Access and evacuation system for an offshore platform

An access and evacuation system for an offshore platform, said system comprising:

• a rotating arm for mounting on the support structure of an offshore platform, said arm selectively moveable between an upper position in which an outer end of said arm is adjacent said platform, and a lower position in which said outer end of said arm is below water and remote from said platform;
• pick-up means on said arm adjacent said outer end of said arm for capturing and suspending a boat;
• a winch for selectively raising and lowering said arm;
• a boat;
• and
• suspension means on said boat for mating with said pick-up means, said suspension means comprising at least one suspension support member secured to said boat, a transverse member carried on said at least one suspension support member, and a shock absorber on at least one said suspension support member, and wherein said suspension means is collapsible between a position in which said shock absorber is retracted and a position in which said shock absorber is extended.

An access and evacuation system for an offshore platform, said system comprising:

• a rotating arm for mounting on the support structure of an offshore platform, said arm selectively moveable between an upper position in which an outer end of said arm is adjacent said platform, and a lower position in which said outer end of said arm is below water and remote from said platform;
• pick-up means on said arm adjacent said outer end of said arm for capturing and suspending a boat;
• a winch for selectively raising and lowering said arm;
• a boat;
• and
• suspension means on said boat for mating with said pick-up means, said suspension means comprising at least one suspension support member secured to said boat;
• a transverse member carried on said at least one suspension support member and having a recess toward each end thereof for mating with said pick-up means, each said recess including therein a freely rotatable beating collar;
• and a shock absorber on at least one said suspension support member.

An access and evacuation system for an offshore platform, said system comprising:

• a rotating arm for mounting on the support structure of an offshore platform, said arm selectively moveable between an upper position in which an outer end of said arm is adjacent said platform, and a lower position in which said outer end of said arm is below water and remote from said platform;
• pick-up means on said arm adjacent said outer end of said arm for capturing and suspending a boat, said pick-up means comprising an open claw structure having an elongated guide member extending from a lower side thereof;
• a winch for selectively raising and lowering said arm;
• a boat;
• and
• suspension means on said boat for mating with said pick-up means, said suspension means comprising a forward and a rearward pair of suspension support members rotatably mounted on said boat, a transverse member fixedly mounted on said forward pair and rotatably mounted on said rearward pair, and a shock absorber mounted on each of said rearward pair;
• and wherein said transverse member includes a recess spaced from each end thereof for mating with said pick-up means.