The invention relates to a system (1) for use with a crane (4) on a surface vessel (3), comprising a crane tool (15) attached or attachable to a hoisting cable (5) of the crane (4) and one or more adaptors (16) attached or attachable to one or more tools (11-14, 25) for carrying out operations or to one or more components (2, 10), the crane tool (15) comprising a connector (17) and at least one of the adaptors (16) comprising a connector-counterpart (18).

The system (1) for lifting and controlling the horizontal orientation and/or position of components (90), such as wind turbine main components, during installation and/or dismounting of said components comprises: a crane boom arrangement (3) and one or more lifting lines (3a) guided by said crane boom arrangement (3) for lifting said components. The system moreover comprises a lifting device (10) comprising a crane connection arrangement (11) connected to said one or more lifting lines (3a), a frame arrangement (12) connected to said crane connection arrangement (11), a first and a second steering wire guide (13a, 13b) configured for guiding steering wires (20a, 20b), and a component connection arrangement (30) connected to said frame arrangement and configured to be connected directly or indirectly to the component to be lifted. The system (1) further comprises a guiding arrangement (4) connected to said crane boom arrangement (3), and said steering wires (20a, 20b) are connected to said guiding arrangement (4) and extend from the guiding arrangement (4) in a direction towards the lifting device (10) with a mutual angle (a1) between the steering wires (20a, 20b). A relative displacement between said frame arrangement (12) and one or both of the first and second steering wire guides (13a, 13b) is configured to be provided to control the mutual angle (a1) between the steering wires (20a, 20b).

A lifting device (1, 14, 18, 28, 31, 36, 46, 50) has three booms (2, 19) of adjustable length, which in each case have a first end section (4, 20) and a second end section (5, 21) opposite the first end section (4, 20). While the first end sections (4, 20) of all booms (2, 19) are articulatedly connected to one another, the second end sections (5, 21) are articulatedly and rotatably mounted in respective bearings (7, 24, 29). The bearings (7, 24, 29) are thereby arranged at fixed positions relative to one another. Furthermore, in each boom (2, 19) at least the first end section (4, 20) can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the boom (2, 19) with respect to the second end section (5, 21). In particular, the booms (2, 19) always form a tripod, which is characterized by a high stability. The lifting device (1, 14, 18, 28, 31, 36, 46, 50) is therefore suitable for lifting very heavy loads, wherein greater ranges can be achieved compared to known lifting devices. In addition, the lifting device (1, 14, 18, 28, 31, 36, 46, 50) can be pivoted further than known lifting devices.

A lifting device (1, 14, 18, 28, 31, 36, 46, 50) has three booms (2, 19) of adjustable length, which in each case have a first end section (4, 20) and a second end section (5, 21) opposite the first end section (4, 20). While the first end sections (4, 20) of all booms (2, 19) are articulatedly connected to one another, the second end sections (5, 21) are articulatedly and rotatably mounted in respective bearings (7, 24, 29). The bearings (7, 24, 29) are thereby arranged at fixed positions relative to one another. Furthermore, in each boom (2, 19) at least the first end section (4, 20) can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the boom (2, 19) with respect to the second end section (5, 21). In particular, the booms (2, 19) always form a tripod, which is characterized by a high stability. The lifting device (1, 14, 18, 28, 31, 36, 46, 50) is therefore suitable for lifting very heavy loads, wherein greater ranges can be achieved compared to known lifting devices. In addition, the lifting device (1, 14, 18, 28, 31, 36, 46, 50) can be pivoted further than known lifting devices.

A method of assembling a structure, such as a wind turbine, is disclosed. The method comprises a step of providing a lifting arrangement comprising a gantry disposed over and/or directly above a rail, and lifting means coupled to the gantry. The method further comprises stacking portions of the structure by: conveyably disposing a first portion of the structure relative to the rail; lifting a second portion of the structure using the lifting means; disposing the first portion underneath the second portion by conveying the first portion along the rail; and lowering the second portion onto the first portion. Also disclosed is a corresponding system for assembling a structure, such as a wind turbine, and corresponding clamping and/or gripping system.

A hoisting system for the at least one of an installation, a decommissioning and a maintenance of a wind turbine which comprises at least a foundation, a tower, a yawing part and a rotor of at least 80 m diameter with at least one blade, comprising a first hoisting device which comprises measures to establish a load carrying joint with an already built part of the wind turbine which is located above the foundation, wherein the hoisting system is characterized in that the ratio between the maximum hoist load of the hoisting device and the mass of the heaviest part is larger than 0.2 and smaller than 1 and in particular smaller than 0.8 and more in particular smaller than 0.7 and preferably smaller than 0.6, with the heaviest part being a heaviest part which is hoisted as one piece and which belongs to the yawing part of wind turbine.

A tower crane includes: a jib provided to extend or retract along the lengthwise direction; a cathead provided to extend or retract in the vertical direction; and a movable balance weight installed under a counter jib to be slidable in the horizontal direction, outwardly moved to be farther away from a mast when the jib is unfolded to have an increased length, and moved toward the mast when the jib retracts to have a decreased length, so that the center of gravity of the tower crane is adjusted according to the length of the jib and thus the balance is adjusted. Moreover, the tower crane comprises a movement guide part installed between the counter jib and the movable balance weight to guide the movement of the movable balance weight in the horizontal direction.

A tagline control system for handling a wind turbine component during an operation on a wind turbine using a lifting apparatus. The tagline control system includes a tagline control module (74, 164) having a housing (80), at least two winches (126,128) disposed within the housing and each having a tagline cable (130, 132), a controller (146) disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the at least two winches, and a power source (148) disposed within the housing (80) and operatively coupled to the at least two winches. A method of handling a wind turbine component during an operation on a wind turbine using the lifting apparatus includes coupling the tagline control module to the lifting apparatus and to a wind turbine component, and operating the tagline control system to effectuate the position of the wind turbine component.

The invention provides a lifting assembly comprising a support structure (4) arranged to support a load (2) suspended from the support structure, a guide line (501) arranged to extend from a first location, to a second location, a wheel assembly (601) with one or more wheels (621, 622, 623) arranged to engage, and roll along, the guide line (501), and a control line assembly (701) arranged to extend from the wheel assembly (601) to the load (2), wherein the lifting assembly comprises a retainer (801) arranged to connect, between the first and second locations, the guide line (501) to the support structure (4).

The offshore jack-up has a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor. The offshore jack-up is arranged to move the legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of the water. The method comprises securing the vessel with respect to the hull of the offshore jack-up when the hull is positioned out of the water and the legs engage the seafloor. A lifting mechanism mounted on the offshore jack-up engages with a cargo carrying platform positioned on the vessel. The platform is lifted with the lifting mechanism between a first position on the vessel and a second position clear of the vessel.