Abstract: A canopy system for deployment around the periphery of a vessel floating on a body of water is disclosed primarily for use in connection with drillships in Arctic waters.

Abstract: A skirt system is disclosed in combination with a barge floating on a body of water, the barge having a roof extending over the body of water, for providing a substantial ice-free zone around a barge out to at least a hundred feet from the barge.

Abstract: Novel methods and means are provided for providing a substantially ice-free zone around a vessel out to 100 feet or more. The method includes the steps of (a) creating a finite substantially enclosed zone completely around the periphery of the vessel above the waterline, such zone including a peripheral zone approaching the waterline; then (b) continuously circulating warm air within the finite substantially enclosed zone; and finally (c) continuously injecting warm air into the peripheral zone to prevent ice formation within the peripheral zone. The apparatus includes (a) a plurality of floating modules disposed around, and each connected at one end to, the vessel; (b) a continuous, downwardly depending skirt extending completely around the outer periphery of the plurality of floating modules; and (c) a water/air heat exchanger in a selected plurality of such floating modules. The combination of the floating canopies around the vessel, and the hot air provides an ice-free zone around the vessel.

Abstract: A novel barge construction is disclosed herein for providing a substantially ice-free zone around a vessel out to at least 100 feet from the vessel. The barge comprises: (a) a hull including a bow, a stern and, a pair of sides, a flat bottom all covered by plating and a deck covered by decking; (b) a hull stabilization system including a lattice framework filled with solid insulation material; (c) a liquid/gas heat exchange system within the hull, such heat exchange system having ducts and outlets therefrom from the hull to project hot gas towards the surface of the water and recirculation inflow structure to recover air and hot gas from the region of the surface of the water; (d) a cantilevered section extending forwardly from the bow and including longitudinally extending skirt ducts therein connected to the heat exchange system ducts and outlets; and (e) a skirt suspended from the forward edge of the cantilevered section to below the waterline of the barge.