Abstract: A method of ballasting a vessel comprises positioning a vessel having a first draft adjacent to or underneath an offshore installation. The vessel has at least one ballasting tank and at least one port in fluid communication with the at least one ballasting tank. The at least one ballasting tank is arranged to selectively adjust the flow of ballast water in and out of the at least one ballasting tank. The method comprises pushing down from the offshore installation on the vessel to increase the draft of the vessel from the first draft to a second draft. The method further comprises opening the at least one port when the vessel is at the second draft and the at least one port is below a waterline. The method also comprises filling at least part of the at least one ballasting tank.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig including a drill floor deck having one or more holes, each defining a well center; one or more masts upwardly extending relative to the drill floor deck, and one or more hoisting systems, each supported by at least one of the one or more masts and configured for hoisting and lowering tubular equipment through at least one of the one or more well centers; a storage area for accommodating marine riser joints in upright orientation side by side in respective upright storage positions; a riser handling apparatus, different from the hoisting systems, adapted to move at least one of said marine riser joints along a movement path between its upright storage position and a prostrate maintenance/transfer position on a maintenance/transfer area, which movement path does not intersect any of the well centers.

Abstract: An offshore drilling rig including a drill floor deck having one or more holes, each defining a well centre; one or more masts upwardly extending relative to the drill floor deck, and one or more hoisting systems, each supported by at least one of the one or more masts and configured for hoisting and lowering tubular equipment through at least one of the one or more well centres; a storage area for accommodating marine riser joints in upright orientation side by side in respective upright storage positions; a riser handling apparatus, different from the hoisting systems, adapted to move at least one of said marine riser joints along a movement path between its upright storage position and a prostrate maintenance/transfer position on a maintenance/transfer area, which movement path does not intersect any of the well centres.