A method of lowering a discrete load (32) from a pipelay yessel comprises: holding a rigid rod (30) on an upright launch axis where the rod extends through a hold-back system (26); coupling a lower end of the rod to the load; connecting a wire (24) to the load either directly or indirectly via the rod; operating the hold-back system to advance the rod downwardly, hence submerging the load, while the weight of the load is suspended from the holdback system via the rod; when the load is underwater and beneath the splash zone, transferring the weight of the load directly or indirectly from the holdback system to the wire; and continuing to lower the load in the water, suspended directly or indirectly from the wire. The method may be reversed to recover a load from a subsea location, such as when lifting a wellhead or blowout preventer from the seabed.

A method of lowering a discrete load (32) from a pipelay yessel comprises: holding a rigid rod (30) on an upright launch axis where the rod extends through a hold-back system (26); coupling a lower end of the rod to the load; connecting a wire (24) to the load either directly or indirectly via the rod; operating the hold-back system to advance the rod downwardly, hence submerging the load, while the weight of the load is suspended from the holdback system via the rod; when the load is underwater and beneath the splash zone, transferring the weight of the load directly or indirectly from the holdback system to the wire; and continuing to lower the load in the water, suspended directly or indirectly from the wire. The method may be reversed to recover a load from a subsea location, such as when lifting a wellhead or blowout preventer from the seabed.

Described herein are systems, methods, and structures for transferring an object between a ship and an offshore structure, comprising a hoisting mechanism arranged on the offshore structure and adapted to attach to the object, at least one range sensing device adapted to provide data relating to a detected distance from a reference point on the offshore structure to the ship, where the system is adapted to receive the data from the at least one range sensing device and to move the hoisting cable in response to the detected distance, and a motion reference unit adapted to provide data relating to a detected motion of the ship independently of the at least one range sensing device, and wherein the system is adapted to move the hoisting cable in response to the detected motion of the ship.

Described herein are systems, methods, and structures for transferring an object between a ship and an offshore structure, comprising a hoisting mechanism arranged on the offshore structure and adapted to attach to the object, at least one range sensing device adapted to provide data relating to a detected distance from a reference point on the offshore structure to the ship, where the system is adapted to receive the data from the at least one range sensing device and to move the hoisting cable in response to the detected distance, and a motion reference unit adapted to provide data relating to a detected motion of the ship independently of the at least one range sensing device, and wherein the system is adapted to move the hoisting cable in response to the detected motion of the ship.

An offshore platform embarkation facility and an offshore platform, including a lift tower, wherein the lift tower is provided with a climbing device and the lift tower is provided with a transmission structure; a jacking frame, wherein a first moon pool allowing the lift tower to pass through is provided in the jacking frame; a lifting unit, wherein the lifting unit is installed on the jacking frame and the lifting unit is configured to cooperate with the transmission structure to raise and lower the lift tower; a lift platform, wherein a second moon pool allowing the lift tower to pass through is provided in the lift platform, and the lift platform is connected with the lift tower via the climbing device, and the lift platform is located below the jacking frame. When it is needed to load or unload personnel or goods, it is not required to lower the entire offshore platform to the height of the sea surface to enable a ship to be anchored, anchorage of ships and loading or unloading of personnel and goods can be quickly completed simply by means of the offshore platform embarkation facility, which saves energy consumption and time, improves the work efficiency and increases the service life of the offshore platform.

An offshore platform embarkation facility and an offshore platform, including a lift tower, wherein the lift tower is provided with a climbing device and the lift tower is provided with a transmission structure; a jacking frame, wherein a first moon pool allowing the lift tower to pass through is provided in the jacking frame; a lifting unit, wherein the lifting unit is installed on the jacking frame and the lifting unit is configured to cooperate with the transmission structure to raise and lower the lift tower; a lift platform, wherein a second moon pool allowing the lift tower to pass through is provided in the lift platform, and the lift platform is connected with the lift tower via the climbing device, and the lift platform is located below the jacking frame. When it is needed to load or unload personnel or goods, it is not required to lower the entire offshore platform to the height of the sea surface to enable a ship to be anchored, anchorage of ships and loading or unloading of personnel and goods can be quickly completed simply by means of the offshore platform embarkation facility, which saves energy consumption and time, improves the work efficiency and increases the service life of the offshore platform.

The present invention provides a capturing mechanism and method for the recovery of at least one vessel to at least one marine platform; the at least one vessel having at least one engagement device either permanently or at least partially reversibly connectable to the same; the capturing mechanism including: a. at least one tensioned capturing line connected to the at least one marine platform; and b, at least one line maneuvering mechanism configured to displace the at least one tensioned capturing line in at least one direction selected from a group of up, down, left, right, forward, backward, playable into the at least one marine plat form, playable out of the at least one marine platform, playable into and out of the water and any combination thereof.

The present invention provides a capturing mechanism and method for the recovery of at least one vessel to at least one marine platform; the at least one vessel having at least one engagement device either permanently or at least partially reversibly connectable to the same; the capturing mechanism including: a. at least one tensioned capturing line connected to the at least one marine platform; and b, at least one line maneuvering mechanism configured to displace the at least one tensioned capturing line in at least one direction selected from a group of up, down, left, right, forward, backward, playable into the at least one marine plat form, playable out of the at least one marine platform, playable into and out of the water and any combination thereof.

A cable-direction-adaptive ROV winch applied to non-DP-equipped motherships, includes a non-DP-equipped mothership, an A-shaped support and a winch cable-drawing roller provided on the non-DP-equipped mothership, and an underwater vehicle. A pulley is rotatably connected to the A-shaped support, the underwater vehicle is connected to an umbilical cable, the umbilical cable passes around the pulley to be connected to the winch cable-drawing roller, and a locating unit for guiding the umbilical cable is provided on the non-DP-equipped mothership. The A-shaped support is provided with a rod. The pulley includes a sliding section and a rotating section, and the sliding section is annular and slides on the rod along a direction of the rod. The rod has a groove, and a bulge portion is formed on the sliding section. The rotating section is rotatably connected to an outer circle of the sliding section via a shaft bearing.

Maritime drone (1) comprising a hull (2) provided with an upper face (3) and a lower face (4), a centerboard (5) extending projecting from the lower face (4) of the hull (2) in order to give sailing/navigation stability to the maritime drone (1) and at least one wing sail (6). The wing sail (6) comprises a mast (7) connected to the hull (2) and a wing profile (8) connected to the mast (7) and it is suitable to intercept the wind in order to move the maritime drone (1). The centerboard (5) internally defines a containment volume (9) for the wing sail (6), which is movable between an operative position, in which it extends at least partially above the upper face (3) of the hull (2), and an inoperative position, in which it is at least partially housed in the containment volume (9) of the centerboard (5).