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{{Short description|Artificial islands used as infrastructure in aquatic environments}}
{{use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
'''Very large floating structures''' ('''VLFSs''') or '''very large floating platforms''' ('''VLFPs
▲[[File:Floating_runway.jpeg|350px|thumb|right| [[Mobile offshore base]] ]]
▲'''Very large floating structures''' ('''VLFSs''') or '''very large floating platforms (VLFPs)''' are artificial islands, which may be constructed to create [[floating airport]]s, [[bridge]]s, [[breakwater (structure)|breakwaters]], [[pier]]s and [[Dock (maritime)|dock]]s, storage facilities (for oil and natural gas), [[Floating wind turbine|wind]] and [[Tata Power#Future projects|solar]] power plants, for [[Sea-based X-band Radar|military purposes]]<!-- example only; there may possibly be a more general article on large military floating structures? or not. -->, to create industrial space, emergency bases, entertainment facilities (such as [[casino]]s), recreation parks, [[Oil platform|mobile offshore structures]] and even for [[Seasteading|habitation]]. Currently, several different concepts have been proposed for building [[Ocean colonization|floating cities]] or huge living complexes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deltasync.nl/deltasync/index.php?id=1&L=1|title=DeltaSync floating city|publisher=Deltasync.nl|access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> Some units have been constructed and are presently in operation.<ref>Japan constructed the Mega-Float (a floating runway in Tokyo bay); Japan also has floating fuel storage bases at Shirashima and Kamigoto Islands, and floating ferry piers at Ujina port (Hiroshima). Several very long floating bridges are currently in use; three are located near Seattle, Washington USA. The [[Floating Bridge, Dubai]], over the Dubai Creek, is 300 meters long. Singapore built the world’s largest floating performance stage at the Marina Bay, and is currently installing a mega floating fuel storage facility off Pulau Sebarok. South Korea is currently installing three floating islands on the Han River, to be used for convention centers, and another project at Seoul will function as hotel/convention center/customs site/quay. [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705811010848 Science Direct, ''Very Large Floating Structures'', p. 63]</ref>
Floating structures offer several advantages over more permanent structures which might extend from the shore into open water:
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==Overview==
VLFSs differ from watercraft in that most or all of the usable area is the top surface instead of the internal (hold) areas. Thus a useful VLFS will cover significant area. It can be constructed by joining the necessary number of floating units together. The design of the floating structure must comport with safety and strength requirements, operating conditions, etc. Steel, [[Offshore concrete structure#Floating structures|concrete (prestressed or reinforced hybrid) or steel-concrete composite materials]] may be used to build the floating structure. The motion of the floating structure due to wind or wave action must be substantially neutralized, to ensure the safety of people and facilities on a VLFS, and to allow useful activities. VLFSs must be securely moored to the ocean bed.<ref name="Very Large Floating Structures: App"/>
==Classification==
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===Floating airport===
A ''Mega-Float'' [[floating airport]] prototype was constructed in Tokyo Bay from 1998 to 1999.<ref>[http://www.build.new-atlantis.org/vlfs.htm Very large floating structure — Mega-Float, completed 1999]. New Atlantis 2002, retrieved 1 October 2011</ref> It was one kilometer in length
=== Floating launch vehicle operations platform ===
In the 2010s, [[SpaceX]] contracted with a [[Louisiana]] [[shipyard]] to build a [[floating landing platform]] for [[reusable launch system|reusable]] [[orbital spaceflight|orbital]] [[launch vehicle]]s. The platform had an approximately {{convert|90|x|50|m|sp=us}} landing pad surface and was capable of precision [[Dynamic positioning|positioning]] with [[Diesel engine|diesel-powered]] [[azimuth thruster]]s<ref name=tm20141122>{{cite web|title=SpaceX Announces Spaceport Barge Positioned by Thrustmaster's Thrusters|url=http://www.thrustmaster.net/spacex-announces-spaceport-barge-positioned-thrustmasters-thrusters/|publisher=Thrustmaster|access-date=23 November 2014|date=22 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207091326/http://www.thrustmaster.net/out-drive-propulsion-unit/portable-dynamic-positioning-system/|archive-date=7 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> so the platform can hold its position for launch vehicle landing. This platform was first deployed in January 2015<ref name=nsf20141217>{{cite news|last1=Bergin|first1=Chris|title=SpaceX confirms CRS-5 launch slip to 6 January|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/12/spacex-static-fire-falcon-9-crs-5/|access-date=18 December 2014|work=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=17 December 2014}}</ref> when SpaceX attempted a [[Falcon 9 ocean booster landing tests|controlled descent]] [[flight test]] to land the first stage of [[Falcon 9 Flight 14]] on a solid surface after it was used to loft a contracted payload toward Earth orbit.<ref name=sn20141024>{{cite news|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|title=Next Falcon 9 Launch Could See First-stage Platform Landing|url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/42305next-falcon-9-launch-could-see-first-stage-platform-landing|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141025142556/http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/42305next-falcon-9-launch-could-see-first-stage-platform-landing|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 October 2014|access-date=25 October 2014|work=Space News|date=25 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=tr20141026>{{cite news|last1=Bullis|first1=Kevin|title=SpaceX Plans to Start Reusing Rockets Next Year|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/news/532066/spacex-plans-to-start-reusing-rockets-next-year/|access-date=26 October 2014|work=MIT Technology Review|date=25 October 2014|archive-date=25 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025212734/http://www.technologyreview.com/news/532066/spacex-plans-to-start-reusing-rockets-next-year/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The platform utilizes [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] [[Differential GPS|position information]] to navigate and hold its precise position.<ref name=ft20141024>{{cite news|last1=Dean|first1=James|title=SpaceX to attempt Falcon 9 booster landing on floating platform|url=http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/spacex/2014/10/24/spacex-attempt-falcon-booster-landing-floating-platform/17847817/|access-date=27 October 2014|date=24 October 2014}}</ref> The rocket [[launch vehicle landing gear|landing leg]] span is {{convert|60|ft|m|disp=flip|abbr=on}} and must not only land within the {{convert|170|ft|m|disp=flip|abbr=on|adj=on}}-wide barge deck, but must also deal with [[Swell (ocean)|ocean swells]] and [[Dilution of precision (GPS)|GPS errors]].
SpaceX CEO [[Elon Musk]] first displayed a photograph of the "[[autonomous spaceport drone ship]]" in November 2014. The ship is designed to hold position to within {{convert|3|m|sp=us}}, even under storm conditions.<ref name=musk20141122>{{cite web|last1=Musk|first1=Elon|title=Autonomous spaceport drone ship|url=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/536262624653365248|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=23 November 2014|date=22 November 2014}}</ref>
On 8 April 2016, the first stage of the rocket that launched the [[SpaceX Dragon|Dragon]] [[SpaceX CRS-8|CRS-8]] spacecraft, successfully landed on the drone ship named ''Of Course I Still Love You,'' the first successful landing of a rocket booster on a floating platform.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/08/spacex-rocket-makes-spectacular-landing-on-drone-ship/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420062151/http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/08/spacex-rocket-makes-spectacular-landing-on-drone-ship/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 April 2016 |title=SpaceX Rocket Makes Spectacular Landing on Drone Ship |website=Phenomena |date=8 April 2016 |access-date=10 April 2016}}</ref>
{{asof|2018}}, [[Blue Origin]] is intending to make the first stage boosters of [[New Glenn]] be [[reusable launch vehicle|reusable]], and recover launched boosters downrange on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] via a [[Blue Origin landing platform ship|ship that is underway]] acting as a [[floating landing platform|floating movable landing platform]]. The [[Stabilizer (ship)|hydrodynamically-stabilized]] ship increases the likelihood of successful recovery in [[sea state|rough seas]].<ref name=nsf20180920>
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===Floating parking garage===
[[File:Goteborg_P-arken.jpg|thumb|{{ill|P-Arken|sv}}, a floating garage moored in [[Gothenburg]], Sweden]]
A concept has been patented for a floating automotive parking barge with angled sides to deflect wind shear.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Liollio |first1=Zachary |title=10,472,024 Floating parking barge for vehicles |url=http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PTXT&s1=liollio&OS=liollio&RS=liollio |website=USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database |publisher=U.S. Patent & Trademark Office |access-date=19 February 2021
===Floating LNG production facility===
The [[Shell floating LNG plant]] was constructed to process and [[cryogen|liquify]] offshore [[List of countries by natural gas production|natural gas]] into [[LNG|liquified natural gas]] for transport and storage.<ref name=shell20110611>{{cite web|url=http://www.shell.com/home/content/media/news_and_media_releases/archive/2010/flng_technology_greater_sunrise_29042010.html |title=Shell floating LNG technology chosen by joint venture for Greater Sunrise project - Shell Worldwide |publisher=Shell.com |access-date=10 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529042931/http://www.shell.com/home/content/media/news_and_media_releases/archive/2010/flng_technology_greater_sunrise_29042010.html |archive-date=29 May 2011 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.shell.com/about-us/major-projects/prelude-flng.html|title=Prelude FLNG|website=www.shell.com|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}</ref> The Shell project was scheduled to begin processing gas in 2016.<ref name=wsj20140619>{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Ross|title=GDF Suez, Santos Halt Innovative LNG Plan in Australia: Companies Say Offshore Conversion Project Not Commercially Viable|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/gdf-suez-retreats-from-australian-floating-lng-project-1403167709|access-date=30 December 2014|work=Wall Street Journal|date=19 June 2014|quote=''The decision highlights the risks confronting Australian gas-export projects as they grapple with high costs and competition from North America and Russia, which are vying to provide Asian utilities with cleaner-burning fuels. Confidence in "floating" liquefied natural gas may also be diminishing—two years before a Royal Dutch Shell PLC-owned vessel is due to begin processing gas for the first time.''}}
</ref> In December 2018, Shell announced that the wells have been opened and the plant was ready to begin the initial phase of production.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shell.com.au/about-us/projects-and-locations/prelude-flng/prelude-e-news/prelude-starts-production.html|title=Prelude starts production|website=www.shell.com.au|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19|archive-date=26 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526132108/https://www.shell.com.au/about-us/projects-and-locations/prelude-flng/prelude-e-news/prelude-starts-production.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2019, it reached a significant milestone, shipping its first [[liquefied natural gas]] cargo to customers in Asia.<ref name=":0" />
==See also==
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[[Category:Fluid mechanics]]
[[Category:Naval architecture]]
[[Category:Floating architecture]]
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