Systems and methods for assembling and installing offshore wind turbines

System configured for installing offshore wind turbine components, comprising a jack up vessel having a self-elevating system operably configured to elevate and lower said vessel relative to a seabed, comprising:

• said vessel having a deck for supporting said wind turbine components;
• a gantry structure fixedly positioned with said vessel deck so as not to move relative to said deck;
• rails positioned with said gantry structure to define a centerline along a longitudinal direction of said vessel, one rail positioned on one side of said centerline and the other rail positioned on the other side of said centerline, a portion of both of said rails being cantilevered over a transom of said vessel;
• at least one gripper for gripping said wind turbine components;
• at least one hoist configured for use with said gripper for lifting said wind turbine components from said deck;
• and
• at least one bridge crane movably positioned on said rails and adapted for use with said hoist, said bridge crane movable relative to said vessel deck between a lifting position for lifting said wind turbine components from said deck and an installing position where said hoist is operably positioned on said cantilevered rails to lower said wind turbine components lifted from said vessel deck without interference with said vessel deck, wherein when said bridge crane moves said wind turbine components, said wind turbine components are suspended from said hoist both below said rails and between said rails and said vessel deck, wherein said gantry structure comprises:
• a first pair of supporting legs provided on said one side of said vessel and said one rail supported by said first pair of supporting legs;
• and
• a second pair of supporting legs provided on said other side of said vessel and said other rail supported by said second pair of supporting legs, said other rail being substantially parallel to said one rail,
• wherein said bridge crane moves along said rails.

System configured for installing offshore wind turbine components, comprising a self-elevating vessel operably configured to elevate and lower said vessel relative to a seabed, comprising:

• said vessel having a deck for supporting said wind turbine components;
• a gantry structure positioned with said vessel deck so as not to move relative to said deck;
• rails positioned with said gantry structure along a longitudinal direction of said vessel, one rail positioned on one side of said deck and the other rail positioned on the other side of said deck, a portion of both of said rails being cantilevered from said self-elevating vessel;
• at least one gripper for gripping said wind turbine components;
• at least one hoist configured for use with said gripper for lifting said wind turbine components from said deck;
• and
• at least one bridge crane movably positioned on said rails and adapted for use with said hoist, said bridge crane movable relative to said vessel deck between a lifting position for lifting said wind turbine components from said deck and an installing position where said hoist is operably positioned on said cantilevered rails to lower said wind turbine components lifted from said vessel deck without interference with said vessel deck, wherein when said bridge crane moves said wind turbine components, said wind turbine components are suspended from said hoist.

System configured for installing offshore wind turbine components, comprising a self-elevating vessel configured to elevate and lower said vessel relative to a seabed, comprising:

• said vessel having a deck for supporting said wind turbine components;
• a gantry structure positioned with said vessel deck;
• rails positioned with said gantry structure along a longitudinal direction of said vessel, one rail positioned on one side of said deck and the other rail positioned on the other side of said deck, a portion of both of said rails being cantilevered from said vessel;
• at least one gripper for gripping said wind turbine components;
• at least one hoist configured for use with said gripper for lifting said wind turbine components from said deck;
• and
• at least one bridge crane movably positioned on said rails and adapted for use with said hoist, said bridge crane movable relative to said vessel deck between a lifting position for lifting said wind turbine components from said deck and an installing position where said hoist is operably positioned on said cantilevered rails to lower said wind turbine components lifted from said vessel deck without interference with said vessel deck, wherein when said bridge crane moves said wind turbine components, said wind turbine components are suspended from said hoist, wherein said gantry structure comprises:
• a first pair of supporting legs provided on said vessel and said one rail supported by said first pair of supporting legs;
• and
• a second pair of supporting legs provided on said vessel and said other rail supported by said second pair of supporting legs, said other rail being substantially parallel to said one rail,
• wherein said bridge crane moves along said rails.

System configured for installing an offshore wind turbine component, comprising a jack up vessel having a self-elevating system operably configured to elevate and lower said vessel relative to a seabed, comprising:

• said vessel having a deck for supporting said wind turbine component;
• a gantry structure positioned with said vessel deck so as not to move relative to said deck;
• rails positioned with said gantry structure along a longitudinal direction of said vessel, one rail positioned on one side of said vessel and the other rail positioned on the other side of said vessel, a portion of both of said rails being cantilevered over a side of said vessel;
• at least one hoist configured for lifting said wind turbine component from said deck;
• and
• at least one bridge crane movably positioned on said rails and adapted for use with said hoist, said bridge crane movable relative to said vessel deck between a lifting position for lifting said wind turbine component from said deck and an installing position where said hoist is operably positioned on said cantilevered rails to lower said wind turbine component lifted from said vessel deck without interference with said vessel deck, wherein when said bridge crane moves said wind turbine component, said wind turbine component is suspended from said hoist both below said rails and between said rails and said vessel deck, wherein said gantry structure comprises:
• a first pair of supporting legs provided on said one side of said vessel and said one rail supported by said first pair of supporting legs;
• and
• a second pair of supporting legs provided on said other side of said vessel and said other rail supported by said second pair of supporting legs, said other rail being substantially parallel to said one rail.