An integrated platform to house an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system that utilizes: (i) a cold water circuit consisting of a way of receiving and distributing the cold water from the cold water pipe (CWP) to vertical conduits housing the condensers into collectors that discharge via large pumps into open discharge channels connected to the discharge water pipe (DWP); (ii) a surface water circuit consisting of a way of collecting and distributing the surface water to vertical conduits housing the evaporators to surface water collectors that discharge via large pumps into the same discharge channels connected to the DWP; (iii) means of adjusting the buoyancy of the integrated platform by adding water as ballast into floatation chambers in the hull surrounding the discharge channels or in a plurality of either vertical or horizontal flotation chambers to provide protection to the CWP and DWP and stability to the integrated platform. By adjusting the buoyancy of the platform such that the collectors are about level with the sea level, pumping requirements are minimized.