Methods of securing a vessel during transportation, off-loading, and installation of wind turbine components

A method of transporting a first vessel having wind turbine components to an offshore installation vessel, the method comprising:

• (i) providing a first vessel having a main deck holding the wind turbine components, with the main deck being surrounded by a front end of the first vessel, a back end of the first vessel that is opposite to the front end, a first side of the first vessel that extends from the front end to the back end of the first vessel, and a second side of the first vessel that is opposite to the first side of the first vessel and extends from the front end to the back end of the first vessel, wherein the first side of the first vessel includes one or more fender walls attached to and continuous with at least the first side of the first vessel that extend above the main deck of the first vessel and along at least the first side of the first vessel, wherein the one or more fender walls tapers inwardly from a bottom end to a top wall of the one or more fender walls;
• (ii) securing the first vessel to a second vessel using a first tow line attached to the front end of the first vessel;
• and
• (iii) securing the first vessel to a third vessel using a second tow line attached to the back end of the first vessel;
• (iv) transporting the first vessel to the offshore installation vessel using the second vessel and the third vessel secured to the first vessel via the first and second tow lines, respectively;
• and
• (v) securing the first vessel to the offshore installation vessel, such that the one or more fender walls of the first vessel are positioned between the first vessel and the offshore installation vessel once the first vessel is secured to the offshore installation vessel, wherein a combination of the first side of the first vessel and the one or more fender walls is configured to stabilize the first vessel with respect to the offshore installation vessel.

A method of transporting a first vessel having wind turbine components to an offshore installation vessel, the method comprising:

• (i) providing a first vessel comprising a main deck holding the wind turbine components, with the main deck being surrounded by a front end of the first vessel, a back end of the first vessel that is opposite to the front end, a first side of the first vessel that extends from the front end to the back end of the first vessel, and a second side of the first vessel that is opposite to the first side of the first vessel and extends from the front end to the back end of the first vessel, the first vessel further having an opening to receive a secondary vessel;
• (ii) positioning the secondary vessel within the opening of the first vessel;
• and
• (iii) transporting the first vessel to the offshore installation vessel using the secondary vessel,
• wherein the first side of the first vessel is modified to include one or more fender walls that extend above the main deck of the first vessel, the one or more fender walls extending along at least the first side of the first vessel and being continuous with the first side of the first vessel,
• wherein the one or more fender walls includes (a) a first side wall that extends from a bottom end to a top wall of the one or more fender walls in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the main deck of the first vessel, and (b) a second side wall that extends from the bottom end to the top wall of the one or more fender walls at an angle relative to the main deck of the first vessel, and
• wherein the one or more fender walls are configured to be positioned along the offshore installation vessel, and wherein a combination of the first side of the first vessel and the one or more fender walls is configured to stabilize the first vessel with respect to the offshore installation vessel.