SELF-PROPELLED JACK-UP VESSEL

• US 20190322338A1
• Filed: 10/18/2017
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seaowls B.V. (Heading Home Holding BV)
• Original Assignee: Ulstein Design & Solutions B.V.
• Inventors: Stroo, Jacobus Dingeman, Jiskoot, Sjaak Jan, Snijders, Erik Jacobus Bernardus
• Granted Patent: US 11,142,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/446 for converting wind energy into electric energy
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/10 of cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/44 Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 17/021 with relative movement between supporting construction and platform
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 2017/0091 Offshore structures for wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/25 specially adapted for offshore installation
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components

Abstract

A self-propelled jack-up vessel has a centreline extending from a bow end to a stern end of the vessel along a central longitudinal axis, defining port and starboard sides of the vessel. The vessel comprises a hull, a deck and four retractable legs, which extend through the hull and the deck. The vessel includes a bow leg arranged on the centreline towards the bow, a stern leg arranged on the centreline towards the stern, and a starboard leg arranged at the starboard side. The diagonal placement of the legs, with respect to the centreline gives greater stability and flexibility. Further, a vessel is provided having a cruciform primary structural arrangement.

Claims

1. A self-propelled jack-up vessel, wherein a centreline extending from a bow end to a stern end of the vessel along a central longitudinal axis defines port and starboard sides of the vessel, and wherein the centreline substantially defines the direction of travel of the vessel, the vessel comprising:

a hull, a deck and four retractable legs extending through the hull and the deck, including

a bow leg arranged on the centreline towards the bow;

a stern leg arranged on the centreline towards the stern;

a port leg arranged at the port side;

a starboard leg arranged at the starboard side.

2. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein a primary propulsion system is configured to drive the vessel in the direction of the centreline.

3. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of each leg is provided with a spudcan, arranged to lie flush with the hull of the vessel in its retracted state.

5. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the port and starboard legs are arranged symmetrically to the centreline such that the four legs form a kite or rhombus shape.

6. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein the geometrical arrangement of the legs defines the four corners of a square.

7. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a maximum width of the hull to a length of the hull is more than 0.5 but less than 1.

8. The vessel according to claim 1, further comprising a heavy lift crane arranged on the centreline, wherein a crane base of the crane is arranged around the stern leg.

10. The vessel according to claim 8, wherein the crane comprises a crane boom and a crane boom pivot point is located above deck level.

12. The vessel of claim 1, comprising a cruciform primary structural arrangement between the hull and the deck, with at least one longitudinal structural bulkhead running between the bow leg and the stern leg and at least one transverse structural bulkhead running between the port leg and the starboard leg.

13. The vessel according to claim 1, wherein a centre of buoyancy of the vessel is located substantially along a vertical axis intersecting the centre of the leg pattern.

15. The vessel according to claim 1, further comprising a moonpool passing through the hull of the vessel, wherein the moonpool is located at the centre of buoyancy of the vessel.

4. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

16-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method of operating a jack-up wind turbine installation vessel comprising;

at a first installation location, jacking the vessel by;

lowering a first pair and second pair of retractable legs onto the seafloor;

applying a pre-load, maximally equal to the full weight of the vessel, on said first pair of retractable legs aligned with a first axis of the vessel;

releasing the pre-load applied on the first pair of retractable legs;

applying the pre-load on a second pair of retractable legs aligned with a second axis of the vessel, and releasing the pre-load applied on the second pair of retractable legs, wherein the first and second axes are a centreline of the vessel and a beam of the vessel.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the vessel to a second installation location, the vessel moving in a direction of its centreline, and jacking the vessel without taking on additional ballast.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising, prior to arriving at the first installation location, mooring the vessel at a quay with one of its stern quarters at the quayside and loading wind turbine components onto a deck of the vessel.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein a heavy lift crane is provided at a stern of the vessel and loading takes place at least partially by the heavy lift crane.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein loading takes place without pre-loading the legs.

24. A self-propelled jack-up vessel having a cruciform primary structure wherein the cruciform primary structure comprises a first member defining a centre line of the vessel and a second member defining a beam of the vessel, the first and second members being relatively narrow compared to their length.

26. The vessel of claim 24, wherein the first and second members cross each other at right angles at a centre of buoyancy of the vessel.

27. The vessel of claim 26, wherein each of the first and second members comprise first and second parallel bulkheads, and wherein the vessel is provided with four retractable legs, wherein the bulkheads encircle respective legs.

29. The vessel according to claim 24, wherein a moonpool is provided at the centre of buoyancy of the vessel.

25. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

30. (canceled)