Method of securing and transferring a load between a vessel and an offshore installation and an apparatus therefor
AssigneePhoenix II A/S
InventorsHoegni Hammer, Steen Tange Hasholt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The offshore jack-up has a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor. The offshore jack-up is arranged to move the legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of the water. The method comprises moving at least a portion of a 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 legs engage the seafloor. A stabilizing mechanism mounted on the jack-up is engaged against the vessel. The stabilizing mechanism is pushed down on the vessel to increase the buoyant force acting on the vessel.
Claims19
A method of securing a vessel with an offshore jack-up including a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor, the offshore jack-up having a stabilizing mechanism mounted thereon, and the offshore jack-up being 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;
- moving the stabilizing mechanism to contact the vessel;
- pushing the stabilizing mechanism down on the vessel to increase a buoyant force acting on the vessel and to prevent the vessel from moving with respect to the hull;
- 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.
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 to prevent the vessel from moving with respect to the hull;
- 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;
- a plurality of moveable legs configured to engage with the seafloor, the offshore jack-up 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 move to contact a vessel positioned underneath the hull of the offshore jack-up or within a 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 wherein the vessel is prevented from moving with respect to the hull 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.
A method of securing a vessel with an offshore installation fixed to the seabed and having an above-water structure, the above-water structure having a stabilizing mechanism mounted thereon, wherein the method comprises:
- 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;
- moving the stabilizing mechanism to contact the vessel;
- pushing the stabilizing mechanism down on the vessel to increase a buoyant force acting against the vessel and to prevent the vessel from moving with respect to the above-water structure;
- 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.