# US 8,770,126 B2 · Method and apparatus for towing offshore wind turbines > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,126 B2 - Document ID: US8770126B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/057,285 - Filed: 2009-08-03 - Published: 2011-07-28 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-11 - Assignees: Statoil ASA - Applicants: Finn Gunnar Nielsen - Inventors: Finn Gunnar Nielsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770126B2 ## CPC - B63B 21/00: Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring ({of buoys B63B22/04;} dynamic anchoring B63H25/00 {; equipment for shipping on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures, e.g. for landing purposes, E02B}) - F03D 13/10: Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors - F03D 13/40: Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/727: Offshore wind turbines - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - F03D: WIND MOTORS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A method of moving a floating wind turbine relative to a body of water, the floating wind turbine having a buoyant body with a nacelle at the upper end thereof, including the steps of floating the floating wind turbine in the body of water, and towing the floating wind turbine while holding the buoyant body in an inclined position, whereby the nacelle is held clear of the water. As the wind turbine is held in an inclined position, it can be towed through regions of shallower water than if it were in a vertical position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of moving a floating wind turbine relative to a body of water, the floating wind turbine having a buoyant body forming a support structure with a nacelle at the upper end thereof, the method comprising: floating the floating wind turbine in the body of water; and towing the floating wind turbine whilst holding the buoyant body in an inclined position, whereby the nacelle is held clear of the water; wherein the floating wind turbine is held in an inclined position by a floating member; wherein a wind turbine generator is provided at the nacelle and the floating member is attached by a line to the support structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising winching the line into or out of the floating member or support structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising applying horizontal or almost horizontal forces to the floating wind turbine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the horizontal or almost horizontal forces are applied by tug or a winch with a wire fixed on land. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising adjusting a buoyancy force exerted by the floating member so as to maintain the floating wind turbine in static equilibrium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the buoyancy force is adjusted by adding or removing ballast to or from the floating member. ### Claim 7 A floating wind turbine system, comprising a floating wind turbine and a floating member, the floating wind turbine comprising a buoyant body that forms a support structure, a wind turbine generator, and wherein the floating member is arranged so that the buoyant body is held in an inclined position whilst the floating wind turbine is being towed in a body of water; wherein the floating wind turbine is held in an inclined position by the floating member wherein the wind turbine generator is provided at a nacelle and the floating member is attached by a line to the support structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a weight. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the weight is attached to the support structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support structure comprises a lower support structure and a tower. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the floating member is attached to the lower support structure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the weight is attached to the tower. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the weight is attached to the tower close to the water line. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the floating member is a buoyancy tank. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the line is adapted to be winched into or out of the floating member or support structure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a crow foot adapted to attach the line to the support structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a natural period of oscillation of the system is outside of the range of 5 to 20 seconds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a natural period of oscillation of the system is greater than 20 seconds. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a natural period of oscillation of the system is less than 5 seconds. ### Claim 20 (depends on 7) A system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a distance from a centre of gravity of the system to a water line of the support structure is approximately equal to a distance from a centre of gravity of the system to a point of attachment of the floating member.