Patent ID: 6877453

Claim:
A deflector device for use with a tow line between a towing vessel and a tow in water behind the vessel, the device comprising a wing-shaped body, and a towing bridle adapted to connect the wing-shaped body to the tow line, the bridle comprising first and second connecting elements having respective first ends connected to respective longitudinally-spaced points along the high pressure side of the wing-shaped body and respective second ends adapted to be coupled to the tow line, and the wing-shaped body being shaped to produce in use a sideways force which urges the tow line laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the towing vessel, further comprising at least one buoyancy element disposed within the upper end of the wing-shaped body, and remotely-operable means for adjusting the length of at least one of the connecting elements in order to tilt the wing-shaped body so as to give said sideways force a vertical component, whereby to control the depth of the deflector device as well as its lateral offset from the vessel.