoon housing at an angle from the first end towards the second end. The pontoon includes a winch for winding and unwinding a cable connected to the pool cleaner to thereby selectively release and retrieve the cleaner.

A launch and recovery apparatus is for a surface vessel, a surface vessel is for use on water, and related methods are for launching or recovering an underwater unit. The unmanned surface vessel may have a ramp member for providing a ramp structure under the water for facilitating launch or recovery of the underwater unit, the ramp structure having an incline for the underwater unit and an aperture or gap penetrating through the ramp structure for communicating a flow of water in the aperture or gap relative to the vessel. The surface vessel is advanced across the water, obtaining a flow of water relative to the vessel in the aperture or gap through the underwater ramp structure, the underwater unit is supported on the incline of the ramp structure, and the underwater unit is moved up or down the incline to facilitate the launch or recovery of the underwater unit.

A system for power and data transmission in a body of water to unmanned underwater vehicles comprises a floating surface station for generating electric energy and receiving and transmitting data; an underwater station connectable to at least one unmanned underwater vehicle; at least one submerged depth buoy; and an umbilical, which comprises a power transmission line and a data transmission line, is mechanically and electrically connected to the surface station and to the underwater station, and is mechanically coupled to the depth buoy so that the umbilical comprises a first umbilical section that is stretched between the underwater station and the depth buoy and a second umbilical section that extends loose between the depth buoy and the surface station.

A system for power and data transmission in a body of water to unmanned underwater vehicles comprises a floating surface station for generating electric energy and receiving and transmitting data; an underwater station connectable to at least one unmanned underwater vehicle; at least one submerged depth buoy; and an umbilical, which comprises a power transmission line and a data transmission line, is mechanically and electrically connected to the surface station and to the underwater station, and is mechanically coupled to the depth buoy so that the umbilical comprises a first umbilical section that is stretched between the underwater station and the depth buoy and a second umbilical section that extends loose between the depth buoy and the surface station.

Disclosed is a measurement system for aquatic environments, including a surface vessel and a submersible device, the submersible device including a hull, propulsion, guide, and sensors for taking measurements. The submersible device can either be launched from the vessel in order to then maneuver underwater independently of the vessel during a remote deployment phase, or be stored in a vessel during a non-deployment phase, the vessel including at least one hull and propulsion and guide, the at least one hull of the vessel including a submerged portion located below a waterline. The submerged portion of the at least one hull of the vessel includes a recess designed to receive at least an upper portion of the hull of the submersible device when the latter is stored in the vessel, the recess being arranged entirely below the waterline so that the submersible device remains completely submerged during storage.

A subsea structure has an elongate articulated buoyancy string having a longitudinal series of buoyancy elements, and at least one elongate buoyancy holder that is fixed relative to the structure and is capable of housing the buoyancy string. The buoyancy of the structure can be altered by moving the buoyancy string along a transit path that extends along and within the buoyancy holder and through an end opening of the buoyancy holder. The buoyancy string passes through that end opening on being inserted into or withdrawn from the buoyancy holder.

A floating platform dimensioned and configured to receive and transport an automated pool cleaner on the surface of the water is disclosed. For convenience, the floating platform is referred to as a pontoon. The pontoon is also configured to control the retrieval of the pool cleaner. The pontoon includes a buoyant housing having a first end and a second end. An inclined platform ramp is positioned in the pontoon housing at an angle from the first end towards the second end. The pontoon includes a winch for winding and unwinding a cable connected to the pool cleaner to thereby selectively release and retrieve the cleaner.

A subsea structure comprises: an elongate articulated buoyancy string comprising a longitudinal series of buoyancy elements; and at least one elongate buoyancy holder that is fixed relative to the structure and is capable of housing the buoyancy string. The buoyancy of the structure may be altered by moving the buoyancy string along a transit path that extends along and within the buoyancy holder and through an end opening of the buoyancy holder. The buoyancy string passes through that end opening on being inserted into or withdrawn from the buoyancy holder.

Disclosed is a measurement system for aquatic environments, including a surface vessel and a submersible device, the submersible device including a hull, propulsion, guide, and sensors for taking measurements. The submersible device can either be launched from the vessel in order to then maneuver underwater independently of the vessel during a remote deployment phase, or be stored in a vessel during a non-deployment phase, the vessel including at least one hull and propulsion and guide, the at least one hull of the vessel including a submerged portion located below a waterline. The submerged portion of the at least one hull of the vessel includes a recess designed to receive at least an upper portion of the hull of the submersible device when the latter is stored in the vessel, the recess being arranged entirely below the waterline so that the submersible device remains completely submerged during storage.