(19)

(11)

EP 1 178 922 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 11.01.2001 (43) Date of publication: 13.02.2002 Bulletin 2002/07 (21) Application number: 00946754.9 (22) Date of filing: 20.04.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: B63B 35/44, E02B 17/08 (86) International application number: PCT/US0010/936 (87) International publication number: WO 0063/519 (26.10.2000 Gazette 2000/43)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 21.04.1999 US 130443 P (71) Applicant: Ope, Inc. Houston, TX 77055 (US)	(72) Inventor: HAUN, Richard David Houston, TX 77055 (US) (74) Representative: Pluckrose, Anthony William et al BOULT WADE TENNANT, Verulam Gardens 70 Gray's Inn Road London WC1X 8BT London WC1X 8BT (GB)