Abstract: A self-climbing tower crane includes a crane base configured to be placed on a support at a hoisting site, tower segments to erect a crane tower, a crane tower lifting unit mounted on the crane base, and a slewable jib unit. The tower crane is configured to, with the slewable jib unit connected to an upper tower segment, erect the crane tower by stacking tower segments onto one another from below to lengthen the crane tower under the slewable jib unit. The crane tower includes an upper section to be composed of a series of multiple upper tower segments and a lower section to be composed of a series of multiple lower tower segments. Each upper tower segment is embodied as a tubular girder type tower segment. Each lower tower segment is embodied as a latticed structure type tower segment. The tower crane further includes an upper stabilizer device and a lower stabilizer device, each configured to horizontally connect the upper section of the crane tower to an external tall structure, e.g. a wind turbine mast.

Abstract: A crane vessel for hoisting of an offshore wind turbine or a component thereof, includes a hull having a deck. A crane configured for hoisting of an offshore wind turbine or a component thereof includes a vertical crane structure having a crane structure base fixed to the hull, the crane structure extending from the hull over a height thereof to a top along a vertical axis of the crane structure, a boom, and a slew bearing allowing to revolve the boom, about a slew axis. A main hoisting system includes at least one main hoisting winch, an associated main hoisting cable and a load connector, the main hoisting cable extending from the main hoisting winch to a main hoist cable guide on the boom and then to the load connector.

Abstract: In the installation of a rotor blade in horizontal orientation to the hub of a horizontal axis offshore wind turbine, use is made of a blade motion synchronization and positioning device, which comprises a wind turbine coupler, a blade coupler, a motion arm between the wind turbine coupler and the blade coupler, and a controllable motion arm actuator assembly. The method includes bringing and maintaining the blade coupler in a motion compensated receiving position, wherein the arm is operated to compensate for sea state and/or wind induced tower top motion. In receiving position, the coupler is coupled to the blade that is suspended from a crane. The actuator assembly is then operated to gradually bring, and then maintain, the coupled blade in a horizontal motion that is synchronized with tower top motion, and to displace the coupled blade root into a pre-mounting position.

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 guiding 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: A marine slewing pedestal crane includes a boom provided with a jib having a jib-arm. The jib includes a jib base pivotally connected to a jib-axle to allow a pivotal movement of the jib with respect to the boom. The crane includes a jib positioning assembly adapted to position the jib arm and to actuate the movement of the jib arm. The jib arm positioning assembly includes a jib arm control system, including one or more sensors for monitoring a load connected to a load suspension device of a hoisting assembly of the crane, and/or a potential load, and/or a supply vessel supporting a potential load, and/or crane information. Based on the information, the jib arm control system actuates one or more cylinders to pivot the jib arm relative to the jib base.

Abstract: In a method for installing a blade on a horizontal axis rotational hub of an offshore wind turbine, use is made of a blade installation device that is temporarily installed on the offshore wind turbine. The device includes a mounting part that is mounted on the foundation of the offshore wind turbine and/or on a lower portion of the wind turbine mast. A guide mast having a track is supported by the mounting part and extends parallel and adjacent to the wind turbine mast. A support bracket laterally supports the guide mast. The blade installation device further includes a blade manipulator assembly with a trolley that is movable along the track and a blade manipulator including blade engagement members. The blade manipulator is supported by the trolley via an actuating assembly including actuators. A positioning system controls the actuators.

Abstract: In an upend crane and an installation vessel including such an upend crane, the upend crane is provided with a boom configured for upending wind turbine components, e.g. monopiles and masts. The boom of the crane can be pivoted in an upend position for upending the wind turbine component with the bottom end of the wind turbine component being guided by a cart and a track along an upend deck and with the top end of the wind turbine component being guided along the boom by a trolley and the trolley guide.

Abstract: A vessel for installation of a pile for supporting a wind turbine includes a hull, a lifting device, and a pile gripper. The lifting device includes a base, an elongate, upright superstructure, and a lifting assembly and the pile gripper includes a gripper base and a gripper device. The pile engagement device and the gripper device are, by respective movabilities thereof in an X-Y plane relative to the vessel, whilst both engaging a pile, and whilst supporting the pile, simultaneously movable relative to the hull from an inboard retaining position in which the pile engagement device is in the upper position and the pile is above the hull, to an outboard installation position of the pile in which the pile is outside the contour of the vessel.

Abstract: In a method for installing a blade on a horizontal axis rotational hub of an offshore wind turbine, use is made of a blade installation device that is temporarily installed on the offshore wind turbine. The device includes a mounting part that is mounted on the foundation of the offshore wind turbine and/or on a lower portion of the wind turbine mast. A guide mast having a track is supported by the mounting part and extends parallel and adjacent to the wind turbine mast. A support bracket laterally supports the guide mast. The blade installation device further includes a blade manipulator assembly with a trolley that is movable along the track and a blade manipulator including blade engagement members. The blade manipulator is supported by the trolley via an actuating assembly including actuators. A positioning system controls the actuators.

Abstract: An offshore vessel for performing offshore subsea wellbore related activities, for example for drilling a subsea wellbore includes a drilling tower. A method for drilling a subsea wellbore includes using an offshore vessel and a method for tripping a tubulars string is disclosed. The offshore vessel is provided with a hoisting system which has a first configuration, wherein a hoisting cable is connected to a working deck and a second configuration wherein said hoisting cable is connected to a traveling block. The system allows for efficient tripping in and tripping out.

Abstract: A top drive system for wellbore related activities involving a drilling tubulars string. The system includes a frame structure and a top drive device with one or more top drive motors, a transmission housing, a floating quill system with a hollow vertical floating quill shaft. The top drive device has a thrust bearing housing arranged below the transmission housing and suspended via said first and second vertical frame members from the top frame member. A hollow vertical outer main shaft is suspended from the thrust bearing housing and a hollow vertical inner main shaft is arranged vertically mobile within the outer main shaft.

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 semi-submersible crane vessel for use in assembling a wind turbine and for installation by means of a crane of the vessel of the assembled wind turbine on a foundation. At an assembly station, the hull of the vessel is provided with a mast-receiving well that is sunk into, or through, the hull, preferably a well that extends into, or through a support column of the hull, which well is configured to receive therein at least a portion of the mast of the wind turbine during an assembly step of the wind turbine. For example, the mast-receiving well has a depth of at least 15 meters, e.g. at least 30 meters, measured from the deck of the deckbox structure.

Abstract: The first aspect of the present invention relates to an offshore drilling system and a method for performing subsea wellbore related activities involving a riser extending between the vessel and a subsea wellbore. The offshore drilling system comprising a drilling vessel with a floating hull, a drilling tower and a tubular string main hoisting device. A vertically mobile working deck with a rig floor slip device is positioned above the moonpool. A telescopic joint and a diverter are provided, wherein the inner barrel of the telescopic joint is secured to the diverter via a flexible joint. Furthermore an integrated heave compensation system is provided such that said travelling block and the mobile working deck move synchronously in heave compensation.

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 crane vessel for hoisting of an offshore wind turbine or a component thereof, includes a hull having a deck. A crane configured for hoisting of an offshore wind turbine or a component thereof includes a vertical crane structure having a crane structure base fixed to the hull, the crane structure extending from the hull over a height thereof to a top along a vertical axis of the crane structure, a boom, and a slew bearing allowing to revolve the boom, about a slew axis. A main hoisting system includes at least one main hoisting winch, an associated main hoisting cable and a load connector, the main hoisting cable extending from the main hoisting winch to a main hoist cable guide on the boom and then to the load connector.

Abstract: An offshore vessel for performing offshore subsea wellbore related activities, for example for drilling a subsea wellbore includes a drilling tower. A method for drilling a subsea wellbore includes using an offshore vessel and a method for tripping a tubulars string is disclosed. The offshore vessel is provided with a hoisting system which has a first configuration, wherein a hoisting cable is connected to a working deck and a second configuration wherein said hoisting cable is connected to a traveling block. The system allows for efficient tripping in and tripping out.

Abstract: A marine knuckle boom crane includes a pedestal and a crane housing rotational relative to the pedestal. A knuckle boom assembly is attached to the crane housing and includes a main boom and a spreader type jib. A hoisting system includes a first departure sheave and a second departure sheave on the jib, and a third departure sheave mounted to the main boom or to the crane housing. One or more winches drive a first, second, and third cable which are each connected to an object suspension device and each pass via the first, second, and third departure sheave, respectively, to the respective winch. The first, the second, and the third cable together define an inverted pyramid which diverges upwards from the object suspension device when handling the object.

Abstract: The first aspect of the present invention relates to an offshore drilling system and a method for performing subsea wellbore related activities involving a riser extending between the vessel and a subsea wellbore. The offshore drilling system comprising a drilling vessel with a floating hull, a drilling tower and a tubular string main hoisting device. A vertically mobile working deck with a rig floor slip device is positioned above the moonpool. A telescopic joint and a diverter are provided, wherein the inner barrel of the telescopic joint is secured to the diverter via a flexible joint. Furthermore an integrated heave compensation system is provided such that said travelling block and the mobile working deck move synchronously in heave compensation.