Abstract: A device for the inflation of an inflatable life vest, notable in that it includes a storage casing containing at least two cartridges of pressurized gas which are arranged side-by-side and touching one another to form a row, and a release casing comprising at least one striker device that makes it possible, in the event of activation, to puncture each of the said cartridges simultaneously or in succession to release the gas they contain in gaseous form to the outside of the inflation device through at least one orifice made on the release casing, the said storage and release casings being in the overall shape of a flattened hollow parallelepiped and joined together removably and in a manner that is gastight with respect to the gas contained in the said cartridges.

Abstract: One or more specific embodiments herein includes a personal flotation device, comprising a vest capable of floating in water and having front panels; a power source; a light source; at least two support straps; a first electrical cable; and a second electrical cable. Further, the first electrical cable and the second electrical cable are capable of being connected to one another to form a connector assembly through which electrical current is capable of flowing, and the connector assembly includes a housing for preventing water from contacting the electrical current when the connector assembly is formed.

Abstract: Image recording as long as possible during one activity is required in deep sea exploration. Necessity of multi-directional image recording, optical and chemical observations and probing of mineral resources of seabed are also increased. There is no underwater exploration device enable these requirements. It is disclosed that at least one battery-driven underwater exploration body having three pressure-resistant hollow glass spheres for housing an image capturing device, an illumination device, a recording device, an acoustic communication device and a control device controlling thereof and at least one battery body having an approximately the same shape and structure as the underwater exploration body are connected with each other by a connecting tool to provide the connectedly-formed underwater exploration device.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an inflatable watercraft barrier in one example having an inflatable perimeter tube. Also disclosed is a diaphragm sealed to the perimeter tube to form the watercraft barrier between a watercraft and the water in which the watercraft barrier and watercraft float. In one example, a portion of the perimeter tube forms a gate portion which is at least partially selectively deflated so as to be denser than water, and therefore rotates about a gate pivot such that the watercraft may enter the watercraft barrier through the gate portion. Also disclosed is a water pump in fluid communication with the watercraft barrier so as to evacuate water from between the watercraft barrier and the watercraft.

Abstract: An outboard motor has a powerhead; a supporting cradle supporting the powerhead, the supporting cradle having port and starboard sides extending alongside opposite sides of the outboard motor; a resilient mount coupling the powerhead to the supporting cradle and being configured to absorb vibrations of the powerhead; and a tie bar mounting bracket having a head portion located aftwardly of the supporting cradle and further having port and starboard arms extending forwardly from the head portion alongside the opposite sides of the outboard motor and being coupled to the port and starboard sides of the supporting cradle, respectively. A cooling system conveys cooling water through the outboard motor and has a telltale outlet that discharges cooling water through the tie bar mounting apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a remotely operated underwater vehicle and a control method therefor. The remotely operated underwater vehicle comprises a body having an imaging unit and a control unit; a power unit disposed on the body; a beacon unit for being worn on a part of a user's body, wherein the beacon unit can emit a plurality of optical control signals with different brightness; and the control unit can control the power unit to respond according to the optical control signals collected by the imaging unit to adjust an action and a posture of the body.

Abstract: A vapor taker system, a vessel-based solution to accommodate vapor destruction during hydrocarbon loading and/or lightering, is disclosed. The vapor taker has vapor destruction equipment, support fuel, and accommodation for loading hose connections as necessary to comply with air emissions requirements for the destruction of volatile organic compounds. The vapor taker system can be modular or fully integrated into a marine vessel such as a ship, barge, tanker, and so forth.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel, floating, offshore wind turbine (FOWT) structure, referred to as a yawing buoy mast (YBM) structure. The YBM platform vertically combines a submerged spar buoy with outrigger legs and a mast on which a wind turbine nacelle is mounted. Compared to a conventional spar buoy wind turbine, weight is significantly reduced by optimizing how loads are borne and reacted by the floating structure. The mass of the YBM platform is reduced relative to the energy captured by the turbine resulting in a reduction in the cost of energy (COE). Platform load dynamics are coupled with the dynamics of the wind turbine by integration of the YBM platform and turbine controllers.

Abstract: An enhanced system and various methods for remotely deploying boat fenders from a safe and convenient location. The boat fenders, which are placed along the entire periphery of the boat, may be deployed and retracted with lines attached to winches and motors. A smart phone app may be employed to remind users to deploy boat fenders upon entering known ports, and may also deploy the boat fenders automatically.

Abstract: A boat hook assembly includes a clamping assembly, which is attachable to a pole. The clamping assembly includes a mechanical clamp in one embodiment and a magnetic clamp in another embodiment adapted to temporarily secure a boat hook which is configured to connect to a receiving member on a boat dock. The boat hook is configured to receive a boat line extending from the boat. The temporary securement of the boat hook by the clamping assembly is overcome by an operator moving the pole in a manner to release the clamping assembly from the boat hook, wherein the boat remains connected to the dock by the boat hook and the extended boat line. The boat hook assembly includes structural element and arrangements to prevent unintentional release of the clamping assembly from the boat hook.

Abstract: A steering device includes: a cylinder; a normal/reverse rotation type hydraulic power source; an oil storage tank; a first oil passage that connects the cylinder with the hydraulic power source; a second oil passage that connects the cylinder with the hydraulic power source; an oil passage group that includes at least one oil passage connecting at least one of the first oil passage and the second oil passage with the oil storage tank; and a changeover valve group that performs changeover between a state in which hydraulic oil recovered from the cylinder flows back to the oil storage tank and a state in which hydraulic oil supplied from the hydraulic power source to the cylinder does not flow back to the oil storage tank, in accordance with a state of hydraulic oil supplied by the hydraulic power source.

Abstract: A marine engine has first and second banks of cylinders; a supercharger configured to supply charge air for combustion in the first and second banks of cylinders; first and second charge air coolers configured to cool the charge air, wherein the first and second charge air coolers each have an upstream inlet that receives the charge air from the supercharger, a downstream outlet that discharges the charge air for combustion in the marine engine, and a bypass port for conveying a portion of the charge air, the bypass port being located downstream of the inlet and upstream of the outlet; a recirculation passage coupled to the first charge air cooler, the recirculation passage conveying the portion of the charge air from the bypass port of the first charge air cooler back to the supercharger; and a mounting plate coupled to the second charge air cooler, the mounting plate preventing flow of the portion of charge air through the bypass port of the second charge air cooler.

Abstract: Certain embodiments may generally relate to a marine clutch apparatus for retrieving lines from the seafloor. The marine clutch apparatus may include a first base sled and a second base sled disposed adjacent to each other. The marine clutch apparatus may also include a first side panel and a second side panel, a connection rod disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled, and a grabber head disposed between the first base sled and the second base sled.

Abstract: An underwater mobile inspection apparatus capable of inspecting an inspection object on a seafloor while cruising includes a cruising body configured to submerge under-water and cruise along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, a first movable arm provided on the cruising-body, and an inspection tool unit provided on the first movable arm and including at least one of an image-capturing camera for use in visually inspecting the inspection object and a device configured to inspect a wall thickness of the inspection object by using an ultrasonic wave. A controller is configured to, when the cruising-body cruises along the inspection object so as to not come into contact with the inspection object, operate the first movable arm to move the inspection tool unit, such that a positional relationship of the inspection tool unit with the inspection object becomes a predetermined target positional relationship.

Abstract: A robotic eel may comprise a plurality of torque reaction engines, an inertial mass, and a fin. Each of the plurality of torque reaction engines oscillates an inertial mass about an axis, producing a torque reaction on and oscillation of an external shaft. Oscillation of the external shaft bends a beam of the robotic eel. Bending the beam of the robotic eel produces at least one of a traveling or a standing wave in the beam. The traveling wave may be communicated to a second torque reaction of the plurality of torque reaction engines and to the fin, producing thrust.

Abstract: An underwater propulsion unit including a propeller, a motor, and a housing. The motor is disposed further forward in a propulsion direction than the propeller and drives the propeller into rotation. The housing that accommodates the motor and the propeller includes a first portion and a second portion. In the second portion disposed further rearward in the propulsion direction than the first portion, an introduction inlet and a spout outlet are provided. The introduction inlet introduces water into the housing, and water introduced from the introduction inlet and delivered by the propeller is spouted out of the housing. When viewed in a direction parallel to the propulsion direction, the introduction inlet is disposed further outward than the first portion and introduces water into the housing in a direction parallel to the axis of the propeller.

Abstract: A lateral marine thruster is disclosed for mounting to an outboard motor. The lateral marine thruster has a bi-directional thruster with a central body portion and at least one propeller, the central body portion housing at least one high torque electric motor, which is rotatably coupled to at least one propeller, the rotational axis of the high torque electric motor and the propeller being oriented perpendicular to the centerline of the outboard motor. The bi-directional thruster is secured to the anti-cavitation plate or a similar mounting location of the outboard motor to provide lateral thrust for ease of docking or mooring a vessel.

Abstract: An adjustable frame device for a profiled sail device includes a fixed luff-sided first frame portion and a leech-sided second frame portion. The second frame portion includes a first flexible sail batten and a second flexible sail batten that are movable with respect to one another in a sail-batten longitudinal direction to adjust the frame device, with one of the sail battens serving as a compression batten and the other of the sail battens serving as a tension batten. An adjustable profiled sail device includes a first profiled surface against which air can flow, a second profiled surface against which air can flow, with the first profiled surface and the second profiled surface being spaced apart from one another, and an adjustable skeleton device disposed between the profiled surfaces. The skeleton device includes at least one adjustable frame device.

Abstract: A life-jacket with an integrated rudder for navigating water currents is shown. The jacket integrated rudder is for water navigation in swift currents and is of simple construction, using a cord with handles to steer the attached rudder by pull of cord attached handles side-to-side.

Abstract: Sail construction comprising foldable sail supports, a crossbeam, a holder, a sail, a bottom holder, ropes and a block and tackle system. The sail can be a self-inflatable sail designed similarly to paragliders, partially or fully inflatable.