Deep water knuckle boom crane

A knuckle boom crane, comprising:

• a rotatable base;
• an inner boom extending from a base end to a first knuckle end, the base end pivotally connected at a base pivot point to the rotatable base such that the inner boom is pivotable in a vertical plane about the base pivot point, the inner boom being operable during lifting operations to articulate about the base pivot point;
• an outer boom extending from a second knuckle end to a boom tip, the second knuckle end pivotally connected at a knuckle pivot point to the first knuckle end of the inner boom such that the outer boom is pivotable in the vertical plane about the knuckle pivot point, the outer boom being operable during lifting operations to articulate about the knuckle pivot point;
• a plurality of guide assemblies arranged along the length of the inner and outer boom and adapted for guiding a plurality of lines, each of the guide assemblies having a rack structure and a plurality of line guides arranged on the rack structure;
• and
• a multi-line material handling system, comprising:
• a first line having a first end secured to a first winch drum, an outgoing portion extending along the inner and outer booms from the first winch drum and along one of the line guides of each of the plurality of guide assemblies to a sheave block, and an incoming portion extending along the inner and outer booms and returning from the sheave block to a supported anchor device;
• and
• a second line having a first end secured to a second winch drum, an outgoing portion extending along the inner and outer booms from the second winch drum and along one of the line guides of each of the plurality of guide assemblies to the sheave block, and an incoming portion extending long the inner and outer booms and returning from the sheave block to the supported anchor device.