Abstract: An assembly for positioning a crane mounted on a support and intended to overhang the platform of a platform structure having a base which rests on the bed of a body of water. The crane is located on the vertical axis of a column offset with respect to a central shaft which carries the platform. The assembly comprises a mobile shaft element contained in the upper part of the offset column and having a base with jacks or a block and tackle permitting its emergence as far as the upper level of the offset column. The lower face of the crane support carries a downwardly extending shaft element which has the same diameter as the mobile shaft element. The two shaft elements are substantially coaxial when the platform is carried on the central shaft so that they may be joined together and raised as a unit.

Abstract: A platform comprises a base structure designed to rest on the bottom of the sea for supporting an industrial or scientific installation above the surface of the water. The base structure comprises a floatable device capable of keeping afloat and means for ballasting the base structure to install the structure on the bottom of the sea. The base structure also includes a shaft in which a hollow element with a water-tight peripheral wall and a water-tight lower end wall, can slide vertically. The element can be temporarily fixed to the shaft. The element forms a float capable of supporting a deck which carries the installations, but is capable of being immersed over at least the greater part of its height. The deck is capable of floating until it is over the top of the element when the element is immersed and has means for fixing it to the top of the element.