Abstract: An offshore structure has an upending device for upending an elongate suppo structure from a substantially horizontal loading position on a deck of the offshore structure to a substantially vertical launch position outboard of the offshore structure. The upending device has a pivot axis situated near a side of the offshore structure for pivoting the upending device between the loading position and the launch position. A first end of the upending device has a connector member for pivotally connecting to the elongate support structure. The connector member in the launch position is in a position outboard from the side of the offshore structure. A second end of the upending device is attached to a pulling device that is located on the deck of the offshore structure. The upending device is within reach of one or more hoisting means for the elongate support structure.

Abstract: Vessel including a hull of a substantially closed surface has at deck level a lifting crane, ballast tanks within the hull and a ballast control unit for admitting water to the ballast tanks for changing the draft of the vessel. The hull has a narrow lower section having first width over a height from keel level to a widening level, and a top section having a larger width than the lower section, extending from the widening level upwards towards deck level. The control unit is adapted to ballast the vessel to have a relatively shallow draft level in a transit mode, so that the wide top section is above water level, while the vessel is traveling, and to ballast the vessel to a relatively deep draft level in a lifting mode so that the widening level is below water level, at least when the vessel is substantially stationary and the crane is in its lifting position.