Floating Freight Terminals

[josh]

The largest current floating offshore structure is said to be a converted oil tanker. For a laterally larger structure, questions arise about what sort of semi-rigidity should be employed to prevent sheering in rough seas. Perhaps something like rigid squares with flexible bridges?

[josh]

Suggested Design Principles:

1) A system of large, connected squares
2) All units can be readily assembled at sea from smaller, shippable parts
3) Each assembled square is highly seaworthy by itself, under any qualified load, & the ensemble of squares must act to increase the overall seaworthiness rather than detract from it. This implies that the connections between the squares include shock absorbers that effectively cause the ensemble to anticipate large wave effects.
4) Anchors for each square act as intelligent wenches rather than rigid tethers, and the ensemble of wenches is computer coordinated.
5) The structure of a square is essentially a platform on submerged buoyancy tanks that are connected to the platform by rigid pipes. The pipes can support a pumping/vacuum operation which allows the buoyancy tanks to be easily moved into submerged positions and then evacuated during construction. At the edges of the platform, the pipes are set at trig angles rather than perpendicular. This adds to overall stability & a dynamic method of responding to changes in load by adjusting the angles. During construction, the pipes are lowered from above & robots are used to position & connect the buoyance tanks underneath the pipes. Robots are also used for regular maintenance of the underside of the craft & any required dredging. Depending on the size of the squares, structures built on top of them are limited to 2 or 3 stories in height, so the structure is never tippy.
6) Computer simulations of response to rogue wave conditions should be used to model the validity of a “rogue wave anticipation status” for the connections between platforms with respect to the shock absorbers and anchor tethers and the ability of on deck structures not to crumple. It may be also possible to extend artificial “reefs” in the direction of an anticipated wave if there is sufficient warning time. Mathematical models of rogue waves suggest that the direction of their occurrence & the factors that raise their likelihood can be predicted from samples of normal wave/current conditions.
7) The N,S,E,W edges of the squares are configured so the angled buoyancy tanks at those edges are always interleaved rather than colliding.
8) A system of flexible bridges provides pathways between the platforms which are stable for heavy forklifts & other conveyances.
9) Docking harbors for large ships may involve peers which different from platform squares, but also constructed based on the same set of design principles.

[josh]

We note that providing great support for people living on yachts & houseboat could be another commercial avenue of interest.

[josh]

Note: My thinking is that these terminals could be staffed by lots of robotic workers & a small, well-paid staff. Frequent rides will be coming & going, so long term deployments are not necessary if they are not desired.

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