Artificial reef anchor structure

Abstract

A container for underwater placement on a sea, lake or river bottom. The container has openings in the sides, top and bottom and is filled with ballast of large boulders, cobble, crushed coral, cast concrete modules or other materials. The openings allow water and water currents, as well as marine organisms, to pass freely therethrough. Over time, a wide assortment of marine organisms infiltrate and colonize the nooks, crevices and cavities of the ballast, thus utilizing the habitat as they would an artificial reef. One or more hitch points are provided on the container for attaching mooring lines for ships, boats, floating wind turbines or other floating structures, thereby allowing the artificial reef to anchor such structures.

1 . An artificial reef anchor structure for securing mooring lines to floating structures while simultaneously providing habitat for underwater organisms, comprising:
 containment means having apertures therein, for retaining ballast and to allow marine organisms to infiltrate said ballast through said apertures and at least one hitch point attached to said containment means for connecting mooring lines to said containment means; and   ballast to anchor said containment means while simultaneously creating habitat to attract marine organisms.   
   
   
       2 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said containment means comprises a porous, retentive, mooring-capable container. 
   
   
       3 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said apertures are variable in size, shape and placement pattern in the sides, top and bottom of said containment means. 
   
   
       4 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said ballast comprises a ballast material that is more dense than water, variable in material composition, variable in size and shape, and attractive to marine life. 
   
   
       5 . An artificial reef anchor structure for providing an anchor for securing mooring lines to floating structures while simultaneously providing habitat for underwater organisms, comprising:
 a porous container having a plurality of apertures to allow marine organisms to infiltrate said container through said apertures and providing hitch points for mooring lines; and   heavier than water ballast disposed in said container for providing weighted mass to anchor said container and for creating a habitat to attract marine organisms.   
   
   
       6 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising mooring rings attached to said container for connecting mooring lines thereto. 
   
   
       7 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said container comprises at least one from the group: cast concrete, chain link fabric, steel, wood, and composite plastic. 
   
   
       8 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising a fabric of material on which said ballast is disposed, said fabric lying on the bottom of a body of water. 
   
   
       9 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said fabric is selected from the group: chain link, wire mesh, cable mesh, cast concrete, steel, wood and composite plastic. 
   
   
       10 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 5 , further comprising a floating structure connected to said container, said floating structure being selected from the group: wind turbine, power generator, oil or other drilling rig, aquaculture complex, fish pen complex, barge, floating casino, floating hotel, house boat, boat, ship, buoy, mooring station, boat lift and storage structure. 
   
   
       11 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising a floating structure connected to said fabric, said floating structure being selected from the group: wind turbine, power generator, oil or other drilling rig, aquaculture complex, fish pen complex, barge, floating casino, floating hotel, house boat, boat, ship, buoy, mooring station, boat lift and storage structure. 
   
   
       12 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the shape of said apertures is selected from the group: round, oblong, rectangle, polygon and irregular. 
   
   
       13 . The artificial reef anchor structure in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said ballast comprises materials arranged in strata.