Articulated marine platform

Claim 1

An articulated, controllably submergible marine platform adapted to be floatably transported to, and at least partially submerged at an offshore site, said platform including; an elongated column having opposed upper and lower ends, an anchor pivotally connected to said column lower end to permit relative movement between said anchor and said column, a buoyant deck operably engaging said column upper end and including; means for controllably regulating the deck buoyancy to at least partially support said platform within a body of water as well as at the water''s surface, a unitary bearing means carried on said deck, a slotted portion formed in said deck and extending between said bearing and tHe deck outer edge, said slotted portion being of sufficient width to register said column upper end therein when said column is adjusted to a horizontal position in the water''s surface, said column upper end engaging said unitary bearing means whereby to permit pivotal movement therebetween when said deck is in horizontal disposition in the water''s surface, and to permit the subsequent pivoting of the column to an upright disposition, to be floatably supported by said buoyant deck at said offshore site.