Abstract: An offshore wind turbine installation vessel includes a crane provided with a computerized crane control system. The computerized crane control system is linked to the slew drive, the luffing drive, and the hoisting winch of the crane, and is programmed to perform a foundation pile installation routine providing a coordinated pattern of slew motion of the superstructure and of luffing motion of the boom structure, as well as operation of the hoisting winch so that the load connector of the crane moves from a foundation pile pick up position thereof, where the load connector is connected to the top end of a horizontally oriented foundation pile stored on a storage deck, to a foundation pile overboarding position thereof, wherein the foundation pile is in vertical suspended from the load connector, outside of the hull.

Abstract: A hoisting crane or multi configurations crane system for use on an offshore vessel, such a vessel and methods for operating are disclosed. The hoisting crane comprises a boom having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. An extension mechanism is provided that is configured to allow the distal portion to be slid relative to the intermediate portion from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration. In the retracted configuration, the intermediate portion is arranged substantially within the distal portion.

Abstract: An offshore wind turbine installation vessel includes a crane provided with a computerized crane control system. The computerized crane control system is linked to the slew drive, the luffing drive, and the hoisting winch of the crane, and is programmed to perform a foundation pile installation routine providing a coordinated pattern of slew motion of the superstructure and of luffing motion of the boom structure, as well as operation of the hoisting winch so that the load connector of the crane moves from a foundation pile pick up position thereof, where the load connector is connected to the top end of a horizontally oriented foundation pile stored on a storage deck, to a foundation pile overhoarding position thereof, wherein the foundation pile is in vertical suspended from the load connector, outside of the hull.

Abstract: A method for handling of an offshore wind turbine component includes using a vessel having a hull on which a motion compensating crane is mounted. The crane includes a main boom; a main boom luffing assembly; a mobile hoist cable suspension member; and a hoist winch and a hoist cable driven by the hoist winch. An object suspension device is suspended from the hoist cable. The mobile hoist cable suspension member is supported by a motion compensating support device that is fitted to the tip end of the main boom, the motion compensating support device including one or more motor powered motion displacement actuator assemblies and a motion compensating support device controller. The method includes connecting the offshore wind turbine component to the object suspension device; and operating the motion compensating support device to provide motion compensation in at least one direction of the object suspension device and the connected offshore wind turbine component.

Abstract: A power tong includes a lower tong and an upper tong, each with multiple grippers distributed around a tubular passage, for gripping a lower tubular and ripping an upper tubular respectively. A torque actuator includes a first hydraulic drive and a second hydraulic drive, for rotating the upper tong relative to the lower tong. The first hydraulic drive and the second hydraulic drive each have a drive shaft that supports a guide wheel for cooperating with a guide track, and a pinion for cooperating with a rack, which guide wheel and pinion are concentrically, mounted on the drive shaft of the hydraulic drive. The hydraulic drives are mounted with the drive shafts parallel to the main axis, and the upper tong or the lower tong comprises a guide track receiving the guide wheel and a rack cooperating with the pinion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crane for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, to a vessel for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location, and to a method for assembly and installation of offshore wind turbines on an offshore location. According to the invention the crane is provided with a base section and a top section, wherein the top section is rotatable supported by a bearing, and can be rotated with the wind turbine hoisting device relative to the base section about a vertical axis, wherein a first trolley guide is mounted to a top section of the installation crane for giding a vertically mobile wind turbine supporting trolley. According to the invention the vessel is provided with one or more assembly stations on different sides of the installation crane.

Abstract: In an installation of a wind turbine on a floating foundation in floating condition and subject to sea-state induced motions, e.g. at the site of an offshore windfarm, use is made of a vessel with a crane arranged on the hull and provided with a hoisting system adapted to support the weight of the wind turbine and suspend the wind turbine from the crane. A heave compensation device compensates for sea-state induced heave motion of the wind turbine mast relative to the mast mounting structure of the floating foundation. Use is made of a mast alignment system configured to engage on the suspended wind turbine, e.g. on the mast of the suspended wind turbine, and to bring and maintain the mast of the wind turbine in alignment with the mounting axis of the floating foundation in order to compensate for sea-state induced motions, at least including tilt motions in one or more vertical planes, of the wind turbine mast relative to the mounting axis of the floating foundation.

Abstract: A pile holding system is to be mounted on a deck of a vessel, e.g. for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine. The pile holding system is configured to support the pile in an upright position at a pile installation location next to the vessel. A vessel is provided with such a pile holder system. A method for installation of a pile and a pile holder are also disclosed.

Abstract: A crane for use on an offshore vessel is provided with a boom restrainer, wherein the boom restrainer is a hydro-pneumatic boom restrainer, for reducing upward pivoting of the boom, when the boom is in the top zone, wherein the boom restrainer includes: multiple hydraulic cylinders, each having a hydraulic circuit and a cylinder rod with a cylinder head, wherein the cylinders are mounted on the crane structure with the cylinder heads directed towards the boom of the crane, preferably are mounted on a stay of the crane structure, a catcher for each hydraulic cylinder, wherein each catcher is mounted on the boom and is configured for receiving the cylinder head of the corresponding hydraulic cylinder, and to lock the cylinder head, preferably pivotable locks the cylinder head, relative to the boom, when the boom pivots upwards in the top zone; a gas buffer for each hydraulic cylinder, wherein each gas buffer is mounted to the corresponding hydraulic cylinder, and is connected to the hydraulic circuit of the cor

Abstract: A method for handling of an offshore wind turbine component includes using a vessel having a hull on which a motion compensating crane is mounted. The crane includes a main boom; a main boom luffing assembly; a mobile hoist cable suspension member; and a hoist winch and a hoist cable driven by the hoist winch. An object suspension device is suspended from the hoist cable. The mobile hoist cable suspension member is supported by a motion compensating support device that is fitted to the tip end of the main boom, the motion compensating support device including one or more motor powered motion displacement actuator assemblies and a motion compensating support device controller. The method includes connecting the offshore wind turbine component to the object suspension device; and operating the motion compensating support device to provide motion compensation in at least one direction of the object suspension device and the connected offshore wind turbine component.

Abstract: In combination a drilling mast and a top drive system for a drilling rig having a drill floor with a well center. The drilling mast has a U-shaped horizontal cross section with a left-hand mast wall, a rear mast wall, and a right-hand mast wall, and with an open front side. Each of the mast walls is provided with one or more vertical rails that are, in use of the drilling rig, parallel to a vertical firing line that extends through the well center. The top drive system comprises a traveling carriage and a top drive unit supported by said carriage. A left-hand fingerboard device is mounted to the left-hand mast wall and a right-hand side fingerboard device is mounted to the right-hand mast wall.

Abstract: A feeder vessel for the onshore-to-offshore transport of elongate wind turbine objects with a motion compensating carrier assembly having a motion compensated platform for receiving and retaining the elongate object, and a motion compensation mechanism. The motion compensation mechanism includes extendable actuators which passively compensate motions of the platform out of a neutral position, and winches driving carrier cables such that traction by the respective carrier winch counteracts an extension of at least one of the carrier actuators. The winches are embodied as active motion compensation winches to compensate movements of the platform.

Abstract: A slew bearing includes a stationary bearing ring to be fixed to a base, and a moveable bearing ring to be fixed to a moveable object, wherein the stationary bearing ring and the moveable bearing ring are configured to enable rotation of the moveable bearing ring relative to the stationary bearing ring about a rotation axis.

Abstract: A drilling rig is adapted to perform drilling and/or other wellbore related activities. The drilling rig includes a drilling tower, a drill floor with a well center, a slip device arranged at the well center, a tubulars connection makeup and breaking device near the well center, and a top drive system. The top drive system includes a traveling carriage that is vertically mobile along one or more vertical rails of the drilling tower by a vertical motion drive. The system also includes a top drive unit supported by said carriage and including a top drive motor and a rotary torque output member. The system further includes a tripping operation elevator that is adapted to be engageable with a drilling tubulars string or drilling tubulars stand, e.g. with the top end thereof, in order to perform tripping operations.

Abstract: A pile holding system is to be mounted on a deck of a vessel, e.g. for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine. The pile holding system is configured to support the pile in an upright position at a pile installation location next to the vessel. A vessel is provided with such a pile holder system. A method for installation of a pile and a pile holder are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hoisting crane or multi configurations crane system for use on an offshore vessel, such a vessel and methods for operating are disclosed. The hoisting crane comprises a boom having a proximal portion, an intermediate portion and a distal portion. An extension mechanism is provided that is configured to allow the distal portion to he slid relative to the intermediate portion from a retracted configuration to an extended configuration. In the retracted configuration, the intermediate portion is arranged substantially within the distal portion.

Abstract: A wave-induced motion compensating crane includes a hoist assembly. At least two departure sheaves are mounted at opposite lateral sides of the jib. The object suspension device is supported both by two hoist cables extending laterally from the jib and a third hoist cable that runs via another departure sheave. The hoist assembly is adapted to hoist and/or lower the object suspension device with an object connected thereto, between a lower position and a position at a height up to the departure sheaves while the hoist cables together define a reverse pyramid, diverging upwards in between the object suspension device and the departure sheaves.

Abstract: A semi-submersible drilling vessel has a deckbox structure, one or more pontoons, and multiple support columns extending upward from the one or more pontoons and supporting thereon the deckbox structure. An annular riser joints storage caisson extends downwardly from the deckbox structure, wherein the storage caisson delimits an annular storage space configured for storage therein of an annular array of riser joints in vertical orientation thereof. A riser joints carousel device is provided in the annular storage space, which riser joints carousel device is configured to carry an annular array of riser joints in vertical orientation thereof in a mobile manner relative to the annular storage caisson so that the array of riser joints is movable along an annular path through the storage spaced between the inner and outer wall of the storage caisson.

Abstract: A vessel is adapted to perform subsea wellbore related operations, involving a riser string that extends between a subsea wellbore and a vessel and that is assembled from releasably interconnected riser sections that each comprise a main riser pipe and at least one auxiliary pipe. The vessel includes an auxiliary pipe filling device adapted to fill the at least one auxiliary pipe of a riser section during a lowering step of said riser running operation, the auxiliary pipe filling device including a liquid source, e.g. for water, at least one nozzle adapted to dispense water into said auxiliary pipe, a liquid flow line, connecting the liquid source with the nozzle, and a nozzle mount that is adapted to mount the nozzle in a filling position in which the nozzle is positioned to dispense liquid into the at least one auxiliary pipe of the riser section during said lowering step.

Abstract: A semi-submersible drilling vessel has a deckbox structure and a shaker room. A downward sloping mud return line is provided that passes mud from the diverter to the shaker room. In the shaker room there are one or more shale shaker devices, one or more upstream mud tanks arranged to receive gas cut mud from the one or more shale shaker devices, and a vacuum degasser having an inlet pipe extending into an upstream mud tank, a vacuum tank, a vacuum pump, and an outlet, and a degassed mud tank receiving degassed mud from the outlet of the vacuum degasser. The degassed mud tank has an effective height between the bottom thereof to the operational mud level in said degassed mud tank that is greater than the corresponding effective height of said one or more upstream mud tanks. The degassed mud tank is mounted so that—in operation—the operational mud level in said degassed mud tank is at least 1.