Abstract: A vessel has a substantially vertical frame attached to a vessel support structure, an upper clamping element vertically displaceable along the frame via a displacement member, a lower clamping element aligned with the upper clamping element, a loading device for supplying a pipe segment to the upper clamping element, and a control device adapted to control the displacement member and the upper and lower clamping elements for lowering the pipe segment by the displacement member along a pipe trajectory, with the upper clamping element being engaged on the pipe segment, while the lower clamping element is disengaged, with the lower clamping element being situated on the vessel support structure, with a transverse track extending from a side position on the vessel to a position alongside the pipe trajectory, and a support member which is displaceable along the track to be situated in the pipe trajectory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating lifting device, using two movable lifting structures (13, 14) which can be alternatively engaged with broaden support members (5, 6, 7) of a cable (4). The cable (4) is stored substantially without tension in the vessel (1), for instance on a drum or in a hawse-hole (10) in a looped configuration. Large loads (9) can be lowered and raised from the seabed at large water depths such as at 3000 m. Preferably, the cable is formed by neutral buoyancy material, such as synthetic cable.

Abstract: Disclosed is a vessel comprising at least two parallel hulls at a predetermined mutual distance. A deck structure is supported on the hulls. Fluid storage tanks are placed in the at least two hulls, at least partly below the deck structure. The deck structure carries fluid processing and/or production equipment. The fluid is a hydrocarbon. The ratio of length to width of the vessel being at least 3, preferably at least 4. The length of the vessel being at least 150 m, preferably at least 250 m, more preferably at least 350 m.

Abstract: A pipe lay vessel with a reel for carrying a length of pipe and first drive part for controlling rotation of the reel. A substantially vertical guide structure includes at its upper end a deflection member for deflecting the pipe from a first trajectory extending between the reel and the guide structure to a second, substantially vertical trajectory. A clamping member carries the vertical pipe section and has second drive for feeding the pipe along the vertical trajectory. A movable tension compensator (7) is provided at the first pipe trajectory for lengthening or shortening the first pipe trajectory to maintain a substantially constant tension of the pipe along the first trajectory during unwinding of the reel.

Abstract: A retractable thruster (5) is connected to a lifting device for retracting the thruster in two stages, the lifting device in the first stage lifting the thruster to a level at or near the keel (7) of the vessel, the second stage including lifting the thruster to an access level (13), located above the first level. The lifting device may be formed by a rack (3,3′) which can be constructed on deck level, or by hydraulic cylinders. Preferably the frame (6) which carries the thruster is formed by a closed container having buoyancy, the drive motor, gearbox and rotational drive unit being placed in the container.

Abstract: A vessel-turret assembly with an opening (3) in the hull of the vessel wherein a turret (4) is rotatably received. The axial bearings (8) between the hull structure and the turret have a number of circumferentially spaced bogies (12) running on raceways. Each of the bogies (12) is mounted on a displacement element such as an elastically deformable element. The bogie body may comprise a side plate with flange or shaft which in a hingepoint is hingedly attached to the hull structure. This point is located near or on the plane defined by the load bearing surfaces of the wheels. In this way a radial movement of the load bearing surfaces of the wheels. In this way a radial movement of the load bearing surfaces of the wheels due to the elastical deformable elements is prevented. Alternatively, each bogie may comprise one or more axial wheels for engaging the hull structure and/or the turret to prevent radial movement of the bogie structure at the position of the load bearing surface of the wheels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel having a turret which is rotatingly mounted within a turret wall. The turret is supported by means of a number of axial bogie wheels. The bogie wheels have a curved metal contact surface with a radius of curvature within 5 and 50 meters, preferably of about 20 meters. The wheel diameter amounts to about 750 mm. The wheels run on circular raceways with a diameter of between 10 and 30 m, preferably about 20 meters. It was found that the bogie wheels have low friction, very little wear and are hardly subject to torsional forces upon rotation.

Abstract: Elevating device for an artificial island or work platform comprising a pontoon 1 or work floor and a number of columns 2 displaceable in vertical direction with respect to the pontoon respectively or work floor by means of the elevating device. At each column 2 the elevating device consists of a number of driving devices having pinions 7-10 meshing with gear racks 3, 4 fixed along the columns 2. In particular concerning its bearing the shafts of the pinions 7-10 are fixed to the pontoon 1 or work floor and consist of a motor, a driving gear and a brake. Each driving device is fixed to respectively form part of a reaction arm 11-14 pivotal around the axis of the output shaft of the driving device. At their one ends 15-19 the reaction arms 11-14 are coupled to the pontoon 1 or work floor through hydraulic cylinders 23-26.

Abstract: Device for absorbing impacts during lowering or lifting respectively of the support legs (1) of an artificial island comprising a pontoon and legs that are movable and lockable with respect to said pontoon further comprising the fact that the legs (1) at or near their lower end are surrounded by an apron (3) out of flexible material that is fixed to the circumference of each leg and extends beyond the lower end of said leg.

Abstract: A floating device for transshipment of cargo from one ship to another comprises two pontoons (1,2) that are mutually connected and between which space is present for mooring one or more ships, such as barges, and that is adapted to moor alongside another ship, the pontoons supporting one or more structures on which devices are mounted for manipulating cargo, such as hoisting devices. This known device is useful only in quiet water, for instance within the shelter of a harbor. The invention improves the known device in such a manner that it also can be used in exposed places, so that it will be useful in bad weather and may remain in place for instance anchored to a mooring buoy or such. To this end, two pontoons (1,2) have such a small free board that it is swept over during bad weather conditions, the pontoons (1,2) being interconnected by a bow (3) extending higher than the upperdeck (5) of the pontoons.

Abstract: Device for absorbing horizontally directed impact loads on the supporting legs of an artificial island comprising a pontoon and legs that are movable in the vertical direction and can be locked when the legs are lowered or lifted respectively further comprising energy absorbing and/or transfering means (2) extending downwardly from the lower part (1) of each of the legs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for pre-loading the legs (2,3,4) of an artificial island (1) to increase the stability of the island preloading is performed by ballast (7-17) placed in or on the legs, this ballast being preferably located within flexible bags (17,18,19,22,23,24,25,26,27,33,34,48,49,50,51) placed upon the trussed members (11,12,13,14,15,16) of the legs or upon a plateau (46) supported by beams (45). Instead of bags a rigid receptacle formed by plates (37-40) can be used for receiving ballast. Furthermore, the hollow tubular members (52,53,54,55) can be used for receiving liquid ballast.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for lowering and positioning a pipe line onto the bottom of deep water, the pipe line being assembled from pipe sections on deck of a ship, which pipe line from the bottom of the water extends upwardly according to a curved path (18) followed by a straight portion (17) and finally by a second curved part, the pipe line being held under tension by the ship to maintain the radius of curvature (R) sufficiently large tensioning is performed from the ship directly on the rectilinear part (17) of the pipe line while above the point of engagement of the tensional force the pipe line is subjected to a bending moment only. The apparatus preferably has a rotatable tube (2) in the ship through which the upper part of the pipe line extends vertically upwardly into a derrick (15) for assembling purposes.

Abstract: A device for coupling together two bodies in any position with respect to each other, which bodies are mounted for a linear displacement with respect to each other, in particular in a self-raising platform structure for coupling together the platform and a leg of the structure, the device comprising at least one pair of first pawls (3), each pawl of which is connected to one of the bodies for a pivotal movement and the contact parts thereof are shaped so that upon a pivotal movement of the pawls towards each other points of the contact parts approach each other, so that the relative movement between the bodies will be inhibited in one direction while being permitted in the other direction, at least one pair of second pawls (4) having the same construction as and spaced apart from the pair of first pawls being provided, which are mounted in such a manner that upon a pivotal movement thereof towards each other corresponding points of the contact parts of the second pawls will approach each other to inhibit rela

Abstract: The invention relates to a platform (1) having a platform (1) and at least three legs (2) movable in vertical direction with respect to the platform (1), the legs (2) being connected to the platform (1) by a lifting and locking mechanism (8,9,17,18,14) having locking bars (8,9) for holding the platform (1) with respect to the legs (2) and lifting jacks (17,18,14) for moving the legs (2) with respect to the platform (1) both locking bars and lifting jacks having elements (8,9,17,18) which can move in and out of engagement with the legs with clearance in vertical direction in recesses (11), safety structure being provided to check the completion of the movements of the elements, the safety structure having a time relay (t.sub.1,t.sub.2) in the control circuit of the jack system which relay (t.sub.1,t.sub.

Abstract: A walking platform construction comprises a barge or work platform and a plurality of legs movable in a vertical direction and securable with respect to the barge or platform. The barge or platform has a plurality of independently movable auxiliary frames each comprising one or two legs movable and securable in vertical direction with respect to the auxiliary frame. Each auxiliary frame is disposed in a rectangular recess of the barge or platform and movable within the recess in the longitudinal direction of the recess as well as in a transverse direction. In the case in which the auxiliary frame is a long rectangular frame having two legs, each end of the frame has means to move this end in a transverse direction to the frame's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A device for sealing the lower part of a column standing on or in the bottom below a body of water, comprises a plate-shaped body surrounding the column, the plate-shaped body having a flexible border strip that runs around its entire circumference. The plate-shaped body is rigid and is mounted on a rigid sleeve surrounding the column and extending downwardly in the plate, the walls of the sleeve being parallel to the walls of the column. The body and the strip are of an impermeable material. Erosion of the material of the bottom from around the lower part of the column, under the influence of water currents, is thus retarded.