Patent ID: 6230645
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
An offshore floating structure comprising:an outer wall, said wall defining a centerwell through the longitudinal central portion of said structure;an operating platform, said platform being attachable to said wall;buoyancy tanks connected to the inner sides of said structure, said buoyancy tanks being sufficient to maintain the operating platform a predetermined distance above the surface of a body of water after said operating platform has been attached to said wall;a first portion of said wall having a plurality of apertures, the total surface area of said apertures being less than or equal to the one third of the total surface area of said first portion of said wall, said first portion of said wall further including a coaming surrounding one or more of said apertures, each of said coamings protruding outwardly from said wall;a second portion of said wall including a fluid retention tank connected to the inner sides of said wall, said tanks being characterized by the ability to retain variable volumes of fluid;a ballast located beneath said fluid retention tank; anda means for releasably mooring said structure.