Patent ID: 7481176

Claim:
A compliant transportable flotation system for supporting individual items up to approximately 80 tons in a fluid, said system comprising: sections having a top, a bottom, two sides and two ends, said top parallel to said bottom, said sides parallel one to the other and said ends parallel one to the other, comprising: decking affixed to at least said top of said sections; decking support having at least a top and a bottom, said decking support in operable communication with at least said decking; slidable connectors to facilitate affixing each said section to an adjoining said section at said top of each said adjoining section, wherein said slidable connectors further facilitate the use of a tensioning device; and at least two inflatable devices in operable communication with said bottom of each said section, said inflatable devices oriented approximately perpendicular to the resultant length of said system, wherein said transportable flotation system is supported in compression by at least said decking and said decking support structure; and at least one flexible fabric configuration for connecting one said section to an adjoining said section, said flexible fabric configuration in operable communication with at least said slidable connectors; wherein a first said end of a first said section is connected to a first said end of a second said section via said slidable connectors and said fabric configuration, and wherein said fabric configuration is tensioned in place via said slidable connectors, and wherein each said at least one fabric configuration is in operable communication with two said sections for the purpose of supporting said sections in tension, and wherein said system may be deployed in conditions up to at least sea state 3.