Abstract: An arrangement for effecting open sea transfer of articles to and from a vessel subject to movement in the pitch, roll, yaw, heave and sway senses includes a gantry having one end carried by the vessel, and a free end having a carrying device adapted for carrying an article, the gantry being articulated such that the carrying device can be substantially stabilized in space whereby it maintains a generally constant position or course in space irrespective of the motion of the vessel.

Abstract: The equipment for the transfer of fluids such as oil or gas from a drilling rig or platform mounted on the seabed to a ship pitching, heaving and yawing in relation thereto includes an interconnection through which fluid flow can take place. The interconnection has two parts, namely a probe 5 and a probe-receiver 4. The two parts are capable of engagement or disengagement on relative fore-and-aft movement. The equipment also includes a hose 6 to pass fluid to and from the interconnection, one part of the interconnection being mounted upon the platform 1 and the other part being carried by an at least partially spaced stabilized gantry 9 mounted upon the receiver vessel 8. One part of the interconnection 4 is mounted by a releasable anchor and has its hose 6 extendable when the anchor is released. The arrangement is such that the receiver vessel can be temporarily placed in an engagement position adjacent to the platform 1 and the parts 4 and 5 of the interconnection so aligned that engagement can be effected.

Abstract: A system for retrieval and/or launching an aircraft capable of hovering flight (for example an aircraft having a thrust vectoring capability or a helicopter) includes gantry means 3, 5 for mounting on a surface station (for example a naval vessel 1), and an aircraft capable of hovering in a stationary position with respect to the gantry. The gantry and the aircraft are provided with complementary engagement means 9, 10 which are releasably engageable to allow the whole of the weight of the aircraft to be carried by the gantry. The engagement means on the aircraft are provided in the region of its center of gravity. In a retrieval sequence, the aircraft hovers with its engagement means 10 within a notional window with respect to the engagement means 9 of the gantry and the engagement means are then engaged.