Method of securing and transferring a load between a vessel and an offshore installation and an apparatus therefor

A method of securing a vessel with an offshore jack-up having a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor, the offshore jack-up arranged to move the plurality of moveable legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of water, wherein the method comprises:

• moving at least a portion of the vessel underneath the hull of the offshore jack-up or within a cut-out of the hull when the hull is positioned out of the water and the plurality of moveable legs engage the seafloor;
• engaging a bow of the vessel with a moveable coupling mechanism mounted on the hull;
• engaging a stabilizing mechanism mounted on the offshore jack-up against the vessel;
• pushing the stabilizing mechanism down on the vessel to increase a buoyant force acting on the vessel;
• and
• lifting a cargo from the vessel with a plurality of lifting arms mounted on the offshore jack-up after the stabilizing mechanism pushes down on the vessel.

An offshore jack-up comprising:

• a hull including a first guide structure and a second guide structure for laterally positioning a vessel underneath the hull or within a cut-out in the hull;
• a plurality of moveable legs configured to engage with the seafloor, the offshore jack-up is configured to move the plurality of moveable legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of water when the plurality of moveable legs engage the seafloor;
• a stabilizing mechanism mounted on the offshore jack-up, the stabilizing mechanism configured to engage with the vessel positioned underneath the hull of the offshore jack-up or within the cut-out in the hull when the hull is positioned out of the water, wherein a buoyant force acting on the vessel increases when the stabilizing mechanism pushes down on the vessel;
• and
• a plurality of lifting arms mounted on the offshore jack-up, the plurality of lifting arms configured to lift a cargo on the vessel after the stabilizing mechanism pushes down on the vessel;
• wherein
• the stabilizing mechanism includes a plurality of stabilizing arms mounted along the first guide structure and the second guide structure.

A method of securing a vessel with an offshore installation fixed to the seabed having an above-water structure, the above-water structure including a first guide structure and a second guide structure for laterally positioning a vessel underneath the above-water structure or within a cut-out in the above-water structure, the method comprising:

• moving at least a portion of a vessel underneath the above-water structure of the offshore installation or within a cut-out of the above-water structure;
• engaging a stabilizing mechanism mounted on the above-water structure on the vessel, the stabilizing mechanism including a plurality of stabilizing arms mounted along the first guide structure and the second guide structure;
• pushing the stabilizing mechanism down on the vessel to increase a buoyant force acting against the vessel;
• and
• lifting a cargo from the vessel with a plurality of lifting arms mounted on the offshore installation after the stabilizing mechanism pushes down on the vessel.