A method for handling of an offshore wind turbine component includes using a vessel having a hull on which a motion compensating crane is mounted. The crane includes a main boom; a main boom luffing assembly; a mobile hoist cable suspension member; and a hoist winch and a hoist cable driven by the hoist winch. An object suspension device is suspended from the hoist cable. The mobile hoist cable suspension member is supported by a motion compensating support device that is fitted to the tip end of the main boom, the motion compensating support device including one or more motor powered motion displacement actuator assemblies and a motion compensating support device controller. The method includes connecting the offshore wind turbine component to the object suspension device; and operating the motion compensating support device to provide motion compensation in at least one direction of the object suspension device and the connected offshore wind turbine component. The crane is provided with one or more nacelle position detectors that are configured and operated to sense at least one of actual position and actual motion of the nacelle or of one or more components in or on the nacelle, and the one or more nacelle position detectors are linked to the motion compensating support device controller.

A method for handling of an offshore wind turbine component includes using a vessel having a hull on which a motion compensating crane is mounted. The crane includes a main boom; a main boom luffing assembly; a mobile hoist cable suspension member; and a hoist winch and a hoist cable driven by the hoist winch. An object suspension device is suspended from the hoist cable. The mobile hoist cable suspension member is supported by a motion compensating support device that is fitted to the tip end of the main boom, the motion compensating support device including one or more motor powered motion displacement actuator assemblies and a motion compensating support device controller. The method includes connecting the offshore wind turbine component to the object suspension device; and operating the motion compensating support device to provide motion compensation in at least one direction of the object suspension device and the connected offshore wind turbine component. The crane is provided with one or more nacelle position detectors that are configured and operated to sense at least one of actual position and actual motion of the nacelle or of one or more components in or on the nacelle, and the one or more nacelle position detectors are linked to the motion compensating support device controller.

Provided is an offshore wind turbine installation arrangement, including a lifting assembly realized to hoist a suspended load between a floating installation vessel and a wind turbine assembly, the lifting assembly including a crane supported by the floating installation vessel; a sensor arrangement realized to sense at least a motion of the floating installation vessel; and a controller realized to control elements of the lifting assembly on the basis of the sensed installation vessel motion to adjust the position of the suspended load relative to the wind turbine assembly. Also provided is a method of hoisting a load between a floating installation vessel and an offshore wind turbine assembly.

A deepwater hoisting system includes a synthetic fibre rope winch assembly including a motor driven first winch and a length of synthetic fibre rope driven by said first winch. The synthetic fibre rope has an end remote from the first winch. The system further includes a steel wire winch assembly including a motor driven second winch and a length of steel wire driven by said second winch. The steel wire has an end remote from the second winch. At least the second winch is an active heave compensation motor driven winch. The system further includes a lifting block having a lifting block sheave, through which the synthetic fibre rope is run. The end of the synthetic fibre rope is connected to the end of the steel wire, so that the lifting block is suspended in a double-fall arrangement.

A deepwater hoisting system includes a synthetic fibre rope winch assembly including a motor driven first winch and a length of synthetic fibre rope driven by said first winch. The synthetic fibre rope has an end remote from the first winch. The system further includes a steel wire winch assembly including a motor driven second winch and a length of steel wire driven by said second winch. The steel wire has an end remote from the second winch. At least the second winch is an active heave compensation motor driven winch. The system further includes a lifting block having a lifting block sheave, through which the synthetic fibre rope is run. The end of the synthetic fibre rope is connected to the end of the steel wire, so that the lifting block is suspended in a double-fall arrangement.

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.

A method of upgrading a knuckle-boom crane to a heave-compensating crane includes: removing a knuckle-boom from a main boom; mounting a main boom extension to the main boom for increasing the length of the main boom; and mounting a heave-compensating boom at a far end of the main boom extension such that the heave-compensating boom extends in a downward vertical direction (Z) in operational use of the heave-compensating crane. The heave-compensating boom is configured to be pivotable with respect to the main boom extension in both horizontal directions (X, Y). A heave-compensation system is provided to the knuckle-boom crane, wherein the heave-compensation system compensates for horizontal variations by controlling the orientation of the heave-compensating boom relative to the main boom extension, and compensates for vertical variations by means of a further vertical heave-compensation system, such as a winch-based heave-compensation system.

Implementations of an automated cargo transfer system are provided. The automated cargo transfer system may be used to load cargo onto, and unload cargo from, the deck of a ship. In some implementations, the automated cargo transfer system comprises: a deck section for the ship; at least one cargo lifting device comprised of a base portion and a crane coupling; a crane hook system configured to interface with the crane coupling and thereby used to reposition a cargo lifting device, and its cargo; and a crane automation system configured to operate a crane equipped with the crane hook system and thereby load cargo onto, or unload cargo from, the deck section of the system. Wherein the deck section is configured so that one or more cargo lifting devices can be removably secured thereon.

Implementations of an automated cargo transfer system are provided. The automated cargo transfer system may be used to load cargo onto, and unload cargo from, the deck of a ship. In some implementations, the automated cargo transfer system comprises: a deck section for the ship; at least one cargo lifting device comprised of a base portion and a crane coupling; a crane hook system configured to interface with the crane coupling and thereby used to reposition a cargo lifting device, and its cargo; and a crane automation system configured to operate a crane equipped with the crane hook system and thereby load cargo onto, or unload cargo from, the deck section of the system. Wherein the deck section is configured so that one or more cargo lifting devices can be removably secured thereon.

In a heave motion compensation system and method for adjusting heave motion compensation, for use with an offshore hoisting device, the heave compensation is provided by, firstly, a cylinder having a piston, which is to be connected to a gas buffer for providing the hoisting device with passive HC, and secondly a sheave head, including one or more sheaves for engaging a hoisting wire of the hoisting device, wherein the sheave head is supported by the piston for movement along a HC-trajectory, and thirdly a sheave head track, extending parallel to the HC-trajectory. The adjusting of the passive HC is realized by adjusting movement of the piston of the heave compensation cylinder using an adjusting winch connected to the piston of the cylinder via a trolley supported by a trolley track, which track is located adjacent the HC-trajectory.