Self-stabilized elevator-float for drydocking or floating any type of vessel

A self-stabilized float adapted for use with a wharf for dry docking or floating a vessel on a body of fluid and permitting the transfer of the vessel between the body of fluid and the wharf via the float, in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the float, said float comprising:

• a main body having at least one ballast tank,
• a first pair of hollow, closed towers at one end of said body, supporting means extending laterally from said main body, for securing said towers thereto so as to be laterally offset therefrom,
• a second pair of hollow, closed towers at the other end of said body spaced substantially closer together than said first pair of towers and mounted for vertical displacement with respect to said main body, said first and second pairs of towers serving to impart transverse and longitudinal stability to said float,
• means for alternatively bailing and flooding said at least one tank to raise or lower said body, said means also bailing and flooding said first pair of towers to maintain the level of fluid therein approximately at the same level as said body of fluid thereby relieving stresses on said supporting means, said second pair of towers being normally free of fluid, and
• means for selectively flooding and bailing said second pair of towers to lower and raise the same with respect to said main body.