Systems and methods for a rack structure for a transport vessel adapted for use with an offshore self-elevating vessel

System for use with a self-elevating vessel having a hull supportable on a seabed and the hull configured for being elevated above a sea surface when supported on the seabed for offshore installation of energy components, comprising:

• said energy components comprise wind turbine components,
• a transport vessel configured for transporting said wind turbine components over the sea surface, and
• a structure interengaged with the self-elevating vessel and configured for moving between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein when said structure is in said deployed position said structure is configured to receive said transport vessel and wherein when said structure is in said stowed position said structure is configured to provide a greater clearance with the seabed than when said structure is in said deployed position, and wherein the wind turbine components are moved to said structure when said structure is in said deployed position and after the self-elevating vessel hull is supported on the seabed,
• wherein when said transport vessel is floating on the sea surface above said deployed structure, the self-elevating vessel hull is elevated above the sea surface thereby raising said transport vessel above the sea surface so that relative motion between the self-elevating vessel and wind turbine components on said transport vessel is eliminated.

Method for use of a self-elevating vessel having a hull supportable on a seabed and the hull configured for being elevated above a sea surface when supported on the seabed for offshore installation of wind turbine components in the sea, comprising:

• elevating the self-elevating vessel hull above the sea surface to create an air gap,
• after said elevating step, moving a structure interengaged with the self-elevating vessel from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein when said structure is in said stowed position said structure is configured to provide a greater clearance with the seabed than when said structure is in said deployed position and wherein when said structure is in the deployed position, a portion of said structure is submerged below the sea surface,
• after said moving step, raising said structure above the sea surface while elevating the self-elevating vessel above the sea surface to eliminate relative motion between the self-elevating vessel and said structure, and
• moving the wind turbine components supported by said structure in said deployed position with a lifting device on the self-elevating vessel for installation in the sea.

Method for use on a self-elevating vessel having a hull supportable on a seabed and the hull configured for being elevated above a sea surface when supported on the seabed for offshore installation of wind turbine components in the sea, comprising:

• elevating the self-elevating vessel hull above the sea surface to create an air gap,
• after said elevating step, moving a structure interengaged with the self-elevating vessel from a stowed position to a deployed position, wherein when said structure is in said stowed position said structure is configured to provide a greater clearance with the seabed than when said structure is in said deployed position and wherein when said structure is in the deployed position, a portion of said structure is submerged below the sea surface,
• transporting the wind turbine components over the sea surface with a transport vessel, wherein before the raising step, the transport vessel is floated above said structure,
• after said moving step, raising said structure and the transport vessel above the sea surface while elevating the self-elevating vessel above the sea surface to eliminate relative motion between the self-elevating vessel, said structure and the transport vessel, and
• moving the wind turbine components supported by said structure in said deployed position with a lifting device on the self-elevating vessel for installation in the sea.

System for use with a self-elevating vessel having a hull and a deck supportable on a seabed and the hull configured for being elevated above a sea surface when supported on the seabed for offshore installation of a wind turbine in the sea, comprising:

• wind turbine components,
• a transport vessel having a width and a length configured for transporting said wind turbine components over the sea surface,
• an L-shaped structure fixedly interengaged with the self-elevating vessel to extend outwardly from a side between said self-elevating vessel hull and deck to support a majority of the width of said transport vessel wherein a horizontal portion of said structure is configured to be submerged below the sea surface to receive said transport vessel while the self-elevating vessel deck is above the sea surface, and
• a lifting device positioned on said self-elevating vessel deck and configured for moving said wind turbine components from said transport vessel for installation in the sea,
• wherein when the self-elevating vessel deck is elevated above the sea surface, said transport vessel is floating on the sea surface above said submerged horizontal portion of said structure, when the self-elevating vessel is elevated above the sea surface, said transport vessel is raised above the sea surface to eliminate relative motion between the self-elevating vessel and said wind turbine components in said transport vessel.

System for use with a self-elevating vessel having a hull supportable on a seabed and the hull configured for being elevated above a sea surface when supported on the seabed, comprising:

• the self-elevating vessel,
• a transport vessel configured for transporting over the sea surface, and
• a vertically slidable structure fitted to a side of the self-elevating vessel and configured for moving vertically between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein when said structure is in said deployed position said structure is configured to receive said transport vessel and wherein when said structure is in said stowed position said structure is configured to provide a greater clearance with the seabed than when said structure is in said deployed position,
• wherein when said transport vessel is floating on the sea surface above said deployed structure, the self-elevating vessel hull is in an elevated position above the sea surface, and
• wherein when said transport vessel is raised on said structure above the sea surface towards said stowed position relative motion between the self-elevating vessel and said transport vessel is eliminated.