A handling device (1) for an installable and retrievable subsea apparatus (2) to engage a docking device (3) on a subsea installation, the docking device (3) having a pair of engagement members (4, 5). The device (1) is provided with a top member (6) and a pair of engagement arms (7, 8) depending therefrom to extend along the outside of the apparatus (2). Each of the arms (7, 8) at a free end thereof is provided with a hook (7′, 8′) configured to engage in releasable way the engagement members (4; 5). A rotatable handle (9) is located above the top member (6) and has an integral or linked stem (10) which extends through the top member (6) and is pivotally linked to a top region of the apparatus (2). The handle (9) is able to operate the engagement arms (7, 8) relative to the engagement members (4,5).

The present invention relates to a marine structure comprising a launch and recovery system for a submersible vehicle, and methods of operating the marine structure. The system comprises: a docking receiver, a towing head comprising a locking mechanism and being connectable to the docking receiver (13), a towing arrangement adapted to mechanically connect the towing head to the marine structure and being adapted to control the distance between the towing head and the docking receiver, and a lifting device connected to the docking receiver and being adapted to move the docking receiver relative to the marine structure. The lifting device can arrange the docking receiver in a towing head receiving and/or releasing position in which the docking receiver: (i) is completely submerged into the body of water, and (ii) is prevented from moving relative to the marine structure.

The method of supporting and lowering a subsea package load on an umbilical from the deck of an offshore service vessel to a subsea work location including providing a reel to store the umbilical on the deck which is not capable of sustaining the maximum load, providing a supporting tractor with dual chains which have multiple dogs mounted on skewed surfaces which amplify a spring load support against the umbilical for frictional support of the umbilical and therefore the subsea package.

A vehicle system may include a mother ship and an unmanned water vehicle that can be received on the mother ship. To recover the unmanned water vehicle, a floating body connected to the mother ship via a line can be lowered into water. A catch device for catching the line may be positioned on the unmanned water vehicle. The floating body may transmit location signals that can be received and used by the unmanned water vehicle to navigate towards the floating body. The unmanned water vehicle may be configured to circle the floating body, and the catch device of the unmanned water vehicle may then catch the line to create a connection between the mother ship and the unmanned water vehicle.”

The present disclosure relates to a docking station whereby an underwater robot can be maintained, repaired and managed all the time. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a docking station can be provided that may comprise: a receiving unit configured to receive an underwater robot therein and positioned under a surface of water; a maintenance unit provided on the receiving unit and positioned above the surface of the water; and a conveyor unit configured to convey the underwater robot from the receiving unit to the maintenance unit.

A system for launching and recovering an underwater vehicle (18), which system comprises a crane (16) and a storage location for at least one underwater vehicle (18), wherein the crane (16) is attached to the bottom of a first container (12) and the storage location is provided in a second container (14), said first container (12) being arranged on the second container (14) during an operation of launching or an operation of recovering.

An ROV docked to a tether management system (TMS) is lifted outboard into water beside a vessel while deploying an umbilical that effects communication with the ROV via a tether of the TMS. After undocking the ROV to swim away from the TMS while deploying the tether, the TMS is suspended over the water while the ROV performs a subsea mission. A mobile or transportable ROV support unit can be positioned on a deck of a vessel of opportunity to facilitate deployment of the ROV, the TMS and the umbilical and to control the ROV during the mission.

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

Disclosed is a floating structure for an autonomous watercraft with a keel deployed and recovered on a vessel. The longitudinally elongate structure includes a floating port-side and starboard lateral edges and a submersible bottom submerged when the structure is in the water, the lateral edges and the bottom defining an interior space at least partly submerged when the floating structure is in the water, the lateral edges defining a prow at the front and, at the rear, an opening towards the rear of the floating structure, which opening is downwardly limited by the submersible bottom with at least one longitudinally elongate slot open towards the rear for the passage of the keel, and the floating structure is configured in order that at least the front portion of the autonomous watercraft including the keel can engage by floating inside the interior space, with the keel engaging in the slot.

The invention relates to an apparatus for launch and recovery a submersible vessel from and to an off-shore site. The apparatus comprises an actively operated gimbal coupled between said first end of the launch/recovery cable and the submersible vessel, when the submersible vessel is suspended by the launch/recovery cable. Both the displacement unit and the winch areoperated by electrical motors during displacement of the displacement unit and during winding of the launch/recovery cable. Electrical power for the electrical motors is provided by batteries of the apparatus.