The present invention relates to an assembly for installing a pile (2) in a seabed (3), the assembly comprising a vessel (23) comprising a positioning system for keeping the vessel (23) at an installation location relative to the seabed, the positioning tem (5) having a positioning stiffness (7); a pile guiding system configured to guide the pile (2) during installation thereof, the pile guiding system comprising a base (9) provided on the vessel; a first guiding device connected to the base, the first guiding device being configured to accommodate the pile during installation thereof; a resilient member (11) for providing a resilient connection between the vessel (23) and the pile during installation thereof for allowing relative motions between the pile (2) and the vessel (23), the resilient member having a connection stiffness, wherein the resilient member (11) is configured and intended to keep a natural period of a pivoting movement of the pile about the seabed caused by waves during installation thereof longer than a dominant wave period of a wave spectrum at the installation location by providing the resilient connection with a low connection stiffness.

The present invention relates to a method for installing a wind turbine or other tall structure at a target location at sea, the method comprising: —providing an installation vessel comprising at least one crane, wherein the crane comprises a lower boom part, a right boom part, and a left boom part, wherein the right boom part and the left boom part are connected to an upper portion of the lower boom part and extend from said upper portion, wherein a space is present between the right and left boom part, —lifting a tall structure part, in particular the nacelle assembly, with the crane, wherein in top view the tall structure part is supported at least partially between the right and left boom part by one or more hoist lines extending from the right and left boom part to the tall structure part.

A feeder vessel for the onshore-to-offshore transport of elongate wind turbine objects with a motion compensating carrier assembly having a motion compensated platform for receiving and retaining the elongate object, and a motion compensation mechanism. The motion compensation mechanism includes extendable actuators which passively compensate motions of the platform out of a neutral position, and winches driving carrier cables such that traction by the respective carrier winch counteracts an extension of at least one of the carrier actuators. The winches are embodied as active motion compensation winches to compensate movements of the platform.

Described is a tool and apparatus for positioning a blade for a wind turbine the wind turbine including a tower and a rotatable hub on the tower. The tool is mounted on a side of the tower so that the blade is supported on the tower in an initial configuration. The tool includes a first part arranged to be angularly movable relative to a second part for tilting the blade with respect to the tower to position the blade in a position that can allow the blade to be connected to the hub.

The present invention relates to a blade positioning system configured for positioning wind turbine blades at a hub of a nacelle of a wind turbine from an installation vessel at an offshore location, the blade positioning system comprising: the installation vessel comprising: — at least one lifting device configured for lifting wind turbine components, and — an auxiliary support tower extending upwardly from the installation vessel, the auxiliary support tower comprising: o a nacelle support for supporting the nacelle, o a root end moving assembly defining a guide path which extends over a vertical distance, the root end moving assembly comprising a movable root end support base and a root end support configured for supporting and guiding the root end of the blade, the root end support being connected to the movable root end support base, the root end support being movable along the guide path, the root end moving assembly being configured for moving the root end of the blade along the guide path from the engagement position to an installation position, the at least one lifting device being configured for lifting the nacelle onto the auxiliary support tower, wherein the at least one lifting device and the root end moving assembly are configured to jointly support and jointly move the blade upwards towards the hub, wherein during the movement the root end is supported by the root end support and the lifting device carries a majority of the vertical loads on the blade.

A gearbox repair assembly is disclosed herein. The gearbox repair assembly includes a sleeve having an inner diameter configured to receive a bearing assembly and an outer diameter configured to fit within a bore of a gearbox housing. The gearbox housing can be part of a gearbox of a wind turbine. The gearbox repair assembly further includes a retaining plate configured to be attached to the gearbox housing for preventing an outer race of the bearing assembly from rotating in the bore relative to the gearbox housing. Also provided are methods to repair such a gearbox. The gearbox repair assembly and related methods reduce the time and cost needed to repair the gearboxes.

A lifting tool for lifting an element of an offshore structure, such as a transition piece of an offshore wind turbine comprises a frame and a plurality of engagement members for engaging an element to be lifted. The engagement members are mounted to the frame at an angular distance from each other about a centerline of the frame. The lifting tool also comprises a hoisting member to be connected to a hoisting cable of a crane, and located within a virtual cylinder on which the engagement members lie. The hoisting member and the frame are interconnected rigidly through at least three linear actuators which are arranged such that the hoisting member is movable with respect to the frame in a plurality of radial directions with respect to the centerline, independently from the engagement members.

A handling arrangement for handling a wind turbine rotor blade includes a frame assembly realized to fit about the airfoil of the rotor blade; a number of add-on covers arranged to fit between the frame assembly and the airfoil surface, wherein an add-on cover is shaped to fit around a number of add-ons; and a load-bearing material for filling the add-on cover when the add-on cover is pressed against the rotor blade. A method of handling a wind turbine rotor blade is also provided.

A transport apparatus for use in the transport of a heavy structure includes a shape-adjustable adapter realized to adjust between an initial shape and a mating shape; and an actuator configured to effect a change in shape of the shape-adjustable adapter into its initial shape to facilitate positioning of the adapter relative to the structure; and to effect a change in shape of the shape-adjustable adapter into its mating shape to engage the shape-adjustable adapter with a surface of the structure. A method of securing a frustoconical structure during transport is further provided.

A closed strap collar for securing cargo by friction, a device for lifting cargo and a lifting method, the collar being formed by a strap and a tensioner which, by tightening the strap around an element, allows cargo to be secured to the element being held or the held element to be raised by pulling the strap collar.