Abstract: A protection system is provided for protecting a nuclear reactor positioned on a barge which is floating in the water of a tank. The system also includes suspension systems which permits the barge to move downwardly in the tank upon an aircraft, missile strike or earthquake to reduce the impact force of the strike. Each of the suspension systems includes a slack upper chain member, a taut intermediate chain member and a slack lower chain member. A padding material is positioned at the inner sides of the tank. Padding material may be placed of the ends and sides of the barge.

Abstract: A deadline compensator including a compensator assembly configured to engage a deadline between a crown block and a supply reel. The compensator assembly is configured to transition between a first position and a second position. The deadline compensator also includes at least one compensator sheave of the compensator assembly. The compensator sheave is configured to engage the deadline. The deadline compensator includes at least one actuator of the compensator assembly. The actuator is configured to apply a force to the deadline via the at least one compensator sheave to displace the deadline while the compensator assembly is in the first position and configured to retract into the second position in response to force applied via the deadline.

Abstract: A split ring vessel mooring arrangement having floats thereon which may be installed on a post or piling over the top thereof or, in the case of the top being covered by a deck or other structure making access thereto impossible may be pivotally opened and wrapped around the post or piling and then re-secured together.

Abstract: This invention is mounted to a boat and consists of a tee, a pipe, a mooring rope, and a mooring buoy or a pipe, a mooring rope, and a mooring buoy. A mooring rope connected to the tee or to the dock extends through the interior channel of the standoff to a boat mooring cleat located on the side of the boat furthest from the dock. A mooring buoy secures the device to the boat. A rope, chain or cable mounted vertically to the dock and passed vertically through the tee allows the boat to move freely to compensate for movement caused by large waves or tidal changes while holding the boat away from the dock or a mooring rope attached to the dock allows the boat to move freely to compensate for movement caused by large waves while holding the boat away from the dock.

Abstract: This invention is mounted to a boat instead of a dock and consists of two straight tee fittings and three straight pipes or two straight tee fittings and two straight pipes and a mooring buoy extending from a point between the dock and the side of the boat closest to the dock to a point between the side of the boat closest to the dock and the side of the boat furthest from the dock. A dock mooring rope connected to the first tee fitting extends through the interior channel to a boat mooring cleat located on the side of the boat furthest from the dock. A straight pipe or a mooring buoy mounted vertically secures the device to the boat when the dock mooring rope is secured to a boat mooring cleat located on the side of the boat furthest from the dock.

Abstract: Docking system for securing a craft to a dock or slip using a single line secured to the middle cleat of the boat. The system includes a mounting system, a docking car assembly slideably mounted on the mounting system; at least one bumper mounted on the docking car assembly; a biasing system which urges the docking car assembly is a first direction on the mounting system; and a docking line connected to the docking car assembly, a docking line connected to said docking car assembly, wherein when a force is placed on the docking line, the docking car is urged in a direction opposite to the first direction. Adjustable bumpers are provided which prevent the craft from rotating about the point of attachment.

Abstract: A portable water level-responsive mooring device has a mooring strap with a ring capable of engaging the mooring device around a dock piling. The mooring strap has a suitable length of cord having a clip or ring on each end capable of releasably attaching to a fender, spacing tubes, and rollers. The spacing tubes and rollers have an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the spacing tubes and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cord. The cord is positioned within an arrangement of the spacing tubes and rollers, the length of cord being sufficient to wrap around a dock piling.

Abstract: Described is a boat mooring assembly and method for preventing a boat from being damaged during docking and mooring. The boat mooring assembly can be used to moor a boat while allowing the boat to adjust to rising and falling tides. The latter advantage is of particular benefit when a boat is being moored in bodies of water that experience large tidal changes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for harnessing power associated with ocean waves and converting that power into electricity. The apparatus is a buoy that houses a vertically oriented central shaft, a pendulum, and a generator. As the buoy tilts from the vertical under the influence of wave motion, the pendulum is accelerated and rotates about the central shaft. A centrally-placed generator is mechanically coupled to, and driven by, the rotating pendulum so that the pendulum's kinetic energy is converted into electricity. The electricity may be stored at or near the buoy or transferred to a remote facility. Moreover, a fin array located along the bottom of the buoy serves as an anti-torque mechanism and improves the operational efficiency of the electricity production. The method involves employing use of the centrally located generator and the fin array to efficiently harness wave power.

Abstract: A portable water level-responsive mooring device has a mooring strap with a ring capable of engaging the mooring device around a dock piling. The mooring strap has a suitable length of cord having a clip or ring on each end capable of releasably attaching to a fender, spacing tubes, and rollers. The spacing tubes and rollers have an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the spacing tubes and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cord. The cord is positioned within an arrangement of the spacing tubes and rollers, the length of cord being sufficient to wrap around a dock piling.

Abstract: A portable water level-responsive mooring device has a mooring strap with a ring capable of engaging the mooring device around a dock piling. The mooring strap has a suitable length of cord having a clip or ring on each end capable of releasably attaching to a fender, spacing tubes, and rollers. The spacing tubes and rollers have an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the spacing tubes and an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cord. The cord is positioned within an arrangement of the spacing tubes and rollers, the length of cord being sufficient to wrap around a dock piling.

Abstract: A buoyant bumper system for attachment to a docking facility and cushioning a boat. The buoyant bumper system includes an elongated travel shaft for engaging the docking facility, a travel sleeve slidably carried by the travel shaft, a system float carried by the travel sleeve and a resilient bumper carried by the travel sleeve in spaced-apart relationship to the system float. Throughout tidal rise and fall of a water body, the system float maintains the bumper at a fixed level with respect to the boat. Therefore, the buoyant bumper system is capable of cushioning and preventing damage to the boat throughout a full range of tidal movement as the boat is docked to a docking facility.

Abstract: A dock line assembly for docking a vessel comprises a housing, first and second lines connected opposing ends of the housing, and a dampener contained within the housing and adapted to allow for axially extension and retraction of the first line relative to the second line. The first or second lines are configured to be deployable to a selectively adjustable length and lockable thereat in order to accommodate varying lengths between the vessel and the dock or mooring. The dock line assembly may further comprise a biasing element adapted to bias the first and second lines towards one another following axially extension or retraction under the influence of compressive or tensile forces transmitted as a result of wind, weather, tide or wake action.

Abstract: An offshore system for petroleum production has a buoyant platform. A tendon assembly secures to the platform and extends down to a counterweight located near the lower end. A piling is embedded in the sea floor. A socket at the counterweight telescopingly slides over the upper end of the piling to prevent lateral movement of the platform. A dampening chamber is located between the socket and the piling. Ports for the chamber are arranged to allow a faster downward movement of the piling than upward movement.

Abstract: A mooring pole line attachment device is disclosed comprised of a buoyant base, cylindrical sleeve, the cylindrical sleeve having circumferential rings utilized for engagement of a line. The buoyant base includes an outer cover, inner coil and is filled with a buoyant material. The base also includes a central bore therethrough having a diameter sufficient to receive the cylindrical sleeve therewithin and to allow the base to be affixed to the sleeve so that inferior termini of both base and sleeve align. The cylindrical sleeve is a tubular structure having a central bore of a sufficient diameter to allow placement of the device upon a mooring pole and to allow for sliding thereupon. The sleeve includes parallel, circumferential rings and grooves utilized as attachment points for mooring ropes. The device is placed upon a mooring pole and, due to its buoyancy, floats and thereby adjusts its position upon the pole in accordance with changes in water level.

Abstract: A floating dock mooring article that is movably connected around a watercraft dock pipe comprises a float operatively connected to a mooring member having a flange generally located at the upper end thereof. A watercraft is moored to the dock, as by a rope, via the mooring article. The mooring member has at least one radially outward set projection having an external diameter and the float has at least one radially inward projection having an internal diameter. The mooring member projection external diameter is greater than the float inward projection internal diameter. The inward projection is capable of engaging the mooring member projection so that the float is set at a predetermined height of said mooring member and/or the float is capable of causing the mooring member to rise.

Abstract: A front post is located in proximity to a bow cleat and a rear post is located in proximity to a stern cleat. A securement assembly operatively couples each post with respect to a dock. A carriage assembly is positioned on each post. The carriage assembly has a collar. The collar is in a cylindrical configuration. The collar is positioned over the majority of its circumferential extent and spaced parallel segments. An axle is located between the parallel segments. A roller is rotatably secured to the axle. An hour glass surface is provided. A first rope has an interior end attached to the collar of the front post and an exterior end couplable to an aft cleat. A second rope has an interior end attached to the collar of the rear post. An exterior end is couplable to a bow cleat.

Abstract: A method for determining heave and heave rate for a vessel is described. The vessel includes an inertial navigation system (INS), and sensors for the INS being located at a point A of the vessel, the vessel having a zero heave reference point B, and the described method provides heave and heave rate at a point C of the vessel. The method includes determining reference coordinates for points A, B, and C of the vessel, generating a velocity signal representative of a velocity at a point on the vessel, generating a heave rate signal based upon the velocity signal, and generating a heave based upon the heave rate signal.

Abstract: A mooring device for mounting freely around a mooring post for making fast a boat, the device comprising a collar for mounting around the post in a manner that the collar can move up and down according to the tide along the post, with one stem connected to the collar and freely movable around the collar and a buoy in the stem for keeping the collar and stem floating in the water, the stem including a distal ring for connecting a rope for making fast the boat.

Abstract: A tethering system for a floating boat dock that allows both vertical and horizontal motion of the dock in response to changes in water level while maintaining the dock in a constant position relative to the moving shoreline. The system comprises cables attached to earth anchors, maintained under constant tension and mechanically coupled to rolling ground contact elements that bear against the bottom of the body of water.

Abstract: An automatically adjusting mooring system that is lightweight and flexible for storing in small spaces comprises a water weight bag made of a flexible and durable material, a pulley and a line. The pulley is hung on a floating object and the line run through the pulley. One end of the line is tied to a stationery object and the other end to a water weight bag. The water weight bag is filled to the desired level to provide the weight and tension necessary to keep the line taut an maintain the floating object in a safely docked position.

Abstract: An improved self adjusting tidal mooring device for all typical mooring poles or pilings (38), mounted by conventional lag screws or bolts (24) by the stand off stainless steel mounting plates (26), which are fixed to both distal ends of the stainless steel vertical slide shaft (36) that is captivated by the UHWM polyethylene vertical slide block (40). The device uses conventional ropes or lines (50) attached at one one to the vertical slide block (40), by the machine line or rope slots (42), and at the other to the watercraft's conventional rope cleat (52). As tidal motions or water levels (W) act on the vessel (V) the vertical slide block is allowed to freely move up and down on the vertical slide shaft, while maintaining spacial position of the craft in the mooring slip.