SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOADING AND SECURING EQUIPMENT MODULES TO A SHIP

Abstract

A system for connecting equipment to a mounting surface of a sea vessel, such as a ship or submarine or any other marine vessel. The system includes a skidding frame including a frame body having an upper and a lower surface; a mounting footprint secured to the mounting surface and adapted to releasably engage said lower surface of said skidding frame, and one or more equipment modules, wherein the one or more equipment modules are adapted to be attached to the upper surface of the skidding frame, whereby the equipment modules are indirectly connected to the mounting surface via the skidding frame.

Claims

1. A system for connecting equipment to a mounting surface of a sea vessel, such as a ship or submarine or any other marine vessel, said system comprising: a skidding frame comprising a frame body, said frame body comprising an upper and a lower surface, a mounting footprint secured to said mounting surface and adapted to releasably engage said lower surface of said skidding frame, and one or more equipment modules for containing equipment, wherein said one or more equipment modules are adapted to be attached to said upper surface of said skidding frame, whereby said equipment modules are indirectly connected to said mounting surface via said skidding frame.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said equipment modules are permanently attached to the upper surface of said skidding frame.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said equipment modules are releasably attached to the upper surface of said skidding frame through securing means.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein multiple equipment modules are releasably attached to the upper surface of said skidding frame.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein and said multiple equipment modules are releasably attached to each other using securing means.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mounting footprint comprises a number of anchoring points and said skidding frame comprises a number of engaging anchoring points.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein and said anchoring points comprises said securing means.

8. A system according to claim 3, wherein said securing means are twist locks.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein said skidding frame comprises a frame body, having two or more parallel battens and two or more parallel frame beams, said battens being substantially perpendicular to said beams.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said frame body comprises a number of said anchoring points arranged at corners of said frame body.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said frame body comprises a number of anchoring points arranged on said battens and/or said frame beams between said corners of said frame body.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said skidding frame consists of a multiple of sections, said sections being smaller skidding frames that can be disconnected and connected.

13. A skidding frame according to claim 1 wherein said skidding frame comprises: a frame body, comprising two or more parallel battens and two or more parallel frame beams, said battens being substantially perpendicular to said beams, and a plurality of anchoring points.

14. A skidding frame according to claim 13, wherein said frame body comprises a number of anchoring points arranged at corners of said frame body and a number of anchoring points arranged on said battens and/or said frame beams between said corners of said frame body.

15. A skidding frame according to claim 13, wherein said skidding frame consists of a multiple of sections, being smaller skidding frames, that can be disconnected and connected.

16. A mounting footprint according to claim 1 comprising: one or more anchoring points, and one or more securing means adapted to be releasably mounted in said anchoring points and adapted for engaging container corners.

17. A method of sideways loading a skidding frame for supporting equipment modules, onto a mounting surface of a sea vessel, such as a ship or submarine or any other marine vessel, and securing it to a mounting footprint of said mounting surface, said method comprising the steps of: securing said skidding frame to elevation means, such as a lift, subsequently raising said elevation means to elevate said skidding frame to a level above said mounting surface, once said skidding frame is at a level above said mounting surface, sideways conveying said skidding frame onto said mounting footprint, engaging securing means to secure said skidding frame to said mounting footprint of the mounting surface.

Description

SHORT LIST OF THE DRAWINGS

[0078] In the following, example embodiments are described according to the invention, where:

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a ship with equipment modules in ship niches.

[0080] FIGS. 2-7 show different steps in the process of loading a hip niche in accordance with the invention.

[0081] FIG. 8 shows a skidding frame in perspective.

[0082] FIG. 9 shows the lower surface of a skidding frame.

[0083] FIG. 10 shows a close-up of a corner of a skidding frame in perspective.

[0084] FIGS. 11a and 11b show a skidding frame with equipment modules mounted and a close-up of the securing of the equipment modules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0085] The present invention wilt now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will thus not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.

[0086] FIG. 1 illustrates a ship 1, in this case a war ship, with ship niches 5 in the side of the hull of the ship 1. Equipment modules 50 (see FIGS. 4a and 4b) may be placed in these ship niches, such equipment modules may in the case of a war ship for example be weapons units or smaller vessel.

[0087] The ship niches 5 may be equipped with niche hatches 7 that allow the ship niches 5 to be closed off to keep the ship niches 5 and equipment modules 50 shielded from the environment and from view. In addition, such niche hatches 7 may be engineered to redirect incoming radar signals thereby shielding equipment inside the niches from being detected.

[0088] FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the side of a ship 1 near the ship niche 5 for a ship 1 moored next to a quay 10. The niche hatch 7 is opened allowing access to the ship niche 5 which is currently not loaded. The ship 1 is moored such that the ship niche 5 is aligned with elevation means 15 build into the quay 10.

[0089] In other embodiments, the elevation means 15 need not be built into the quay 10 but may instead be part of a vehicle or ship allowing the position of the elevation means 15 to be adjusted with respect to the ship niche 5. In other variants multiple elevation means 15 may be used in cooperation to be able to further adjust the alignment between the elevation means 15 and the ship niche 5.

[0090] The elevation means 15 is equipped with a mounting footprint 200′ and the ship niche 5 also has a mounting footprint 200 located at the mounting surface 6 in the bottom of the niche. In a preferable embodiment the mounting footprint 200 is embedded in the mounting surface 6 as is illustrated on the elevation means. In other embodiment the mounting footprint 200 may be retrofitted to a mounting surface 6 by adding the mounting footprint onto the existing mounting surface 6, e.g., by welding it onto the mounting surface 6 as illustrated inside the ship niche 5.

[0091] The mounting footprint 200 comprises two or more mounting rails 210 and two or more anchoring points 215 in which securing means 220 (see FIG. 11b) may be installed. In a preferred embodiment, the anchoring points are standard container corners 110 (see FIG. 3) and the securing means 220 are standard twist locks for shipping containers. Using known twist locks as securing means 220 has the benefit of making it easy for people used to work with shipping containers to mount and secure the skidding frame to the mounting footprint 200. Furthermore, compatibility with standard equipment known from the shipping container industry makes it cheap to use the mounting footprint 200.

[0092] FIG. 3 shows the skidding frame 100 mounted to the elevation means 15 on a quay 10. The skidding frame 100 comprises two or more frame beams 120 that are substantially parallel to the side of the moored ship 1 when the skidding frame 100 is mounted on the elevation means 15 and will remain substantially parallel to the side of the ship 1 once the skidding frame 100 is mounted inside the ship niche 5. The skidding frame further comprises two or more frame battens 130 which are substantially perpendicular to the beams 120 and thus also to the side of the moored ship 1.

[0093] In other embodiments, the beams 120 and battens 130 may be positioned at an angle with respect to the ship 1. The beams 130 may then be at an angle with respect to the side of the ship 1 rather than being substantially parallel, this may for example be beneficial for ship niches extending into the ship at an angle. In such embodiments the battens 130 also do not need to be perpendicular to the side of the ship. In some embodiments, there may be battens 130 that are not perpendicular to the beams 120 they may all be at an angle to each other, or some may be perpendicular while others are at an angle for increased structural stability.

[0094] The underside of the battens 130 is equipped with a plurality of wheels 135 (see FIG. 9) which will engage the mounting rails 210 of the mounting footprint 200′ when the skidding frame 100 is mounted on the elevation means 15, thus the battens 130 of the skidding frame 100 are to be aligned with the mounting rails 210 of the mounting footprint 200′. In a preferred embodiment, the mounting footprint 200,200′ comprises the same number of mounting rails 210 as the skidding frame 100 comprises battens 130. However, in other embodiments, there may be more or fewer mounting rails 210 than there are battens 130 allowing the mounting footprint 200,200′ to be compatible with various embodiments of the skidding frame 100.

[0095] The skidding frame 100 further comprises container corners 110. In a preferred embodiment these container corners 110 are based on industry standards for shipping containers, i.e. ISO container corner fittings, thereby making the skidding frame 100 and equipment modules (not shown) compatible with common shipping containers. This has the benefit of allowing regular shipping containers to be mounted to the skidding frame 110 same as specialised or customised equipment modules 50. Furthermore, it makes the skidding frames 100 compatible with standard equipment known from the shipping container industry, such as known securing means 220 such as twisting locks which can be used to secure the skidding frame 100 to the mounting footprint 200. The container corners 110 also allow several skidding frames 100 to be stacked and secured to each other for easy transportation.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the skidding frame 100 is secured to the elevation means 15 by twist locks engaging the container corners 110 and the anchoring points 215. In other embodiments, the other securing means 220 may be used to engage the container corners 110.

[0097] In a preferred embodiment the mounting footprint 200′ on the elevation means 15 and the mounting footprint 200 in the ship niche 5 are identical in the comprised components although they may be mounted differently to the mounting surface 6. Preferably the mounting footprint 200 is embedded in and being substantially flush with the mounting surface 6 aside from the securing means 220. However, in other embodiments, they may differ, e.g., in the number of anchoring points 215 and securing means 220 and/or number of mounting rails 210 or in the materials used for the mounting rails 210.

[0098] FIG. 4a is a conceptual sketch of a single equipment module 50 being mounted to a skidding frame 100 which is in turn mounted to the mounting footprint 200′ on the quay 10.

[0099] The equipment module 50 is illustrated simply as outer module settings 52 and module floor 54 as it may take many different forms in regard to equipment contained in the equipment module 50 depending on the use. In a preferred embodiment, equipment modules 50 comprise a module setting 52 and a module floor 54. The module setting 52 allows for structural stability and allows for the connection and stacking of multiple equipment modules 50,50′,50″ as shown in FIG. 4b. The equipment modules 50 further comprises container corners 110 that allows the equipment modules 50 to be connected to each other as well as to the skidding frame 100 through the use of securing means 220 (see FIG. 11b) such as twist locks.

[0100] In some embodiments the equipment modules 50 may further comprise walls effectively giving them an outer structure as a regular shipping container. This is preferable in cases where the equipment modules are used for transporting equipment such as in cases where the ship 1 is modified to be used for humanitarian aid to bring medicine and other relief equipment or for freezer storage units that require thermal insulation. It could also be in the case where the equipment module is used for various types of accommodation, e.g., for transportable laboratories, pre-hospital facilities or for housing in the form of transportable kitchens or office space.

[0101] In other embodiments the equipment modules 50 have things placed resting on and fixed to the module floor 54, e.g., in the form of launch and recovery systems for various types of drones, in the form of work tools such as cranes, or in the form of various weapon systems.

[0102] In yet another embodiment, the equipment modules 50 may have only the module setting 52 and both the module floor and any module sides as the module setting 52 can also be used to support the functional equipment which will be used separately from the equipment module itself, e.g., in the case of various types of boats, such as rescue boats, work boats, and crew boats.

[0103] As illustrated in FIG. 4b the equipment modules 50 may come in various dimensions allowing multiple equipment modules 50 to be loaded onto the skidding frame 100. Although not illustrated, in other embodiments, the skidding frame 100 may be loaded with a single large equipment module 50.

[0104] In case of multiple equipment modules 50,50′,50″ these may be secured to each other to ensure stability during movement. In a preferred embodiment equipment module 50 dimensions are integer multiples of each other to promote the modularity and allowing easy stacking and adjacent mounting of multiple equipment modules 50 on a single skidding frame 100. In an even more preferred embodiment the dimensions of the equipment modules 50,50′,50″ are scaled like standardised shipping containers to increase compatibility with existing systems and infrastructure. Some equipment modules 50 may have a size multiple times those of a standard 40 feet shipping container while others may be smaller, while still being integer multiples of each other’s dimensions allowing them to be easily secured to each other and the skidding frame 100.

[0105] FIG. 5 illustrates the activation of the elevation means 15 to elevate the skidding frame 100 to the level of the mounting surface 6 at the bottom of the ship niche 5. Elevating the skidding frame 100 to the level of the mounting surface 6 is to be understood as raising the elevation means such that the lowest point on the skidding frame 100, i.e., the wheels 135 (see FIG. 10) are at a hight ready to engage the mounting rail 210 of the mounting footprint 200 at the mounting surface 6 at the bottom of the niche. A moored ship 1 may move slightly thus causing variation in the exact level of the ship niche but in the ideal case the mounting rails 210′ of the mounting footprint 200′ on the quay 5 are aligned with the mounting rails 210 of the mounting footprint 200 in the ship niche when the elevation means 15 have elevated the skidding frame 100 to the level of the mounting surface 6.

[0106] In FIG. 5 the elevation means 15 are illustrated as scissor lifts, however, they may take the form of any known type of elevator capable of handling the tonnes heavy load of the equipment modules 50.

[0107] FIG. 6 illustrates the skidding frame 100 with multiple equipment modules 50 mounted on it being translated in the direction D form the elevation means 15 to the ship niche 5. Similar translation may take place when off-loading an equipment module 50 from the ship niche 5.

[0108] To allow the movement of the loaded skidding frame 100 it is first necessary to disengage and remove the securing means 220 (see FIG. 11b). This is made possible through raising means 115 (see FIG. 9) that can be activated to protrude from the lower surface 104 (see FIG. 9) of the skidding frame 100 thereby raising the frame body 101 above the elevation means 15. The securing means 220 (see FIG. 11b) can then be removed from the anchoring points 215. In embodiments where the securing means 220 are twist locks, they will first be disengaged, i.e. unlocked, before the skidding frame 100 is raised and once the skidding frame 100 is raised by the activation of the raising means 115 the twist locks can be removed. After the locking means 220 have been removed the raising means can be retracted and the skidding frame 100 thereby lowered back onto the mounting rails 210.

[0109] The wheels 135 (see FIG. 10) protruding from the lower surface 104 (see FIG. 9) of the skidding frame 100 engages the mounting rails 210, 210′. The mounting rails 210, 210′ help guide the movement of the wheels as the skidding frame 100 is translated in the direction D between the elevation means 15 and the ship niche 5. The mounting rails 210 and the wheels 135 are thus designed to engage each other in any way which helps guide the direction of movement of the skidding frame 100 along the mounting rails 210. In one embodiment this may be done by having the mounting rails 210 have a width slightly larger than that of the wheels 135 as well as having a rail guard confines the wheels 135 to be in the mounting rails 210. In another embodiment the rail 210 may have a width narrower than that of the wheels 135 and instead have one or more ridges protruding upwards form the mounting rails 210 and engaging a trench in the wheels 135 and in that way guiding the direction of movement of the skidding frame 100. In yet another embodiment the wheels 135 may be equipped with flanges that engage the sides of a flat mounting rail 210 to guide the direction of movement of the skidding frame 100. Thus, the mounting rails 210 help guide the skidding frame 100 into the ship niche 5 in a manner where the beams 120 are parallel to the sides of the ship niche 5 and the battens 130 are perpendicular to the sides of the moored ship 1 ensuring that the skidding frame 100 can be fully located inside the shipping niche 5. The mounting rails 210 inside the ship niche 5 further ensure that the container corners 110 of the skidding frame 100 will be aligned with the positions of the securing means 220 (see FIG. 11b) of the mounting footprints 200 inside the ship niche 5.

[0110] FIG. 7 shows the skidding frame 100 with multiple equipment modules 50 fully loaded inside the ship niche 5. Once the skidding frame 100 has been transferred off of the elevation means 15 and into the ship niche 5 it can be secured to the securing means 220 (see FIG. 11b) of the mounting rails 210 inside the ship niche.

[0111] In an embodiment where the securing means 220 are twist locks, they may be placed under the skidding frame 100 in a similar manner as to how they were removed from the elevation means. Firstly, the skidding frame 100 is raised by activating the raising means 115 (see FIG. 9) whereby they protrude from the lower surface 104 (see FIG. 9) of the skidding frame 100 thereby raising it above the mounting surface 6. Once the skidding frame 100 is raised, securing means 220 can be placed into the anchoring points 215 of the securing footprint 200. Once the securing means 220 are in place in the anchoring points 215, the raising means 115 are retracted thereby lowering the skidding frame 100 back onto the securing footprint 200 and allowing the twist locks to engage the container corners 110 where they may be locked to secure the skidding frame 100 to the mounting footprint 200 of the ship niche 5. The securing means 220 keeps the skidding frame 100 and equipment modules 50 in place such that there is no risk of them moving within the ship niche 5 when the ship 1 is sailing, while not needing to weld anything in place or do any other time-consuming steps. This allows the equipment modules 50 to be securely mounted in the ship niche 5 through the skidding frame 100 and securing footprint 200, while the skidding frame 100 and equipment modules 50 can just as easily be unlocked again and removed from the ship niche 5 to exchange equipment modules 50.

[0112] If twist locks were placed in position for engaging the container corners 110 before the skidding frame 100 was moved into the ship niche 5 it would not be possible for the skidding frame 100 to pass the securing means 220 while moving along the mounting rails 210,210′ as the twist locks extend above the lower surface 104 of the skidding frame 100 to be able to engage the hollow inside the container corners 110. Thus, the possibility of using twist locks while at the same time being able to roll the skidding frame 100 from the elevation means 15 into the ship niche 5 is enabled by the raising means 115 (see FIG. 9) of the skidding frame 100.

[0113] In an embodiment, the raising means 115 may be integrated with the plurality of wheels 135. In such a variant the raising means raises the frame body 101 of the skidding frame 100 above the mounting surface while the plurality of wheels 135 are still engaging the mounting surface. This allows the skidding frame to move along the direction D in and out of a ship niche 5 while the frame body is raised. This allows the skidding frame 100 to pass engaging means 220 such as twist locks even though they are protruding from the mounting surface, as long as the securing means 220 are not protruding more than the frame body 101 is raised and are not located along the movement route of the plurality of wheels 135.

[0114] Once the skidding frame 100 has been moved into the ship niche 5 the elevation means 15 may be lowered and/or removed once again.

[0115] While the method and system has been described in relation to FIGS. 2-7 with respect to loading a skidding frame 6 into a ship niche 5 the method and system may also be used to offload a skidding frame 100 with or without mounted equipment modules 50 from a ship niche. In the case of off-loading the elevation means 15 will first be raised and the skidding frame 100 will be released from the securing means 220 in the ship niche 5. Then the skidding frame 100 can be translated along the direction D out onto the elevation means 15. The skidding frame 100 can then be secured to the elevation means 15 which can subsequently be lowered. Once the skidding frame 100 and the one or more equipment modules 50 are on the quay 10 they can be moved and taken to where they need to be used or stored and other equipment modules 50 can be loaded onto the ship to alter its functionality.

[0116] In an embodiment, the loading and/or off-loading procedure may be automated. To enable automation one or more control units with receivers will be comprised in the skidding frame 100 and elevation means. In some embodiments, one control unit is comprised in the elevation means 15 and another control unit is comprised in the skidding frame allowing them to be activated separately. In an automated embodiment the skidding frame will further comprise motorisation of the wheels 135 (see FIG. 10) protruding from the lower surface 104 of the battens 130 allowing them to be driven and thereby moving the skidding frame 100 along the direction D. Furthermore, the raising means 115 (see FIG. 10) will be automated.

[0117] In a preferred embodiment the raising means are jacking cylinders driven by a hydraulic power unit, in other embodiments the jacking cylinders could be electrically driven. Such a hydraulic or electric power unit may in some embodiments be integrated in the skidding frame 100. In such an automated system the steps may be preprogramed and sensor equipment may further be comprised in the skidding frame 100 allowing it to determine when it is in the correct position on the respective mounting footprints 200,200′ to time the activation of the raising 115 means and/or wheels 135.

[0118] In semi-automatic embodiments, the system will be controlled by an operator using a remote controller to activate the motor-driven plurality of wheels 135 and thereby start and stop the translation of the skidding frame 100 as well as activating the raising means 115 to protrude and retract them to raise and lower the skidding frame 100.

[0119] In other embodiments, the wheels need not be motor driven, rather they may be purely mechanical wheels easing the movement of the skidding frame 100 by an external force. The external force may be a machine or mechanical system pushing or pulling the skidding frame 100 and mounted equipment modules 50 to translate it along the direction D into and out of the ship niche 5.

[0120] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the skidding frame 100 in perspective from above. The skidding frame comprises a multitude of beams 120 being substantially parallel to each other and a multitude of battens 130 being substantially perpendicular to the beams 120. These beams 120 and battens 130 are connected by container corners 110 which are a known standard component from shipping containers. In other embodiments some or all of the beams 120 and battens 130 may be at angles to each other and some or all of these may be welded together or connected through other means than through container corners 110 as long as container corners 110 of some form are present to connect the skidding frames 100 to anchoring points of the mounting footprint and to equipment modules.

[0121] Equipment modules 50 (see FIG. 11a) may be mounted onto the upper surface 102 of the skidding frame 100 and may be secured to the skidding frame 100 at the container corners 110 using known securing means such as twist locks.

[0122] In a preferred embodiment, the skidding frame 100 is dimensioned to fit an integer number of standard shipping containers. As shown the skidding frame 100 may be divided into a number of sections 107, each of these sections allowing an equipment module 50 the size of the section 107 to be secured to it or larger equipment modules spanning multiple sections 107 to be secured to the skidding frame 100.

[0123] In an embodiment, each of these sections are 606 cm by 244 cm thereby fitting a single layer of four standard twenty feet shipping containers placed at the four sections 107 as well as accommodating standard forty feet shipping containers spanning multiple of the sections 107.

[0124] In other embodiments, the skidding frame 100 may be larger for example each section may be 490 cm by 1219 cm thereby each accommodating a standard forty feet shipping container.

[0125] In some embodiments, each section 107 is in itself a skidding frame 100 and these can be combined to create a larger skidding frame 100 consisting of multiple sections 107 as shown in FIG. 8. Being able to divide a skidding frame 100 into smaller skidding frames 100 for each section 107 and connecting them again offers more versatility. If smaller equipment modules 50 are needed, having a smaller skidding frame 100, e.g. by being able to disconnect the sections 107 not supporting any equipment modules, allows the system mounted in the ship 1 to have the least possible weight. Furthermore, having modularity in the sections 107 of the skidding frames 100 also makes it possible to make production lines more efficient as it is possible to produce fewer variants of the skidding frames 100 as they can subsequently be connected for different dimensions, rather than needing a separate production of each size of skidding frame. Additionally, being able to divide skidding frames 100 into smaller sections 107 can make the skidding frames 100 easier to transport and store as they can be connected or disconnected to best fit the area in which they are to be stored.

[0126] Equipment modules 50 larger than standard shipping containers, e.g. a single equipment module 50 having the size of 4 standard forty feet shipment containers, are also envisioned in an embodiment, as skidding frames 100 capable of supporting such equipment modules 50.

[0127] In other embodiments, the length L of the skidding frame 100 may be anywhere in the range of 1 m to 30 m allowing it to be customised to a specific ship niche 5 (see FIG. 1) which it is intended to fit into. Similarly, the width W of the skidding frame 100 may be anywhere in the range of 1 m to 10 m. The skidding frame may be divided into multiple section 107 within this length and width or it may be a single section spanning all of the skidding frame 100.

[0128] The skidding frame 100 may be made from any material sturdy enough to support the potentially massive weight of the equipment modules 50, i.e., weights exceeding 100 tonnes. Suitable materials are for example those known from making conventional shipping containers and container corners, e.g., steel such as weathering steel, COR-TEN steel, high tensile cast steel or aluminium for lightweight systems.

[0129] FIG. 9 shows the skidding frame 100 seen from the lower surface 104. The skidding frame 100 comprises raising means 115 which may be activated to protrude from the lower surface 104 thereby raising the frame body 101 from the mounting surface the skidding frame 100 was resting on, thereby allowing securing means 220 (see FIG. 11b) to be removed or placed under the skidding frame. The raising means 115 can be retracted back into the frame body 101, thereby lowering the frame body 101 back down to let the skidding frame 100 rest on the mounting surface it was raised from.

[0130] While the frame body 101 comprising the beams 120 and battens 130 has a shared upper 102 and lower surface 104 other components comprised in the skidding frame 100 may protrude from those surfaces 102,104 rather than being flush with them. For example, the container corners 110 may protrude from either or both of the surfaces 102,104 and the plurality of wheels 135 are made to protrude from the lower surface 104 of the frame body 101 so that the skidding frame can rest and roll on those. The raising means 115 may in one configuration protrude from the lower surface 104 and in another configuration when they are retracted into the frame body 101, they may either be flush with the lower surface 104 or they may be retracted further such that there is a hollow or indent compared the lower surface 104 of the frame body 101.

[0131] In a preferred embodiment, the raising means 115 are located in the beams 120 of the skidding frame 100. While there are six raising means illustrated in FIG. 9 other embodiments may have more or fewer raising means 115 depending on the size of the skidding frame 100 and the intended load on it. In a preferred embodiment there are raising means 115 located in the outer ends of the beams 120 adjacent to the container corners 110. Additional raising means 115 may be included along any or all of the beams 120 to ensure the necessary support and stability when the skidding frame 100 is raised and rests on the protruding raising means 115.

[0132] In a preferred embodiment the raising means 115 are hydraulic jacking cylinders. In other embodiments the raising means 115 may be jacking cylinders with a different activation such as electromechanical cylinders or the raising means could be electric actuators, or they may be hybrid actuating systems.

[0133] The skidding frame 100 further comprises a plurality of wheels 135 protruding from the lower surface 104. When the raising means 115 are retracted into the frame body 101 and the skidding frame 100 is not locked to securing means 220, the skidding frame 100 will be resting on the wheels 135. When the raising means 115 are retracted into the frame body 101 and the skidding frame 100 is locked to securing means 220 at the container corners 110, the skidding frame 100 will be resting on the engaged container corners 110.

[0134] In a preferred embodiment the wheels are located in the battens 130 oriented such that they will rotate and ease movement along the direction D, i.e. in the direction in which the battens 130 extend.

[0135] The number and size of the wheels 135 may vary for the various embodiments. In a preferred embodiment the widths of the wheels are similar to those of the battens 130 while the radius of the wheels may be determined by the height of the batten 130 from which the wheels 135 protrude. In a preferred embodiment there are wheels in all battens 130 of the skidding frame 100 but in other embodiments some battens may not have any wheels.

[0136] The wheels may come in various embodiments. They may be cylindrical with a smooth surface, or they may comprise flanges, ridges or trenches that allow them to engage the mounting rails 210 (see FIG. 2).

[0137] In some embodiments, the wheels 135 may also be located in one or more beams 120 having their rolling direction identical to those located in the battens 130, i.e. transverse to the extending direction of the beams 120.

[0138] In an embodiment, the plurality of wheels 135 may be mounted such that they are capable of swivelling thereby allowing the skidding frame 100 to be moved freely in any direction along a surface rather than only linearly back and forth.

[0139] In embodiments of the skidding frame 100 having automation and/or remote control of the raising means 115 a control unit (not shown) may be located inside the beams 120 where there are no raising means 115 or wheels 135. Alternatively, or in addition, control units and/or power sources may be located inside or between the sections 107 attached to the beams 120 and/or battens 130, in this case it is necessary that the control unit protrudes from neither the upper surface 102 (see FIG. 8) nor the lower surface 104. If a control unit or power source did protrude from either surface it would risk getting crushed by an equipment module 50 mounted on the skidding frame 100 or by the surface on which the skidding frame 100 is placed.

[0140] FIG. 10 shows a close-up of a corner of a skidding frame 100 in perspective. While other corners may be mirrored the principle is the same. Shown in more detail is a preferred embodiment of the skidding frame 100 with a top and a bottom container corner 110 having standardised holes for receiving securing means (not shown) on both the upper 102 and lower surface 104. Next to the container corner 110 raising means 115 are located in a beam 120. This placement towards the end of the beam 120 allows for stability when the raising means 115 are activated. Two of the plurality of wheels 135 are mounted in and protruding from a batten 130. The width of the wheel matches the width of the batten 130 while still having enough clearance to allow free rotation of each wheel 135.

[0141] As shown in FIG. 9 there need not be raising means 115 at all junctions where beams 120 and battens 130 meet. Furthermore, raising means 115 can be located elsewhere on the beams 120 or even in the battens in regions where there are no wheels 135. Thus, FIG. 10 should only be seen as an illustration of a preferred embodiment not as the only possible solution.

[0142] FIG. 11a shows a skidding frame 100 with equipment modules 50 mounted. It is illustrated how various equipment modules 50, 50′ with different sizes may be arranged together on a single skidding frame 100. In the illustrated example the skidding frame 100 has equipment modules 50, 50′ of two different sizes mounted on it in two layers. Due to the modularity of the equipment modules 50.50′ their dimensions are scaled relative to each other such that the outer edges and corners may be aligned when the equipment modules 50 are mounted on the skidding frame 100. This alignment of the equipment modules 50 allows them to be releasably secured to each other, e.g., through standard means such as twist locks that may engage ISO standard container corners 110 on both the equipment modules 50 and the skidding frame 100.

[0143] In FIG. 11a two layers of equipment modules 50 are conceptually illustrated, i.e., they are shown as module setting 52 and module floors 54 only without the actual equipment present as this equipment may take the form of any tool that it might be beneficial to mount in a ship niche (see FIG. 1). Equipment in the modules can for example be, but is not limited to: [0144] Smaller vessels such as rescue boats, work boats and crew boats. [0145] Drone launch and recovery stations [0146] Cranes or other heavy-duty machinery for towing, mooring, or lifting. [0147] Gangways for ship-to-ship or ship-to-shore use [0148] Weapons systems [0149] Accommodations such as offices, laboratory space, pre-hospitals or passenger space. [0150] Emergency equipment such as firefighting systems or hazmat modules.

[0151] While FIG. 11a illustrates five equipment modules 50 being mounted on a skidding frame 100, it is important to note that a significant benefit of the equipment modules 50 is that different equipment modules can be secured to the skidding frame 100, e.g. there may be more or fewer and they may have different dimensions. For example, there could be only a single layer of equipment modules 50, or multiple layers only on half of the skidding frame 100 or a single large equipment module 50 spanning the entirety of the skidding frame 100. This modularity provides flexibility and allows both customisability and the opportunity of benefitting from standard equipment. For example, the number if stacked equipment modules 50 may be made to fit the height of the ship niche (see FIG. 6). Some equipment modules 50 may have standardised equipment that can support various types of equipment in other equipment modules 50 such as launch pads or support structures that can function with various types of vehicles, vessels or drones.

[0152] The equipment modules 50 are in a preferred embodiment dimensioned like standard shipping containers. In other embodiment they may have custom dimensions to fit specific ship niches. The equipment modules 50 may have sides, i.e. be completely closed off aside from doors or gates and in other embodiments they may be open comprising only module setting 52 or a combination of module setting 52 and module floors 54 for supporting the specific equipment in the equipment module 50.

[0153] Having equipment modules 50 dimensioned like standard shipping containers and skidding frames 100 that match these has the benefit of allowing easy transport of the equipment modules 50 and/or skidding frames 100 to and from the ship 1 (see FIG. 1). An extensive infrastructure already exists for the transport of shipping containers, e.g., on trains, trucks and planes, this makes it easy to get equipment modules 50 and/or skidding frames 100 distributed or delivered to the locations where they are needed to get them on the ships or to transport them on land once the ship has reached its destination.

[0154] FIG. 11b shows a close-up of a preferred embodiment of securing of the equipment modules 50 to the skidding frame 100. While shown only for a single corner, the principle is the same for the preferred securing of all equipment modules 50 to the skidding frame 100. Furthermore, the same principle is used for the preferred securing method of securing equipment modules 50,50′ to each other as well as for securing the skidding frame 100 to the mounting footprint 200 (see FIG. 3).

[0155] In the illustrated embodiment both the skidding frame 100 and the equipment module 50 comprise container corners 110. These container corners 110 are preferably ISO standard container corners allowing them to be used with any securing means 220 designed for this standard, such as twist locks. When an equipment module 50 is to be secured to the skidding frame 100 the container corners 110,110′ are aligned with each other and placed gravitationally one above the other with the securing means 220 in between. Each side of the securing means 220 is the capable of engaging the hollows of the respective container corners 110,110′ and when the securing means 220 is engaged the container corners 110,110′ are positionally fixed with respect to each other.

[0156] In a preferred embodiment the securing means 220 are releasable, such as for twist locks, allowing the equipment modules 50 to disengage the skidding frame 100 and/or each other.

[0157] While not shown in FIG. 11b the skidding frame 100 may similarly be fixed to a mounting footprint 200 (see FIG. 2) using a securing means 220 engaging the container corner 110 of the skidding frame 100 and the anchoring point 215 of the mounting footprint 200. In the shown illustration the skidding frame is not fixed to a mounting footprint and the raising means 115 (see FIG. 9) are not protruding from the skidding frame 100 thus the wheels 135 are the lowest point of the skidding frame 100 on which it rests.