Abstract: A large floating mass (10) such as an off-shore structure or an iceberg is towed using two sea anchors (20 & 30) alternately. The motive power for towing is derived from winch means (15 & 16) on the large floating mass or on a barge immediately in front of it. The cable by which the towing force is transmitted runs from one of the sea anchors to the other so that it is payed out to one while the other is being winched towards the mass. The sea anchors are arranged to offer little resistance to forward movement through the water, but to offer a large resistance to backward movement, thereby offering a purchase from which towing is effected. The advantage of using two sea anchors is that with an alternating succession of towing operations it is possible to keep a substantially continuous tractive effort acting on the mass.

Abstract: A device (4) for thermally protecting the side of a tabular iceberg (1) produces a vertical layer of calm water (7) between itself and the vertical side wall of the tabular iceberg. This thermal protective device is suspended from a mechanical protective device, which may comprise a wall of floating towers (5). The protective device comprises panels (8) of woven or non-woven material parallel to the vertical side wall of the tabular iceberg, each of said panels having a width greater than its height, being suspended from a horizontal cable (10) passing through a top hem of the panel and being stretched taut by ballast (9).

Abstract: The device comprises an assembly of three principal components, a member for embedding in the rear wall of a tabular iceberg at some depth below the water line, a support structure projecting therefrom and a propulsion unit. It preferably includes a shield to transmit the thrust to a sufficiently large surface of the iceberg wall to avoid creep problems. The propulsion unit may be an electric motor.

Abstract: To melt an iceberg once it has been brought to a tropical region where it is to act as a source of fresh water, use is made of the warm breezes of such tropical regions. Droplets of an artificial rain of cold fresh water are caused to drop through the warm air, thereby extracting heat from it. This heat is used to melt the iceberg. Preferably the cold fresh water comes from a pool of cold fresh water on the surface of the iceberg, and the artificial rain falls back into the pool. At night this method can also condense extra water from the air.

Abstract: A vertical wall is placed next to the flank of an iceberg to retain a vertical layer of trapped water in contact with the iceberg. Zig-zag tubes are threaded through the wall at intervals so that the "elbows" in the zig-zags engage the iceberg flank to keep a fixed distance off.

Abstract: The panels are disposed in parallel to one another and are held in contact with the lower surface of a tabular iceberg by arms or cables attached to anchor points on the upper surface of the iceberg and by gas-filled chambers attached to the panels. The panels are stretched by ballast weights attached to their lower edges.

Abstract: A wall for protecting tabular icebergs against the mechanical effects of the waves and swell contains between the protective wall and the vertical side face of the tabular iceberg to be protected a layer of seawater subject to level variations of smaller amplitude than is the seawater outside said protective wall. The protective wall comprises vertical curtains parallel to the vertical side wall of the tabular iceberg to be protected. These curtains are attached to cables which maintain them in a partially submerged position, supported by gantries on the substantially horizontal upper surface of the tabular iceberg to be protected.

Abstract: Tabular icebergs can be used as a source of fresh water in arid regions if they are transported from the Antarctic to where there is a need for water. To help reduce the rate at which solar radiation melts the iceberg on its journey, pools of fresh water are maintained on its upper surface, thereby taking advantage of the fact that the latent heat of evaporation of water is about seven times that of fusion of ice. The pools are created by protecting a closed path on the surface of the iceberg from melting by means of flexible sheet material. The protected path then forms the walls of the pool. At its destination the iceberg's pools can be given a V-shaped bottom to help increase the rate at which the iceberg is turned into fresh water.

Abstract: A member in the form of a ring connected by radial fins to central hub includes a heater at least for its lower surfaces so that in operation it melts the ice of the iceberg (starting from the top surface thereof) and sinks therethrough with the ice re-freezing above it. The member also includes a central tube removeably attached to the central hub. The tube is fed after the sinking member to provide a vertical shaft through the iceberg. The ring serves to remove a slab of larger diameter than the tube from the lower surface of the iceberg in order to receive a propulsion unit.

Abstract: A flat flotation unit incorporates buoyancy chambers and has a lower portion adapted to be attached to a propulsion unit and an upper portion adapted to grip into the substantially horizontal lower surface of a tabular iceberg. The grip is provided by upstanding support members which are embedded in the iceberg during operation. The support members include heaters and are in the form of hollow right prisms with walls which are grooved to facilitate the escape of iceberg melt water during embedding and which have openings in the vicinity of their connection to the flotation unit to enable seawater to escape from their hollow interiors during embedding.

Abstract: A device for protecting off-shore structures stretched between two floating towers of the "Froude pole" type against the effects of ocean swell, comprising at least four floating poles, two vertical arrays of horizontal cables, and a deflection panel assembly attached to one of the vertical arrays of horizontal cables. The floating poles comprise a rigid metal structure between two metal cylinders of the same diameter. The vertical arrays of horizontal cables form opposed catenary curves and are braced by further horizontal cables extending between them.