Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use in combination with a sensor operative to detect heave motion. The apparatus comprises a main chassis, a drive assembly, a lifting column, a pinion, and control circuitry. The drive assembly is mounted to the main chassis and comprises a drive gear. The lifting column is translatably disposed in the main chassis and comprises a linear gear rack that runs along a longitudinal axis. The pinion is rotatably coupled to the rotation of the drive gear and engages with the linear gear rack such that rotation of the pinion is coupled to translation of the lifting column in the main chassis along the longitudinal axis. Finally, the control circuitry is operative to command the drive assembly to cause the lifting column to translate in the main chassis at least in part based on the heave motion detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A reel arrangement on a vessel for storage and laying of flexible product from the vessel offshore. A cartridge, main reel is designed to receive multiple smaller, flexible product standard storage reels in an epicyclic wheel arrangement for storing and laying the flexible product. The cartridge reel is rotated to bring a selected standard product storage reel from a storage position into a laying position where the product may be taken from the product storage reel and laid on the sea floor. A reel drive head is mounted with the product storage reel for laying product and maintaining proper tension on the product during laying operations.

Abstract: An arrangement for laying non-rigid product offshore that includes a dual long grip length clamp arrangement installed vertically into a tower in a similar manner to a J-lay trolley/clamp system. The invention differs from a J-lay arrangement in that two clamps are used and the clamps are configured for use with non-rigid product, i.e. they have a long grip length in order to spread the load evenly. Each clamp is mounted on a trolley and can travel vertically up or down. The upper clamp is arranged with a distance between it and the lower clamp such that the upper clamp can lower the non-rigid product a suitable distance before the lower clamp grips the non-rigid product so as to create as close as possible continuous movement as practical.