Apparatus for and method of transferring an object between a marine transport vessel and a construction or vessel

An apparatus for transferring personnel from or to a marine transport vessel and to or from a construction or vessel, comprising:

• a motive force generator;
• a motive force applicator operably linked to the motive force generator and adapted to be operably linked to the personnel to which the motive force applicator applies a motive force;
• a fastening device for operably linking the motive force applicator to the personnel;
• a control mechanism, said control mechanism being formed and arranged so as to control the motive force generator, and further operable to switch operation of the motive force generator into an ascent or descent mode, wherein the motive force generator acts upon the motive force applicator;
• a measuring device operably linked to the control mechanism, said measuring device comprising a sensor, and said measuring device adapted to determine a distance between said measuring device and at least one point of a surface of the marine transport vessel from or to which said personnel is to be transferred;
• wherein said apparatus comprises a load sensor, said control mechanism being in communication with said load sensor and responsive to feedback from said load sensor and said measuring device, wherein the control mechanism is adapted to selectively activate and deactivate a fall arrest mode of the apparatus in response to the feedback from at least one of the load sensor and the measuring device;
• and
• wherein the control mechanism comprises a haulage force applicator, said haulage force applicator operable to apply a determined haulage force to the motive force applicator by way of the motive force generator.