Abstract: A drive system mounted to the hull of a buoyant vessel, the drive system having a rectifier, a generator, an AC bus in communication with shore power or a charging system and the rectifier, a DC bus in communication with the rectifier, at least one energy storage system, an inverter, a prime mover, a load regenerating device, and a control and monitor system which has predefined specifications for at least one of: storage units of at least one energy storage system; stored therein and wherein the control and monitor system is adapted to: automatically control the DC/DC converters, relieve a current draw from one or more storage units, provide charging current, and automatically draw power and redirect energy.

Abstract: A plurality of generators provide power to loads, such as loads on a vessel. A skimming device receives and stores skimmed power from the plurality of generators. A battery bank receives the stored skimmed power from the skimming device and provides the stored skimmed power to the loads. A controller controls receipt and storage of the skimmed power by the skimming device and monitors a level of the stored skimmed power in the skimming device. The controller controls the transfer of the stored skimmed power from the skimming device to the battery bank and provisioning of the stored skimmed power from the battery bank to the loads based on the level of the stored skimmed power in the skimming device.

Abstract: A floating vessel with gearless pod propulsor and counter rotating propellers is secured to a hull, each pod having a lead propeller and a trailing propeller, each propeller connected to a shaft connected to either a stator and rotor or a hydraulic motor. A lead propeller turns in a first direction and a trailing propeller turns in an opposite direction simultaneously, generating thrust for the floating vessel along a thrust vector using the counter rotation of the trailing propeller to recover swirling energy from the lead propeller improving propulsive efficiency of the floating vessel. The pod is positioned below a water line of the floating vessel providing propulsion for the floating vessel without gears.

Abstract: A method is disclosed herein for lifting thrusters on vessels enabling for on vessel maintenance at sea. The method can include engaging a thruster mounting flange with a thruster well bottom flange; installing alignment guide plates to provide a rough alignment; positioning a seal to provide a connection; installing fasteners to secure the flanges; actuating clamps to secure the flanges while compressing the seal; raising the thruster out of the thruster well; transporting the thruster to a deck of the floating vessel; actuating clamps to hold the flanges; removing the fasteners; flowing water into the thruster well; disengaging the clamps; and lifting the thruster with the lifting means.

Abstract: A removable retractable externally mountable dynamic positioning self contained diesel hydraulic thruster system for a floating semi-submersible vessel having a hull with a ballasted waterline, a first pontoon integral with the hull and a second pontoon integral with the hull. The hull supports a deck, wherein the system comprises: at least a pair of azimuthing thrusters, wherein at least one azimuthing thruster is removably mounted to a pontoon of a semi-submersible vessel.

Abstract: A modular removable externally mountable diesel electric thruster system using azimuthing thrusters and a dynamic positioning system for positioning floating semi-submersible vessels with a ballasted waterline and at least one submerged pontoon.

Abstract: A floating marine vessel, an azimuthing thruster assembly, and an underwater mountable azimuthing thruster, having a movable and removable canister and a double mechanical seal and bearings enabling atmospheric pressure lubricating fluid to lubricate the thruster and seal assembly. The moveable and removable canister support the azimuthing thrusters with a propeller shaft axis oriented downwards at an angle 95 degrees to 110 degrees from a rotatable thruster input shaft axis, for reducing thrusts losses due to friction between the propeller wash and the bottom hull of the vessel and reduces thruster to thruster interference when multiple thrusters are operating on the same vessel.