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.

Aspects of the disclosure include apparatus for and methods of facilitating transfer of objects using a crane. Disclosed apparatuses include a target tracking device mounted on or near a crane at a first location, and a target located near a landing location for the object. The target tracking device and the target facilitate real time determination of relative motion between the two locations. Methods of using the same are also disclosed.

Aspects of the disclosure include apparatus for and methods of facilitating transfer of objects using a crane. Disclosed apparatuses include a target tracking device mounted on or near a crane at a first location, and a target located near a landing location for the object. The target tracking device and the target facilitate real time determination of relative motion between the two locations. Methods of using the same are also disclosed.

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.

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.

A vessel and a method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine are described. The method includes a) suspending the pile from a hoisting cable in a substantially vertical orientation; b) providing a lower end of the pile in a pile holding system limiting horizontal motion of a pile portion held by the pile holding system; and c) lowering the pile with the pile being held by the pile holding system. The lowering includes at least lowering the pile through a splash zone of a body of water, and during step c), two tugger lines are directly or indirectly connected to the pile at a location between the pile holding system and the hoisting cable, said tugger lines being operated to damp motion of the pile in two respective horizontal directions.

A vessel and a method for installation of a pile adapted to support an offshore wind turbine are described. The method includes a) suspending the pile from a hoisting cable in a substantially vertical orientation; b) providing a lower end of the pile in a pile holding system limiting horizontal motion of a pile portion held by the pile holding system; and c) lowering the pile with the pile being held by the pile holding system. The lowering includes at least lowering the pile through a splash zone of a body of water, and during step c), two tugger lines are directly or indirectly connected to the pile at a location between the pile holding system and the hoisting cable, said tugger lines being operated to damp motion of the pile in two respective horizontal directions.

Disclosed is a knuckle boom crane, for offshore application, the knuckle boom crane including a crane house, a knuckle boom carried by the crane house, a component for operating the crane house and the knuckle boom, and a controller for piloting the operating component. The controller include a active compensation module that is designed to pilot the operating means, taking into account data coming from a motion reference unit, in such a way as to stabilize a downstream end of the jib, advantageously in a horizontal plane and/or a vertical position, still preferably in all directions.

Disclosed is a knuckle boom crane, for offshore application, the knuckle boom crane including a crane house, a knuckle boom carried by the crane house, a component for operating the crane house and the knuckle boom, and a controller for piloting the operating component. The controller include a active compensation module that is designed to pilot the operating means, taking into account data coming from a motion reference unit, in such a way as to stabilize a downstream end of the jib, advantageously in a horizontal plane and/or a vertical position, still preferably in all directions.

A dual hoist crane is provided with a heave compensation system that can be used for both the main and for the auxiliary hoisting assembly. The heave compensation system includes a first set of sheaves for guiding the main hoisting cable and a second set of sheaves for guiding the auxiliary hoisting cable. The heave compensation system is configured to individually lock the first set of sheaves and the second set of sheaves to a heave compensation cylinder, for respectively providing the main hoisting assembly and the auxiliary hoisting assembly with heave compensation.