Patent ID: 8347801

Claim:
A floating support having a hull for off-shore oil production in an arctic or antarctic zone, the support being fitted under its hull with a disconnectable turret from which there extend anchor lines to the sea bottom and bottom-to-surface connection pipes, said hull including longitudinal lateral sides extending in its longitudinal direction (XX), wherein said longitudinal lateral sides carry respective pluralities of devices for localized destruction of pack ice, each device comprising a destruction tool having at least one pointed portion comprising a rigid structure suitable for breaking pack ice by repeated actuation in one of a vertical pivoting and a translation of said tool relative to said longitudinal lateral side, said point, on moving downwards, thus bearing in localized manner against the surface of the pack ice with a force capable of breaking the ice over its entire thickness by bending, at least after a series of repeated downward and upward actuations, said tool being actuated in said one of the pivoting and translation with the help of a pivoting and/or translation guide structure applied against the longitudinal lateral side of the support.