12. LARGE STABLE OCEAN PLATFORM 
Scientific investigations and resource exploration in remote ocean areas will benefit greatly from a 
multipurpose Large Stable Ocean Platform. The utilization of semi-submersible drilling platforms by the 
petroleum industry has proved that this all-weather concept is technically sound and economically 
acceptable. 
Self-propelled, relatively insensitive to adverse sea conditions, and large enough to support the heavy 
equipment necessary for deep ocean work, the Large Stable Ocean Platform will provide a highly flexible 
multipurpose island which can remain on station in the open ocean for long periods of time. 
Similar platforms located for resource recovery or military considerations, could also provide at-sea 
bases for weather monitoring, aircraft traffic monitoring and control, and surface and subsurface vessel 
replenishment. By virtue of its great size, stability, storage capacity, and long endurance station keeping 
capability, the Large Stable Ocean Platform will be a mid-ocean facility of great military, commercial, 
and scientific significance. 
NATIONAL PROJECT 
12. Large Stable Ocean Platform 
Fundamental Technology Subsystem and Component Development 
Fabrication techniques Deep ocean drilling 
Wave motion dynamics Support a wide range of oceanographic investigations 
in broad ocean areas 
Mobile breakwaters theory 
Resource surveys 
Damage stability criteria — Oil and gas 
— Minerals 
Concrete construction — Fish 
Large deep water heavy lifts 
Expected Benefits Operational Systems 
Social Off shore airport 
Move activities a from the coastline : 
exey Off shore city 
Scent Mid ocean basing system for the military 
Provides valuable home base platform for scientific 
investigations in broad ocean areas Observation 
Surveillance 
Logistic support 
Military Air field 
Provides knowledge as to the usefulness of a mobile 
ocean basing system. It would allow support of 
operations in the far corners of the world without Fishing system with top side facility to: 
making the commitment necessary when most 
logistic support is provided from the land 
— Process catch 
— Provide power 
— Store product until pick-up by ship 
Economic 
Provides inexpensive topside support for as-yet Mining system with top side facility to: 
undefined ocean resource harvesting systems 
Jey — Process ore 
— Provide power 
— Store product until picked up by ship 
VI-246 
