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: 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: 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: 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: 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.