Abstract: A thermal insulation material, and a method for its manufacture, in which the material is suited to underwater use. The material includes a matrix 20 of cured polymer material, most preferably polyurethane, in which are embedded insulation bodies 10 each including a core 12 of foamed material and an outer structural plastics layer 14. The materials and the manufacturing conditions are chosen such that temperatures within the low density bodies during manufacture are not sufficient to destroy the foamed cores.

Abstract: A connector (10) for securing an elongate member such as an umbilical (12) a female receiving member such as an I-tube (14), has an elongate bend stiffening portion (25) and a securing portion (26) connected to the bend stiffening portion and continuous passage (36) extends through the bend stiffening portion and the securing portion. The securing portion has one or more securing members (e.g. steel balls (40)) displaceable radially outwardly into engagement with the inner face of the tube, thereby securing the connector to the I-tube.

Abstract: A fairing is disclosed for mounting upon a cylindrical member which is deployed underwater. The fairing has a generally wedge shaped body 4 which tapers from front to rear. The body 4 is mounted upon the cylindrical member 8 through a collar 6, 61 in which the member is received. The fairing is thus mounted with its front face adjacent the cylindrical member so that the assembly of the fairing body and the member can together form a teardrop shape. The collar permits the fairing to weathervane, rotating about the cylindrical member, to align itself with a current.

Abstract: There is described ducting comprising a plurality of interconnectible elongate ducting components (2, 4) which when assembled define an elongate, longitudinally extending internal channel (22) for receiving a pipe, cable or like elongate member, each ducting component having a shaped inner face (14) with a longitudinal recess (20) such that the components can be assembled with confronting inner faces (16, 18), their respective longitudinal recesses being thereby aligned to form the channel, the ducting further comprising tension bands (6) for securing assembled pairs of components to one another, wherein each ducting component is provided with a transversely extending internal cavity for receiving a tension band, the cavity having two open ends so that the band can pass through the internal cavity of one ducting component and though a corresponding internal cavity of an adjacent ducting component in order to secure one to the other, at least part of the band being thereby contained and protected within the ca

Abstract: A cylindrical buoyancy unit is composed of separate sections which are held together to surround a marine object such as a riser or pipe with additional conduits. The sections combine to define an internal cavity which is shaped to conform with the marine object. Each unit section is a thermosetting resin composite with a bulk interior of syntactic foam and an outer layer of different characteristics and an intermediate reinforcement layer. The intermediate layer is disposed close to the outer layer and is mechanically embedded but not tightly bonded into the structure. The intermediate layer is made as a mesh of high strength polymer fibers.

Abstract: A shell for providing impact protection to a marine drilling riser, the shell comprising a body having at least one hollow chamber defined by inner and outer faces of the shell, the body being provided with a plurality of holes allowing flooding of the chamber.