GANGWAY SYSTEM FOR AN OFFSHORE SERVICE VESSEL, SUITABLE FOR THE TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL BETWEEN SAID SERVICE VESSEL AND AN OFFSHORE STRUCTURE, IN WAVE MOTION CONDITIONS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gangway system (1) for an offshore service vessel (N), suitable for the transfer of personnel between said service vessel and an offshore structure(S), in wave motion conditions.

The gangway system (1) comprises a telescopic corridor (7), which has an upstream section (71) and a downstream section (72), movable in translation relative to said upstream section (71).

The gangway system (1) further comprises means for maneuvering said gangway (5), in particular yaw maneuvering means (11), pitch maneuvering means (12) and translation maneuvering means (13).

The maneuvering means (10) cooperate with control means (15) so as to stabilize the downstream end (722) of the gangway (5) at, preferably resting on, said offshore structure(S).

Claims

1. Gangway system (1) for an offshore service vessel (N), suitable for the transfer of personnel between said service vessel (N) and an offshore structure(S), in wave motion conditions, which gangway system (1) comprises: a tower (2), defining a longitudinal axis (2) and designed to be erected from a deck (P) of said offshore service vessel (N), a carriage (3) maneuvered in translation over the height of said tower (2), along an elevation axis (E) oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis (2), a gangway (5) extending from said carriage (3), which gangway (5) comprises: a waiting platform (6), which is assembled with said carriage (3) by means of rotational assembly means (8) defining a yaw rotation axis (R1) oriented parallel to said elevation axis (E), and a corridor (7), extending from said waiting platform (6), which corridor (7), telescopic, comprises: an upstream section (71), one upstream end (711) of which cooperates with said waiting platform (6) by means of rotation assembly means (9) defining a pitch rotation axis (R2) oriented perpendicular to said yaw rotation axis (R1), and a downstream section (72), movable in translation relative to said upstream section (71) along an extension axis (A) oriented perpendicular to said pitch rotation axis (R2), which downstream section (72) comprises a downstream end (722) which is designed to be stabilized at said offshore structure(S), which gangway system (1) further comprises maneuvering means for maneuvering said gangway (5): yaw maneuvering means (11), for the rotational maneuver of said gangway (5) around said yaw rotation axis (R1), pitch maneuvering means (12), for the rotational maneuver of said corridor (7) around said pitching rotation axis (R2), and translational maneuvering means (13), for the translational maneuvering of said downstream section (72) relative to said upstream section (71) along said extension axis (A), and which maneuvering means (10) cooperate with control means (15) comprising an active compensation module which is designed to control said maneuvering means (10) of said gangway (5), based on data coming from a movement acquisition module (16), so as to stabilize the downstream end (722) of said gangway (5) at, preferably resting on, said offshore structure(S).

2. Gangway system (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the maneuvering means (10) of said gangway (5) consist of electric maneuvering means (10).

3. Gangway system (1), according to claim 2, characterized in that the maneuvering means (10) in pitch (12) comprise: at least one electric winch (121), carried by said waiting platform (6), and at least one traction line (122), extending between said electric winch (121) and said upstream section (71).

4. Gangway system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one electric winch (121) is carried by a gantry (61) extending above said waiting platform (6), and in that said at least one traction line (122) comprises a downstream end (1221) which is secured to said upstream section (71), at an attachment point (7121) above said upstream section (71), preferably on the side of a downstream end (712) of said upstream section (71).

5. Gangway system (1), according to claim 2, characterized in that the maneuvering means (10) in translation (13) comprise: at least one electric winch (131), carried by said upstream section (71), and at least one traction line (132), extending between said electric winch (131) and said downstream section (72).

6. Gangway system (1), according to claim 5, characterized in that said at least one electric winch (131) is carried by said upstream section (71), mounted below said upstream section (71), and in that said at least one traction line (132) comprises a downstream end (1321) which is secured to said downstream section (72), at an attachment point (7221) mounted below said downstream section (72), preferably on the side of a downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72).

7. Gangway system (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that said movement acquisition module (16) comprises a contact sensor (161) installed on said downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72), which contact sensor (161) comprises: at least one support member (1611), designed to bear on said offshore structure(S), advantageously comprising shock absorber blocks, and an interface (1612), extending between said support member (1611) and said downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72), which interface (1612) comprises means for detecting the movements of said at least one support member (1611) relative to said downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72), which motion detection means are designed to detect: a translational movement (T1) parallel to said extension axis (A), two rotational movements (T2, T3), in yaw and in pitch, perpendicular to said extension axis (A).

8. Gangway system (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the tower (2) incorporates a lift (21) for personnel, for transfer between the deck (P) of the offshore service vessel (N) and said gangway (5).

9. Gangway system (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that said gangway system (1) comprises maneuvering means (31) of said carriage (3) which consist of electrical maneuvering means (31), for example: at least one electric winch (311), carried by said tower (2), and at least one traction line (312), extending between said electric winch (311) and said carriage (3).

10. Gangway system (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that said waiting platform (6) is protected within a rotunda (62) which comprises retractable side walls (621), following the yaw movements of said gangway (5), for the protection of personnel, in particular against weather conditions.

11. Gangway system (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the retractable side walls (621) are opaque or perforated.

12. Offshore service vessel (N) equipped with a gangway system (1) according to claim 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0037] In addition, various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the appended description given with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention and where:

[0038] FIG. 1 is a general and perspective view of a gangway system according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a partial and schematic view of FIG. 1, designed to illustrate in particular the structure of the gangway and its means of maneuver;

[0040] FIG. 3 is a partial and schematic view of the gangway, illustrating the contact sensor installed on its downstream end;

[0041] FIG. 4 is again a general and perspective view of a gangway system according to the invention.

[0042] It should be noted that, in these figures, the structural and/or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

[0043] The present invention thus relates to a gangway system 1 for an offshore service vessel N, suitable for the transfer of personnel between this offshore service vessel N and an offshore structure S, in wave motion conditions (FIGS. 1 and 4).

[0044] The invention also relates to the offshore service vessel N equipped with a gangway system 1 according to the invention.

[0045] By offshore service vessel we advantageously mean a vessel specially designed and equipped to carry out various logistics, supply, maintenance and personnel transfer missions to an offshore structure S.

[0046] The main functions of these vessels include the transport of personnel, the transfer of goods, refueling, as well as the provision of equipment and materials necessary for activities at sea.

[0047] This gangway system 1 is thus suitable for being installed on the offshore service vessel, for example a vessel for operation service (also called Service Operation Vessel).

[0048] By ship we mean in particular ships for wind farm operation service (also called wind Farm Service Operation Vessel or wind farm SOV in English).

[0049] The term offshore structure S includes in particular oil platforms, gas platforms or offshore wind turbines.

[0050] The offshore service vessel N, and possibly the offshore structure S, is subject to wave-induced movements, such as rolling, pitching and yaw, which can significantly influence the stability and safety of operations at sea.

[0051] Furthermore, in general, the gangway system 1 comprises: [0052] a tower 2, defining a longitudinal axis 2 and designed to be erected from a deck P of the offshore service vessel N, [0053] a carriage 3 maneuvered in translation over the height of the tower 2, along an elevation axis E oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis 2, and [0054] a gangway 5 extending from the carriage 3.

[0055] The gangway system 1 also comprises maneuvering means 10 for maneuvering the gangway 5 which are notably designed to stabilize, in wave motion conditions, the free end of this gangway 5 at the offshore structure S. 30

Tower

[0056] Gangway 5 extends from carriage 3 which is movable along the height of tower 2.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, tower 2 incorporates a personnel elevator 21, suitable for transfer between deck P of offshore service vessel N and gangway 5.

[0058] This elevator 21 is advantageously maneuvered over the height of the tower 2, preferably by means of electric maneuvering means 22 (for example an electric winch located at the upper end of the tower 2).

[0059] Generally speaking, tower 2, for example, has a height ranging from 15 to 25 m.

Cart

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment, the gangway system 1 comprises maneuvering means 31 for maneuvering the carriage 3.

[0061] These maneuvering means 31 advantageously consist of electrical maneuvering means 31.

[0062] For example, these maneuvering means 31 include: [0063] at least one electric winch 311, carried by the tower 2, for example at its upper end, and [0064] at least one traction line 312, extending between the electric winch 311 and the carriage 3.

Gangway

[0065] In general, gangway 5 includes: [0066] a waiting platform 6, movable along a yaw rotation axis R1 oriented parallel to said elevation axis E, and [0067] a corridor 7, extending from waiting platform 6.

[0068] The waiting platform 6 is assembled with the carriage 3 by means of first rotational assembly means 8 defining the yaw rotation axis R1.

[0069] In this case, the waiting platform 6 is above the carriage 3.

[0070] The rotating assembly means 8 consist, for example, of rolling means equipped with electric motor means (for example electric geared motors meshing on a crown), advantageously conventional in themselves.

[0071] The waiting platform 6 is advantageously surmounted by a gantry 61.

[0072] This gantry 61 advantageously follows the rotational movements of the waiting platform 6, along the yaw rotation axis R1.

[0073] To achieve this, this gantry 61 is here secured to the waiting platform 6.

[0074] According to a preferred embodiment, the waiting platform 6 is protected within a rotunda 62 (rotonda) which comprises retractable side walls 621, following the yaw movements of the gangway 5.

[0075] This rotunda 62 is useful for the protection of personnel, particularly against weather conditions.

[0076] Preferably, the retractable side walls 621 are opaque or perforated. They consist, for example, of roller shutter aprons composed of a plurality of slats.

[0077] In practice, during a yaw movement of the waiting platform 6, the retractable side walls 621 retract, or deploy, so as to maintain communication between the tower 2 and the corridor 7.

[0078] Corridor 7, telescopic, includes: [0079] an upstream section 71, fixed in translation relative to tower 2, and [0080] a downstream section 72, movable in translation relative to the aforementioned upstream section 71 and to tower 2.

[0081] In other words, the downstream section 72 is guided in translation along the length of the upstream section 71.

[0082] The upstream section 71 and the downstream section 72 cooperate by sliding means, for example rail/roller pairs.

[0083] The upstream section 71 and the downstream section 72 each have two ends: [0084] an upstream end 711, 721, on the side of tower 2, and [0085] a downstream end 712, 722, at a distance from tower 2.

[0086] More specifically, corridor 7 includes: [0087] an upstream section 71, one upstream end 711 of which cooperates with the waiting platform 6 along a pitch rotation axis R2 oriented perpendicular to said yaw rotation axis R1, and [0088] a downstream section 72, movable in translation relative to the upstream section 71 along an extension axis A oriented perpendicular to said pitch rotation axis R2.

[0089] The upstream end 711 of the upstream section 71 cooperates with the waiting platform 6 by means of second rotation assembly means 9 defining the pitch rotation axis R2.

[0090] The second rotational assembly means 9 consist, for example, of a pivot joint.

[0091] Furthermore, the downstream section 72 comprises a downstream end 722, forming a free end of the gangway 5, which is designed to be stabilized at the offshore structure S.

[0092] Furthermore, the upstream section 71 and the downstream section 72 are advantageously generally U-shaped or tubular, with: [0093] a lower wall 71a, 72a, forming a floor (on which the passengers walk), [0094] two side walls 71b, 72b, forming a guardrail, and [0095] possibly an upper wall 71c, 72c, for example formed by a metal frame.

Means of Operation and Control Means

[0096] The gangway system 1 also comprises means 10 for maneuvering the gangway 5.

[0097] These means of maneuver 10 include in this case: [0098] yaw maneuvering means 11, for the rotational maneuver of the gangway 5 around the yaw rotation axis R1, [0099] pitch maneuvering means 12, for the rotational maneuver of said corridor 7 around the pitch rotation axis R2, and [0100] translational maneuvering means 13, for the translational maneuvering of the downstream section 72 relative to the upstream section 71 along said extension axis A.

[0101] Preferably, the maneuvering means 10 of the gangway 5 consist of electric maneuvering means 10.

[0102] Such electrical maneuvering means 10 have the advantage of optimizing the active compensation of the gangway system 1, as well as its maintenance.

[0103] According to a preferred embodiment, the pitch maneuvering means 12 comprise: [0104] at least one electric winch 121, carried by the waiting platform 6, and [0105] at least one traction line 122, extending between the electric winch 121 and the upstream section 71.

[0106] Preferably, said at least one electric winch 121 is carried by the gantry 61 extending above said waiting platform 6.

[0107] And said at least one traction line 122 comprises a downstream end 1221 which is secured to the upstream section 71, at an attachment point 7121 above the upstream section 71, for example at an upper wall 71c.

[0108] As mentioned above, the advantage of this solution is to maintain the angular orientation between said at least one electric winch 121 and the gangway 5, regardless the angle of the corridor 7.

[0109] This technical solution allows an improvement in the precision of the compensation and a reduction in the power installed on said at least one electric winch 121.

[0110] Preferably, said at least one traction line 122 is secured to the side of the downstream end 712 of the upstream section 71.

[0111] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the translational maneuvering means 13 comprise: [0112] at least one electric winch 131, carried by the upstream section 71, and [0113] at least one traction line 132, extending between the electric winch 121 and the downstream section 72.

[0114] Preferably, said at least one electric winch 131 is carried by the upstream section 71, mounted below this upstream section 71, for example at its lower wall 71a.

[0115] And said at least one traction line 132 comprises a downstream end 1321 which is secured to the downstream section 72, at an attachment point 7221 mounted below this downstream section 72 (for example at its lower wall 72a), preferably on the side of a downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0116] The direction of rotation of said at least one electric winch 131 then generates a movement of the downstream section 72, along the extension axis A.

[0117] The maneuvering means 10 cooperate with control means 15 which comprise an active compensation module (Active 3D Compensation) which is designed to control the maneuvering means 10 of the gangway 5, based on data coming from a movement acquisition module 16 (forming an MRU for Motion Reference Unit, so as to stabilize the downstream end 722 of the gangway 5 at, preferably resting on, the offshore structure S.

[0118] The control means 15 are thus structured to control the maneuvering means 10 so as to compensate for the movements of the offshore service vessel N, and in particular of the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72, caused by the waves.

[0119] Such control means 15 thus provide precise positioning of the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72, making it possible to maintain this downstream end 722 in a constant position at, preferably resting on, the offshore structure S.

[0120] According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, the movement acquisition module 16 comprises a contact sensor 161 installed on the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0121] This contact sensor 161 includes: [0122] at least one support member 1611, designed to bear on the offshore structure S, advantageously comprising shock-absorbing blocks (also called bumpers), for example made of elastic material and preferably of elastomer material, and [0123] an interface 1612, extending between the support member 1611 and the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0124] This interface 1612 also includes means for detecting movements 1613 of said at least one support member 1611 relative to the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0125] The 1613 motion detection means are designed to detect: [0126] a translational movement T1, parallel to said extension axis A, and [0127] two rotational movements T2, T3, in yaw and pitch, perpendicular to said extension axis A.

[0128] The motion detection means 1613 may include, for example: [0129] at least one LVDT (linear variable differential transformer), also called displacement sensor with a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT for Linear Variable Differential Transformer), and/or [0130] at least one force sensor, or load cell, for measuring the forces applied in the X, Y and Z directions in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.

[0131] In particular, preferably, said at least one support member 1611 has two degrees of freedom relative to the interface 1612: [0132] a degree of freedom in translation according to translational movement T1, and [0133] a degree of freedom in translation according to the rotational movement T2 in yaw.

[0134] More preferably, the contact sensor 161 is movable in rotation at the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72 according to the rotational movement T3 in pitch.

[0135] Preferably, the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72 comprises detection and positioning means 17, for example by radar and/or camera, for its positioning at the offshore structure S.

Implementation

[0136] In practice, the offshore service vessel N is stabilised close to the offshore structure S.

[0137] Gangway system 1 is then deployed, on one side of the offshore service vessel N.

[0138] The downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72 (and in particular its contact sensor 161) is correctly positioned at, preferably resting on, the offshore structure S.

[0139] The control means 15 are then activated to control the maneuvering means 10 so as to compensate for the movements of the offshore service vessel N, and in particular of the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72, caused by the waves.

[0140] In particular, the control means 15 aim to compensate for the different movements of the offshore service vessel N: [0141] the control means 15 control the yaw maneuvering means 11, for the rotation maneuver of the gangway 5 around the yaw rotation axis R1, in order to compensate for the yaw and surge movements [0142] the control means 15 control the pitch maneuvering means 12, for the rotational maneuver of said corridor 7 around the pitch rotation axis R2, in order to compensate for rolling and heaving movements (preferably, the height of the carriage is stable during the operations), and [0143] the control means 15 control the translation maneuvering means 13, for the translation maneuver of the downstream section 72 relative to the upstream section 71 along said extension axis A, in order to compensate for the yaw movements.

[0144] Operators can then move between the offshore service vessel N and the offshore structure S in complete safety.

[0145] At the end of the intervention, the gangway system 1 can be brought into a retracted configuration at the offshore service vessel N, suitable for transport.

[0146] Of course, various other modifications may be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.