Offshore drilling vessel with an external cable connection and method therefor

A method of connecting an offshore drilling vessel to a submersible cable for providing an external data and/or power connection, and comprising:

• receiving an end of at least one submersible cable through at least one opening in a hull of the offshore drilling vessel;
• lifting the end of the at least one submersible cable through the at least one opening from a submersed position to a raised position;
• coupling to the end of the at least one submersible cable when the end of the at least one submersible cable is in the raised position to a switch gear connected to a power bus for distribution of electrical power to the offshore drilling vessel, whereby the offshore drilling vessel comprises an external power connection via the submersible cable;
• determining whether the offshore drilling vessel has met an emergency disconnect condition;
• and
• releasing the end of the submersible cable when the emergency disconnect condition has been met.

An offshore drilling vessel configured to be powered by at least one submersible cable, and comprising:

• a hull;
• at least one opening in the hull arranged to receive an end of the at least one submersible cable;
• a cable capture mechanism configured to lift the end of the at least one submersible cable through the at least one opening from a submersed position to a raised position;
• a switch gear connected to a power bus for distribution of electrical power to the offshore drilling vessel;
• a cable connector configured to couple to the end of the at least one submersible cable when the end of the at least one submersible cable is in the raised position for connecting the at least one submersible cable to the switch gear, whereby the offshore drilling vessel comprises an external power connection via the submersible cable;
• and
• wherein the hull comprises a conduit extending between the at least one opening and the cable connector, and in that the conduit comprises at least one valve for selectively allowing passage of the at least one submersible cable through the conduit.

An offshore drilling vessel configured to be powered by at least one submersible cable, and comprising:

• a hull;
• at least one opening in the hull arranged to receive an end of the at least one submersible cable;
• a cable capture mechanism configured to lift the end of the at least one submersible cable through the at least one opening from a submersed position to a raised position;
• a switch gear connected to a power bus for distribution of electrical power to the offshore drilling vessel;
• a cable connector configured to couple to the end of the at least one submersible cable when the end of the at least one submersible cable is in the raised position for connecting the at least one submersible cable to the switch gear, whereby the offshore drilling vessel comprises an external power connection via the submersible cable;
• the cable capture mechanism comprises a lifting cable and winch for lifting the end of the at least one submersible cable between the submersed position and the raised position;
• and
• wherein the cable capture mechanism is adapted to collaborate with a remotely operated underwater vehicle when capturing the free end of the at least one submersible cable in the submersed position.