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.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. Each of the frames provides a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a package to be lifted and/or a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. Each of the frames provides a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a package to be lifted and/or a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames arc spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. Each of the frames provides a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a package to be lifted and/or a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames.

A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames arc spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. Each of the frames provides a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a package to be lifted and/or a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames. In this fashion, an object that has been salvaged from the seabed can be placed upon the marine vessel that is positioned in between the barges and under the frames.

The invention relates to a spreader bar (1) for distributing a lifting force from a crane (2) onto a two lifting regions (3,4) f a load (5) to be lifted. The spreader bar comprises a frame (6) and first and second systems (7,8). Each system comprises a lifting pulley (9), a connector (10) for connecting the spreader bar to the respective lifting region via a main wire (11) guided by the lifting pulley, an actuator (15) for vertically moving the connector via an actuator wire (16), and a movably arranged suspension element (19) connecting the actuator wire and the main wire. A compensator (20) compensates for possible fluctuations in the vertical distance between the respective lifting region of the load and the spreader bar. Such fluctuations can be due to the crane or the load being located on a floating vessel. When the suspension element is engaged with a blocking element (23), the lifting force from the crane can be transferred to the main wire in order to lift the load.

An offshore transfer system includes an arm construction with a primary measurement system to measure and compensate for relative movement of an element relative to an external reference when the element is supported by the arm tip, as well as a secondary measurement system to measure and compensate for relative movement of the arm tip relative to the element when the element is put down and no longer supported by the arm tip.

A gripper device comprises a gripper with a gripper arm rotatable around a rotation axis such that the gripper is movable between an open end position and a closed end position, and a hoisting device connected to the gripper and comprising a first cable and a second cable which are each connected with their one outer end to the gripper and are each connected with their other outer end to respectively a first and second hoisting means for raising and lowering the gripper with the cables, wherein each hoisting means is, driven by a separate drive, wherein a controller transmits the same control signal to both drives for the purpose of raising or lowering the gripper, and each drive comprises a motor with internal slippage or a slippage coupling so that synchronous running of the hoisting means is automatically realized.

A payload control apparatus includes a spring-line a spring line actuating mechanism, a spring line flying sheave over which a load line can pass, and a spring line, wherein the spring line flying sheave can move into a position either where the flying sheave is spaced from and in non-contact with or contacting but non-path-altering in relation to the load line, further wherein the spring-line flying sheave can be moved into another position such that the flying sheave engages the load-line and alters its path length. Thus, when a marine surface vessel falls in a heave event that would otherwise cause the payload at the end of the load line to fall as well, the flying sheave will move to increase the path length causing a shortening of the path length, thereby preventing the payload from falling.