The invention provides a method for handling a blade (11) for a horizontal axis wind turbine (1), the blade extending longitudinally between a blade root (111) and a blade tip (112), the method comprising—supporting the blade (11) with one or more cranes (3), moving, by means of the one or more cranes (3), the supported blade (11) so as to be placed on one or more first support elements (4111) of a first support device (411) and on one or more second support elements (4121) of a second support device (412), removing the support of the one or more cranes (3), so as for the blade (11) to be supported by the one or more first support elements (4111) and the one or more second support elements (4121) on which the blade is placed, the second support device (412) being located between the blade root (111) and the blade tip (112), and the first support device (411) being, compared to the second support device, located closer to the blade root, moving the first and second support devices (411, 412) so as to move the blade (11) supported by the first and second support elements (4111, 4121), and/or moving a third support device (413), so that the third support device (413) assumes a support position between the second support device (412) and the blade tip (112), and removing, while the third support device (413) is in the support position, the support of the one or more second support elements (4121) so as for the blade (11) to be supported by one or more third support elements (4131) of the third support device, and by the one or more first support elements (4111).

A computerized delivery service provision method, that includes providing vehicles with bays, then selecting vehicles for assignment to a resource. The selecting of a vehicle to a resource includes determining resource candidate vehicles from among the vehicles that meet a vehicle candidacy criterion, then calculating hypothetical path routes, each including a path bay and a delivery bay that are associated with the candidate vehicles, thereby obtaining hypothetical path routes for the candidate vehicles. Then, determining a best path route from among the hypothetical path routes and selecting a vehicle from the candidate vehicles that is associated with the best path route, wherein the selected vehicle will pass through the path bay terminating at the delivery bay of the best path route, for provisioning of the delivery service between the selected vehicle and the resource, and wherein the best path route involves calculated starvation time, associated with the resource, which, compared to starvation times of any other hypothetical path routes associated with the resource, meets a starvation criterion.

A method and device to balance a tiltable arm comprising a free extremity and having a pivot point on a mounting structure which is supported by a floating object, by providing the arm with suspension and/or support means for controlling the arm's inclination with respect to the horizon, and by providing said suspension and/or support means with at least one spring, wherein the spring connects to the arm and to said mounting structure, and embodying the spring as a passive spring which is arranged to balance the arm so as to stabilize a position of a free extremity of the arm during movements of the floating object.

An all-weather maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program includes a maintenance capsule for transporting tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers, a maintenance vessel with a capsule support apparatus for transporting capsules supported on board by the capsule support apparatus to and from respective wind turbine towers, and a crane assembly with a trolley for transporting capsules between the respective wind turbine towers and the maintenance vessel.

An all-weather maintenance system for an offshore wind turbine maintenance program includes a maintenance capsule for transporting tools, parts and maintenance personnel to and from respective wind turbine towers, a maintenance vessel with a capsule support apparatus for transporting capsules supported on board by the capsule support apparatus to and from respective wind turbine towers, and a crane assembly with a trolley for transporting capsules between the respective wind turbine towers and the maintenance vessel.

A method and apparatus for rapid loading stacks of items aboard vessels which can include rotating palletized items to depalletize the items, and then placing the items on a lifting robot, lifting the robot and items into the hold of a vessel, removing the items from the robot using a load push lift truck, and then using the load push lift truck to stow the items in a stowage location. The empty robot can be removed from the hold of the vessel and put in a position to receive a another depalletized stack of cartons. In one option the robot has a plurality of fork channels for receiving the blades of a load push lift truck along with receiving the blades or a rotating lift truck.

A system and method for the deployment of a conduit system to convey fluids from a marine vessel to an offshore rig are provided. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a conduit connected to a marine vessel, the conduit comprising: a plurality of sections of tubing; a plurality of flexible joints connecting the sections of tubing; and a buoyancy device at least partially surrounding at least one of the sections of tubing and having a density less than the density of seawater.

A system and method for the deployment of a conduit system to convey fluids from a marine vessel to an offshore rig are provided. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a conduit connected to a marine vessel, the conduit comprising: a plurality of sections of tubing; a plurality of flexible joints connecting the sections of tubing; and a buoyancy device at least partially surrounding at least one of the sections of tubing and having a density less than the density of seawater.

The invention provides a lifting device (1) for lifting a leg of at least one part of a sea platform comprising a support structure and a top side, wherein the lifting device comprises: a base structure (2) to be mounted on a vessel; a gripping device (3) to grip the leg, wherein the gripping device is movably supported with respect to the base structure; a support device (4) mounted on the base structure, and a lifting beam (5), wherein a first end of the lifting beam is configured to be supported at a support location of the support device and wherein a second end of the lifting beam opposite to the first end is configured to be connected to the gripping device.

The invention provides a lifting device (1) for lifting a leg of at least one part of a sea platform comprising a support structure and a top side, wherein the lifting device comprises: a base structure (2) to be mounted on a vessel; a gripping device (3) to grip the leg, wherein the gripping device is movably supported with respect to the base structure; a support device (4) mounted on the base structure, and a lifting beam (5), wherein a first end of the lifting beam is configured to be supported at a support location of the support device and wherein a second end of the lifting beam opposite to the first end is configured to be connected to the gripping device.