Patent ID: 6702026
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: B63B,F16L

Abstract:
A system for reducing the effects of drag and vortex-induced vibration, comprising:(a) a substantially cylindrical marine element comprising a top, a bottom, and a circumference; and (b) a substantially cylindrical sleeve that fits around the element and covers from about 180 degrees to about 360 degrees of the circumference of the marine element, wherein the sleeve comprises a top, a bottom, a length, an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface has a roughness due to peaks and troughs on the exterior surface, wherein the roughness is quantifiable as a roughness parameter K/D, wherein said exterior surface has been treated to provide a K/D value of about 5.0Ã—10âˆ’5 or less, and wherein K is an averaged value of the distance between the peaks and troughs on the exterior surface, and D is the outer diameter of the sleeve covering the marine element.