A graphic vector plotting instrument, particularly suited for marine navigational computations. A cursor disk is surrounded by a concentric compass disk, and both are rotatable about their common center. The cursor disk has a pair of perpendicular cursor lines which intersect at the common center and a plurality of other parallel cursor lines. The compass disk has a 360.degree. compass rose scale thereon. A transparent plotting slide is slidable over the cursor disk and the compass disk and cont...

A variable-pitch marine propeller comprises helicoidal blades 6 each mounted on a hub 1 to freely pivot about radial axis 25 spaced in front, in the direction of rotation, of the center of pressure of the blade 6 whereby water pressure acting on the blade exerts a torque which tends to turn it about its axis in a direction to bring the surfaces of the blade into line with the flow of water over it. The axis 25 is also spaced behind, with respect to the direction of movement of the propeller thro...

A marine barrier adapted for deployment as a curtain to divert the flow of water or for use as an oil containment boom and a method for installation thereof. The barrier typically includes a vertically disposed curtain having floats positioned in opposed relation along each side thereof in an outrigger configuration, and parallel, spaced, vertically aligned reinforcing ribs disposed within pockets formed on the surface of the curtain. The bottom edge of the curtain may be weighted with ballast t...

Marine structure having a base and a foundation means projecting downwardly from the base for pressing into the sea bed. The foundation comprises a wall system with pile means on both sides of the wall(s).

An anchor in which the flukes pivot on the shank about independent axes wh converge toward the anchor chain end of the shank. Lugs at the base of shank provide for mounting the pivots. The anchor is reversible and has support plates on either side of its base which act as stops to limit the extent that the plate-like flukes can close toward each other as the anchor is set.

A marine fender comprising a hollow cylindrical body formed of a resilient rubber block and an annular groove circumferentially extending along at least one end of the cylindrical inner wall of the hollow cylindrical body.

A stockless marine anchor having multiple-pointed twin flukes balanced symmetrically about and secured to a shaft having a shank means connected thereto for moving the flukes into anchoring position and means for releasing the flukes from the anchoring position. In one embodiment, two releasing rings are provided, one on each fluke, and the shank means is mounted for limited rotation on the fluke shaft. In a second embodiment, a spring-biased plunger enclosed within the shank releases the shank ...

A fender for marine use is described having an outer flexible shell forming a chamber, compressible buoyant material within the chamber and a mooring fitting connected to the shell to secure the fender. The shell is composed of a single piece of homogeneous elastomeric material, having a thickened annularly shaped lip extending around an orifice providing access to the chamber for filling. The mooring fitting is formed with a cavity and the lip of the shell is captured within this cavity to secu...

A marine transport system encompasses at least three ports. A plurality of modular hold units are releasably engageable with any one of a plurality of vessels and are so sized that, when loaded with cargo, each hold unit consumes a substantial fraction of the load-carrying capacity of any one of the vessels. A dock facility is located in each port for supporting a hold unit, independently of any of the vessels, so that cargo can be worked into and out of the hold unit through at least one side o...

A marine propeller with unique blade geometry resistant to cavitation and ventilation at high speed operation. The face of the blade has a special convexly curved portion extending from the leading blade edge to a transition zone along the blade chord length toward the blade trailing edge, and a special concavely curved portion from this transition zone to the trailing blade edge, both defined herein.