Vessel with movable deck and method

• US 6,257,165 B1
• Filed: 12/20/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allen Danos Jr, Laney Chouest
• Original Assignee: Allen Danos Jr, Laney Chouest
• Inventors: Chouest, Laney, Danos, Allen Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWINEHART, EDWIN L
• Application Number:
  US09/467,325
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 114/264, 114/265, 405/224, 405/196, 405/199, 405/200
• US Class Current: 114/265
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/121 comprising two hulls B63B1/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2003/485 movably connected to hull or superstructure
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/27 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/50 Anchoring arrangements or methods for special vessels, e.g. for floating drilling platforms or dredgers
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/10 of cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/19 Other loading or unloading equipment involving an intermittent action, not provided in groups B63B27/04 - B63B27/18
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 3/48 Decks planking B63B5/06
• 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: B63H 2025/045 making use of satellite radio beacon positioning systems, e.g. the Global Positioning System [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/04 automatic, e.g. reacting to compass
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/42 Steering or dynamic anchoring by propulsive elements by jets B63H25/46; Steering or dynamic anchoring by propellers used therefor only; Steering or dynamic anchoring by rudders carrying propellers

Abstract

A vessel with a movable deck. The vessel will contain in one embodiment a catamaran hull having a first pontoon and a second pontoon. The catamaran hull has a platform attached thereto. The vessel also includes a first leg, second leg, and third leg extending vertically from the top side of the platform. The movable deck will contain a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening which has the first, second, and third leg respectively disposed therethrough. The vessel further contains a jacking mechanism that raises and lowers the movable deck relative to the platform. The vessel may further comprise a first thruster nozzle attached to the first pontoon, the first thruster nozzle being movable in a 360 degree phase and a second thruster nozzle attached to the second pontoon, with the second thruster nozzle being movable in a 360 degree phase. In the preferred embodiment, the vessel will also include a dynamic positioning system that computes and adjusts the location of the vessel in the water body to a predetermined coordinate location. The dynamic positioning system is operatively associated with the first and second thruster nozzle. A method for raising a work deck is also included.

Claims

1. A multi decked vessel for working in a water body, the vessel comprising:

a first platform having a top side and an underside;

a first hull attached to said first platform'"'"'s underside and a second hull attached to said first platform'"'"'s underside;

a first leg extending vertically from said first platform;

a second leg extending vertically from said first platform;

a second platforn positioned on the top side of said first platform, said second platforn having a first opening and a second opening, and wherein said first leg extends through said first opening and said second leg extends through said second opening;

means, operatively positioned on said second platform, for raising and lowering said second platform relative to said first platform;

a plurality of suction anchors attached to said first hull and said second hull, and wherein said plurality of suction anchors are attached by a plurality of anchor lines.

2. Tlhe vessel of claim 1 further comprising:

propulsion means, operatively attached to said first hull and said second hull, for propelling the vessel.

3. The vessel of claim 2 further comprising:

means, operatively associated with said propulsion means, for dynamically positioning the vessel to a location in the water body, and wherein said dynamically positioning means includes a global satellite means for computing the coordinate position of the vessel.

4. The vessel of claim 3 wherein said first platform contains quarters for personnel and wherein said second platform contains a crane for lifting goods contained on said second platform.

5. The vessel of claim 3 wherein said propulsion means comprises a plurality of thruster nozzles positioned on said first hull and said second hull, said plurality of thruster nozzles being movable in a 360 degree phase, and wherein said thruster nozzles being operatively associated with the dynamic positioning means so that the vessel position is adjusted.

6. A method for raising a work deck on a vessel, said vessel including:

a first platform having a top side and an underside, a catamaran hull comprising a first hull attached to said first platform'"'"'s underside and a second hull attached to said first platform'"'"'s underside;

a first leg extending vertically from said first platform;

a second leg extending vertically from said first platform, a work deck positioned on the top side of said first platform, said work deck having a first opening and a second opening, and wherein said first leg extends through said first opening and said second leg extends through said second opening;

a plurality of anchors attached to said first hull and said second hull, and wherein said plurality of suction anchors are attached by a plurality of anchor chains the method comprising;

positioning the vessel to a location in a body of water;

placing water within a ballast tank located within said catamaran hull causing the catamaran hull to lower in the body of water;

lowering the anchors;

setting said plurality of anchors into the water bottom;

pumping water out said ballast tank causing said catamaran hulls to rise so that said anchor chains are placed into tension;

raising said work deck relative to said first platform.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

monitoring the tension within said anchor chains;

adjusting the ballast within said ballast tank to maintain a predetermined amount of tension within said anchor chain;

and wherein the step of lowering the anchors including lowering the anchors at a 90 degree angle relative to the water bottom.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said first platform contains a work deck with a crane positioned thereon, and wherein said vessel is positioned adjacent a rig platform, the method further comprising:

lifting a piece of equipment located on said first platform with the crane;

monitoring the tension within said anchor chain;

transporting the piece of equipment to the rig platform with the aid of the crane;

adjusting the ballast within said ballast tank to maintain the predetermined amount of tension with said anchor chain.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

lowering the work deck;

unseating the anchors from the water bottom;

raising the anchors;

adjusting the ballast of said first hull and said second hull;

moving said vessel away from the location.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said positioning of the vessel further comprises:

providing a dynamic positioning means including a global positioning satellite device;

inputting a coordinate location corresponding to a desired location;

transmitting a signal to the global positioning satellite device;

receiving a return signal from the global positioning satellite device;

computing the location of the vessel based on the return signal with the dynamic positioning means;

activating the thruster nozzles in response to the computed location.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the anchor contains a conical surface forming a chamber and the step of setting said plurality of anchors includes placing the anchor on the water bottom;

suctioning water from the chamber so that said anchor is held to the water bottom via a suction force.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of unseating the anchor includes filling the chamber with water and eliminating the suction within the chamber.

13. A vessel with a movable deck comprising:

a catamaran hull having a first pontoon and a second pontoon;

a first anchor member attached to said catamaran hull with a first anchor chain;

a second anchor member attached to said catamaran hull with a second anchor chain;

a platform having a top side and an underside, said underside being attached to said catamaran hull;

a first leg extending vertically from said top side of said platform;

a second leg extending vertically from said top side of said platform;

a third leg extending vertically from said top side of said platform;

and wherein the movable deck contains a first opening having said first leg disposed therethrough, a second opening having said second leg disposed therethrough and a third opening having said third leg disposed therethrough;

means, operatively positioned on said movable deck, for raising and lowering said movable deck relative to said platform.

14. The vessel of claim 13 wherein said first anchor member comprises:

a first suction anchor attached to said first pontoon with the first anchor chain; and

wherein said second anchor member comprises;

a second suction anchor attached to said second pontoon with the second anchor chain; and

wherein said catamaran hull contains a means for placing said first anchor chain and said second anchor chain in tension.

15. The vessel of claim 14 further comprising:

a first thruster nozzle attached to said first pontoon, said first thruster nozzle being movable in a 360 degree phase;

a second thruster nozzle attached to said second pontoon, said second thruster nozzle being movable in a 360 degree phase;

power means for selectively powering said first thruster nozzle and said second thruster nozzle.

16. The vessel of claim 15 further comprising:

dynamic positioning means for computing the coordinate location of the vessel in the water body and wherein said dynamic positioning means is operatively associated with said first thruster nozzle and said second thruster nozzle;

activation means for selectively activating said first and said second thruster nozzle based on the coordinate location in order to position the vessel to a predetermined location.

17. The vessel of claim 16 wherein said first platform contains quarters for personnel and wherein said second platform contains a crane for hoisting and lifting goods contained on said second platform.

18. The vessel of claim 17 wherein said raising and lowering means comprises:

a rack located on said first, second, and third leg;

a pinion located on the movable deck;

a motor for energizing said pinion in order to raise or lower said rack which in turn raises or lowers the moveable deck.