A sea vessel (1), such as a tugboat or a fishing vessel, including a hydraulic winch (10) connected to a hydraulic system (100), and at least one main engine with a main engine crankshaft (22) connected to a propeller or a thruster. The hydraulic system (100) comprising: a first, hydraulically powered genset (106) including a hydraulic motor and a generator, at least one hydraulic pump (105) connected to said crankshaft (22). The hydraulic pump (105) is configured for driving said first genset (106) to generate electricity, and the hydraulic pump (105) is configured for driving said hydraulic winch (10), and first valve element (102) are used for selectively directing hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic winch (10) or to said first genset (106) of said hydraulic system.

A sonar device intended to be towed by a surface ship and includes a tow cable and a set of at least one towed device, comprising a towed body, intended to be towed by the surface ship via the tow cable, the towed body being elongate along a longitudinal axis from a first longitudinal end of the towed body as far as a second longitudinal end of the towed body, the towed body incorporating a first linear acoustic antenna comprising a plurality of electroacoustic transducers substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis, the towed device being configured and connected to the tow cable in such a way that the towed body is able, when it is being towed and is fully submerged, to exhibit an orientation the longitudinal axis extends substantially along a vertical axis defined by the force of gravity, at least one towed body of the set of towed bodies being connected to the tow cable by a first hanger and a second hanger of substantially the same length, a first end of the first hanger and a first end of the second hanger being connected to the tow cable and a second end of the first hanger being attached to the towed body at a fixing point of the towed body which point is situated near the first longitudinal end and a second end of the second hanger being attached to the towed body at a second fixing point secured to the first fixing point and situated near the second longitudinal end.

A sonar device intended to be towed by a surface ship and includes a tow cable and a set of at least one towed device, comprising a towed body, intended to be towed by the surface ship via the tow cable, the towed body being elongate along a longitudinal axis from a first longitudinal end of the towed body as far as a second longitudinal end of the towed body, the towed body incorporating a first linear acoustic antenna comprising a plurality of electroacoustic transducers substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis, the towed device being configured and connected to the tow cable in such a way that the towed body is able, when it is being towed and is fully submerged, to exhibit an orientation the longitudinal axis extends substantially along a vertical axis defined by the force of gravity, at least one towed body of the set of towed bodies being connected to the tow cable by a first hanger and a second hanger of substantially the same length, a first end of the first hanger and a first end of the second hanger being connected to the tow cable and a second end of the first hanger being attached to the towed body at a fixing point of the towed body which point is situated near the first longitudinal end and a second end of the second hanger being attached to the towed body at a second fixing point secured to the first fixing point and situated near the second longitudinal end.

A handling device includes a winch comprising a frame, intended to be attached to a structure of the surface vessel and a first drum capable of turning relative to the frame about a first rotation axis and an assembly comprising at least one second drum which surrounds the first drum and is capable of turning relative to the frame about a second rotation axis substantially parallel to the first rotation axis, the winch being capable of being in a decoupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally decoupled about the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis so as to allow a traction cable to be wound around the first drum during a first winding step wherein the first drum is rotated about the first axis, the second drum being capable of being in an open state wherein the second drum has a receiving opening that a towed body is capable of passing through in order to enter the interior of the space that surrounds the first drum and that is surrounded by the second drum, the winch being capable of being in a coupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally coupled about the second rotation axis so as to allow a flexible elongate body to be wound around the second rotation axis during a second winding step wherein the second drum is rotated about the second axis.

A handling device includes a winch comprising a frame, intended to be attached to a structure of the surface vessel and a first drum capable of turning relative to the frame about a first rotation axis and an assembly comprising at least one second drum which surrounds the first drum and is capable of turning relative to the frame about a second rotation axis substantially parallel to the first rotation axis, the winch being capable of being in a decoupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally decoupled about the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis so as to allow a traction cable to be wound around the first drum during a first winding step wherein the first drum is rotated about the first axis, the second drum being capable of being in an open state wherein the second drum has a receiving opening that a towed body is capable of passing through in order to enter the interior of the space that surrounds the first drum and that is surrounded by the second drum, the winch being capable of being in a coupled state wherein the first drum and the second drum are rotationally coupled about the second rotation axis so as to allow a flexible elongate body to be wound around the second rotation axis during a second winding step wherein the second drum is rotated about the second axis.

Novel techniques and equipment for anchoring a boat include sensing and measuring the real time rate and length of rode release based on detecting real time changes in the angular position of a windlass by computer vision using a portable computing device. Rode release is also detected using novel methods based on sensing sound, rode chain movement, and sensing acceleration and/or motion. The apparatus can include software operable to provide safe anchoring based on monitoring real times values of the rate and length of rode release, comparing these values to the speed and position of the boat, and providing local and remote status and alarm information to crew members.

A mooring line length adjusting device and methods is disclosed. The connecting device is arranged for connecting a lower section and an upper section of a mooring line to respective ends of the device and for adjusting a total length of said mooring line from a previous mooring line length to a new mooring line length. The upper end of the mooring line is connected to a floating unit. At least said lower section comprises a chain segment at its top end connected to the device. The device comprises a locking arrangement to lock said chain segment to the connecting device.

A mooring line length adjusting device and methods is disclosed. The connecting device is arranged for connecting a lower section and an upper section of a mooring line to respective ends of the device and for adjusting a total length of said mooring line from a previous mooring line length to a new mooring line length. The upper end of the mooring line is connected to a floating unit. At least said lower section comprises a chain segment at its top end connected to the device. The device comprises a locking arrangement to lock said chain segment to the connecting device.

A vessel and a method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine are described. The method includes a) suspending the pile from a hoisting cable in a substantially vertical orientation; b) providing a lower end of the pile in a pile holding system limiting horizontal motion of a pile portion held by the pile holding system; and c) lowering the pile with the pile being held by the pile holding system. The lowering includes at least lowering the pile through a splash zone of a body of water, and during step c), two tugger lines are directly or indirectly connected to the pile at a location between the pile holding system and the hoisting cable, said tugger lines being operated to damp motion of the pile in two respective horizontal directions.

A vessel and a method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine are described. The method includes a) suspending the pile from a hoisting cable in a substantially vertical orientation; b) providing a lower end of the pile in a pile holding system limiting horizontal motion of a pile portion held by the pile holding system; and c) lowering the pile with the pile being held by the pile holding system. The lowering includes at least lowering the pile through a splash zone of a body of water, and during step c), two tugger lines are directly or indirectly connected to the pile at a location between the pile holding system and the hoisting cable, said tugger lines being operated to damp motion of the pile in two respective horizontal directions.