Abstract: A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably offshore, and a method of driving a pile into the ground using the pile-driver assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid. The assembly further includes a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile. The assembly further includes actuating means, wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

Abstract: A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably offshore, and a method of driving a pile into the ground using the pile-driver assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid. The assembly further includes a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile. The assembly further includes actuating means, wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

Abstract: A pile driving system comprises a lifting element attached or attachable to a hoisting cable of a crane, a pile driver which is mounted to the lifting element and movable with respect to the lifting element in a pile driving direction and a brake for braking a movement of the pile driver with respect to the lifting element. The brake comprises cooperating sliding members at the lifting element and the pile driver, which sliding members are pressed against each other in a direction extending transversely to their mutual sliding direction.

Abstract: A lifting device for lifting a tubular pile comprises a hoisting member including a centreline, a plurality of engagement elements which are moveably mounted to the hoisting member at angular distance with respect to each other about the centreline and actuators for moving the respective engagement elements with respect to the hoisting member. The engagement elements are moveable in longitudinal direction of the centreline along respective guides of the hoisting member. The guides are inclined with respect to the centreline such that the engagement elements move in radial direction of the centreline when being moved in longitudinal direction of the centreline. The actuators are functionally interconnected such that under operating conditions the actuators move the engagements elements simultaneously until a first one of the actuators reaches a counterforce which is higher than a counterforce of a second one of the actuators, after which the second one of the actuators is moved further.

Abstract: A system for controlling a motion compensated pile guide for a floating vessel comprises a pile guide for guiding a monopile in its longitudinal direction during driving the monopile into a seabed, an actuator for moving the pile guide in horizontal direction with respect to a vessel to which the pile guide is mounted, a control unit for controlling the actuator, which control unit is configured for compensating motion of the vessel to which the pile guide is mounted so as to maintain the horizontal position of the pile guide during driving a monopile into a seabed, a first sensor for determining an inclination angle of a monopile with respect to the vertical during driving the monopile into a seabed, and a second sensor for determining magnitude and direction of an actual force of a monopile onto the pile guide during driving the monopile into a seabed.

Abstract: A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground, preferably offshore, and a method of driving a pile into the ground using the pile-driver assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber, the chamber being configured to house a fluid. The assembly further includes a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile, wherein at least a portion of the positioning element is positioned between the chamber and the pile. The assembly further includes actuating means, wherein actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element, such that the chamber moves away from the pile, and wherein the actuating means is configured to release the chamber for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground.

Abstract: A pile-driver assembly for driving a pile into the ground is disclosed. The assembly includes a casing defining a chamber configured to house a fluid; a positioning element configured to position the casing at or on the pile; and actuating means. Actuation of the actuating means displaces the chamber relative to the positioning element such that the chamber moves away from the pile to an elevated position. The actuating means is configured to release the chamber from the elevated position for displacement towards the pile such that a force is exerted by the chamber on the positioning member, to controllably drive the pile into the ground. The assembly further includes buffering means, the buffering means being configured to controllably buffer the force exerted by the chamber on the pile as the pile is driven into the ground. The buffering means is configured to rebound the chamber to a rebound position.

Abstract: A lifting tool for lifting an element of an offshore structure, such as a transition piece of an offshore wind turbine comprises a frame and a plurality of engagement members for engaging an element to be lifted. The engagement members are mounted to the frame at an angular distance from each other about a centerline of the frame. The lifting tool also comprises a hoisting member to be connected to a hoisting cable of a crane, and located within a virtual cylinder on which the engagement members lie. The hoisting member and the frame are interconnected rigidly through at least three linear actuators which are arranged such that the hoisting member is movable with respect to the frame in a plurality of radial directions with respect to the centerline, independently from the engagement members.