An ocean thermal energy conversion plant comprising: a vessel; and a cold water pipe attached to the vessel, the cold water pipe characterized by: an interface section with an engagement portion in contact with the vessel and a virtual hinge extending from the engagement portion to a fixed interface, wherein the interface section comprises multiple tension beams extending along more than half of the entire vertical distance of the interface section to provide tensile strength while allowing slight angular flexure [claim 9]; a middle section engaging the fixed interface and suspended from the interface section; and an intake section suspended from the middle section, the ocean thermal energy conversion plant being characterised in that the interface section comprises a composite material and has an inner stainless steel frame structure, wherein said composite material is fiber reinforced plastic, wherein a top edge of the interface section has a stainless steel mating ring, and wherein face plates are arranged around the inner and outer surfaces of the interface section and are secured to the mating ring, wherein the face plates are welded to the mating ring and the face plates around the inner surface of the interface section are connected to the face plates arranged along the outer surface, and tension beams are positioned approximately between the inner and outer surfaces of the interface section and are bolted between the inner and outer face plates. a vessel; and a cold water pipe attached to the vessel, the cold water pipe characterized by: an interface section with an engagement portion in contact with the vessel and a virtual hinge extending from the engagement portion to a fixed interface, wherein the interface section comprises multiple tension beams extending along more than half of the entire vertical distance of the interface section to provide tensile strength while allowing slight angular flexure [claim 9]; a middle section engaging the fixed interface and suspended from the interface section; and an intake section suspended from the middle section, the ocean thermal energy conversion plant being characterised in that the interface section comprises a composite material and has an inner stainless steel frame structure, wherein said composite material is fiber reinforced plastic, an interface section with an engagement portion in contact with the vessel and a virtual hinge extending from the engagement portion to a fixed interface, wherein the interface section comprises multiple tension beams extending along more than half of the entire vertical distance of the interface section to provide tensile strength while allowing slight angular flexure [claim 9]; a middle section engaging the fixed interface and suspended from the interface section; and an intake section suspended from the middle section, the ocean thermal energy conversion plant being characterised in that the interface section comprises a composite material and has an inner stainless steel frame structure, wherein said composite material is fiber reinforced plastic, wherein a top edge of the interface section has a stainless steel mating ring, and wherein face plates are arranged around the inner and outer surfaces of the interface section and are secured to the mating ring, wherein the face plates are welded to the mating ring and the face plates around the inner surface of the interface section are connected to the face plates arranged along the outer surface, and tension beams are positioned approximately between the inner and outer surfaces of the interface section and are bolted between the inner and outer face plates.