Abstract: The invention concerns a cargo transfer vessel (3) for transferring fluid between an offshore production facility and a tanker and a method for transferring the fluid. The cargo transfer vessel comprise a hull (20) having a first and a second outer longitudinal hull side; a deck (30), propulsion means for actively maintaining the cargo transfer vessel at a predetermined distance from the offshore production facility and the tanker during fluid transfer operations and fluid transfer means for transferring fluid between the offshore structure and the tanker. The vessel is further characterized in that the hull comprises a main hull member and at least one protruding hull member (13) arranged below the cargo transfer vessels water line at each of the outer longitudinal hull sides for suppressing roll of the vessel, wherein the at least one protruding hull member extends at least partly along the hulls longitudinal length, i.e. from the start of the vessel's bow to the end of the vessel's aft.

Abstract: A device, which is autonomous or which can be associated with another structure, for propulsion in a liquid environment, is described. The device has a bladder body made of a soft material, developing along and around a central longitudinal axis, defining an internal chamber between a dorsal wall and a ventral wall; in the bladder body, an inlet opening and an outlet opening of a liquid in and out of the chamber, arranged at a longitudinal end of the body; and drive means for driving a contraction of the bladder, arranged on the dorsal wall and having a mechanical connection with the ventral to cyclically attract the ventral wall to the dorsal wall, thereby causing a pulsed ejection of a propeller jet from the chamber through the outlet opening.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a docking station whereby an underwater robot can be maintained, repaired and managed all the time. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a docking station can be provided that may comprise: a receiving unit configured to receive an underwater robot therein and positioned under a surface of water; a maintenance unit provided on the receiving unit and positioned above the surface of the water; and a conveyor unit configured to convey the underwater robot from the receiving unit to the maintenance unit.

Abstract: A device for launching and recovering a sonar is disclosed. The device has a linear receiving antenna and a volume transmitting antenna incorporated in a volume body called fish, the sonar being towed by a surface vessel by a towing line a towing cable from which the fish is suspended, and the linear antenna being secured behind the cable relative to the vessel. The device has a towing winch that includes a frame secured to the surface vessel, making it possible to wind and unwind the towing line around a reel. The reel includes two parts that are rotationally mobile about an axis of rotation, the two parts being coupled, the first part having a cylindrical form on which the towing line is intended to be wound, the second part forming a first abutment intended to accommodate the fish.

Abstract: A collar assembly for a watercraft includes an elongate tubular casing with a lengthwise sealable opening. A foam core is removably positioned in the tubular casing, and includes a body portion and a plurality of circumferentially spaced foam springs that extend outwardly to engage the tubular casing, to bias the foam core towards a center position in the tubular casing. In some embodiments a body portion of the foam core has a circular cross section, and the foam springs are co-formed with the body portion. In some embodiments the foam core comprises a plurality of longitudinal sections that are enclosed in a membrane having an inflation valve that extends through the tubular casing.

Abstract: A vehicle (20) consisting of a frame (22) with a pair of paddles (72) extending longitudinally and rotatably supported by the frame (22) in pendulum fashion for swinging movement between an extended position engaging the surface and a retracted position moved vertically out of engagement with the surface. A pair of foot platforms (74) are operatively connected to the paddles (72). A pair of depressors (84) interconnects the foot platforms (74) and the paddles (72) to rotate the paddles (72) between the extended position and the retracted position. The paddles (72) include a propulsion bar (86) and an oar (88) connected by a lost-motion connection to slide relative to one another between the extended position and the retracted position. The oars (88) have a fin-shape to propel the vehicle (20) over water and include a striker (90) to propel the vehicle (20) over land. The vehicle (20) allows movement over a surface of water and land using an elliptical motion similar to the natural motion of walking.

Abstract: A first flipper has a base, a deformable fin connected to the base, and a first spreader that imposes a first force on the fin that causes the fin to spread in response to relative movement between the first spreader and the fin caused by a first longitudinal deflection of the fin relative to the base. A second flipper has a fin and a foot coupling portion connectable to a foot holding portion of a boot to couple a foot in the foot holding portion to the flipper. A first system includes the flipper and the boot. Methods of using the flippers, the boot, and the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention provides improvements in the efficiency of a sailing vessel through the use of flaps, hydrofoils, or members on the keel of a sailing vessel. One or more are positioned at the top, or root of the keel of the vessel, which primarily generate a force in the windward direction to provide a counter-leeward drift force. One or more are located at the bottom, or tip of the keel of the vessel, which primarily generate a force in the leeward direction to provide a counter-heeling moment. Among other benefits, operation of these flaps, hydrofoils, or members during sailing increases the vessel's efficiency, in particular its velocity made good. Further, since they are mounted on one appendage, sailing vessels of a rudder and keel design can be equipped with counter leeward-drift and counter-heeling attributes without the need for additional appendages.

Abstract: A stone dumping real time measuring system for a stone dumping vessel includes a boom. The boom is mounted to a control cabin of the stone dumping vessel and can extend outwardly from the control cabin to be located above a predetermined stone dumping position. A signal line hangs from the boom. A floater is connected to the other end of the signal line. The floater is provided with a positioning device, a surge compensator, and a depth sounder. The floater freely floats on the water through the separate design of the floater and the stone dumping vessel. The floater is directly positioned by the positioning device of the floater, and the surge compensator is able to correct a measurement error of the depth sounder to instantly report the stone dumping result and to improve the accuracy and precision of the stone real time measuring system.

Abstract: A tow pylon assembly for a watercraft has a pylon, a base connected to a lower portion of the pylon, the base being configured for connecting the tow pylon assembly to the watercraft, a bollard connected to an upper portion of the pylon, the bollard being configured for attaching a tow rope to the tow pylon assembly, and an equipment holding assembly connected to the pylon. The equipment holding assembly has a resilient member connected to the pylon. The resilient member is configured for holding equipment between the resilient member and the pylon. A personal watercraft having a rear platform and the tow pylon assembly connected to the rear platform is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sliding fin for a surfboard includes a base having a planar tab with an upper flange, a large fin piece having a first indentation, and a small fin piece for mating face-to-face with the large fin piece. The second fin piece has a second indentation that forms a channel that has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a cross-sectional shape of the planar tab and upper flange, the channel being longer than the width of the planar tab, the small fin piece being translucent to enable the planar tab in the channel to be seen, the large and small fin pieces being slidable relative to the base on the planar tab.

Abstract: A marine engine for propelling a watercraft has a drive unit adapted to be pivotally connected about a steering axis to the watercraft, and a steering position sensing system. The steering position sensing system has a magnet housing operatively connected to the drive unit and having an arcuate portion, a magnet disposed in the magnet housing, a sensor housing adapted to be operatively connected to the watercraft and a sensor disposed in the sensor housing. The magnet housing and the magnet are pivotable about the steering axis with the drive unit and relative to the sensor housing. The arcuate portion of the magnet housing is spaced from the sensor housing. The sensor senses a magnetic field of the magnet to determine an angular position of the drive unit relative to the watercraft. A bracket assembly for mounting an outboard engine to a watercraft is also disclosed.

Abstract: This new art offers an improvement to conventional surfboards as well as any previous motorized jet surfboards. This application includes an electric powered surfboard equipped with high volume jet drive units that power it forward and significantly improve a surfer's wave fielding and catching ability. Once a wave is caught the drive unit can be shut off by the surfer. Then instantly, two flush fitting glide doors close the jet tube intake openings allowing the surfboard's bottom to return to a planning surface with no protrusions, except for fins, and no water filled jet tubes left open to detract from the surfboard's critical gliding ability when surfing waves. Also, there's a crowned deck shape that allows thin rail sensitivity for turning performance and a motor battery arrangement that provides mass centralization of weight. All this, combined with several wireless control means define this new fine handling motorized surfboard.

Abstract: An underwater propulsion belt that propels a user underwater and includes a plurality of gates, each gate has a channel. A pump is found in each gate and is controlled independently form the other gates. A power supply powers the pumps to pump water in either direction through the channel. The underwater propulsion belt further includes circuitry configured to receive diver information from the user and from one or more sensors. The underwater propulsion belt controls, based on the information, the movement of the user. The user's position is calculated based on whether the user is in an upright or prone position, and maintains, based on the calculation, the user's balance.

Abstract: A cover system for pontoon boats is provided. The cover system facilitates the expeditious covering of a pontoon boat. The cover system includes a plurality of support bows that are laterally extendable across a pontoon boat deck and attachable to the railing of a superstructure thereof. A cover is affixed to a tubular roller that is configured to extend and retract the cover over the plurality of support bows. Support arms disposed at ends of the tubular roller include brackets for mounting the tubular roller onto the superstructure of a pontoon boat and supporting the cover on a side thereof. A handle is attached to the cover for enabling a user to manually extend the cover over the plurality of support bows. The tubular roller is operably coupled to an actuator that is configured to rotate the roller and retract the cover.

Abstract: The outboard motor includes a lower unit that rotatably supports a propeller shaft and a shift unit that switches a shift position. A drive shaft that transmits rotational power to the propeller shaft has upper and lower drive shafts provided coaxially and in series, end to end. The shift unit has an upper gear rotating in synchronization with the upper drive shaft, a lower gear provided rotatably with respect to the lower drive shaft, an intermediate gear that transmits rotation of the upper gear to the lower gear, and a bearing that rotatably supports the middle shaft provided with the intermediate gear. The intermediate gear and the bearing are modularized and are detachably installed to the lower unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an outboard motor including a drive shaft that transmits rotational power from an engine, a shift unit provided in the middle of the drive shaft, and a water pump that feeds a coolant to the engine. The drive shaft has a first input shaft that receives the rotational power transmitted from the engine and a second input shaft that receives the rotational power transmitted from the first input shaft. The shift unit and the water pump are integrated into a single shift unit module installed detachably to the lower unit casing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a canoe comprising at least two hull sections and a joint for releasable connection of the first hull section to the second hull section, wherein the joint comprises a first mating means comprising at least one protruding member and at least one corresponding groove, provided in respective one of said hull sections, wherein the joint further comprises a second mating means comprising at least one projecting member and at least one corresponding groove, provided in respective one of said hull sections, wherein said first mating means is positioned at a lower portion of the respective hull sections compared to said second mating means.

Abstract: [Problem] The present invention relates to a surfboard fin attachment structure. More specifically, the invention addresses the problem of providing a surfboard fin attachment structure, which is capable of detachably attaching a fin to a surfboard, wherein the attachment structure is capable of tight fitting even though easy attachment and detachment are possible and allows fitting without fin shaking or shuddering. [Solution] A surfboard fin attachment structure comprising: pin insertion recesses on both side surfaces of a cavity and, continuous therewith, grooves that continue in the depth direction of the cavity, said grooves extending from a given depth towards the back of the direction of board movement in the longitudinal direction of the fin box; and, on both sides of the fin attachment base, pins corresponding to the pin insertion recesses.

Abstract: A variable rigidity tow cable for attaching a first vehicle with a second vehicle. The tow cable includes a tension control cable having a first end and a second end. Tension on at least one of the ends of the tension control cable can be controlled to increase or decrease the length of the tension control cable. A plurality of beads are slidingly disposed on the tension control cable between the first end and the second end. The beads are free to move relative to one another on the tension control cable when the tension control cable is slack, and the beads are engaged with each other to form a rigid structure around the tension control cable when tension is applied to the tension control cable.