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Offshore floating vessel and a method of operating the same

  • US 9,630,813 B2
  • Filed: 04/22/2014
  • Issued: 04/25/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An offshore floating vessel comprising:

  • one or more emergency brakes; and

    a hoisting system adapted for suspending a load attached to a connecting device of the floating vessel and for lowering or raising a load connected to the connecting device from the floating vessel to or from the sea floor;

    the hoisting system comprising a drive for moving the connecting device, and the one or more emergency brakes configured to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;

    wherein the hoisting system is configured to be selectively operated at least in a hoisting mode and in an active heave compensation mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation when operated in the active heave compensation mode and to operate without active heave compensation when operated in the hoisting mode;

    wherein when the hoisting system is operating in either the hoisting mode or in the active heave compensation mode, the one or more emergency brakes are in an enabled mode wherein the one or more emergency brakes operate in a de-energized state where, in the event of a malfunction, the one or more emergency brakes engage so as to inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel, and, when there is no malfunction, the one or more emergency brakes operate in an energized state where the one or more emergency brakes are not engaged and do not inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel;

    wherein the hoisting system is further operable in a fixed-to-bottom mode, wherein the hoisting system is configured to perform an active heave compensation, and when the hoisting system is operating in the fixed-to-bottom mode, the one or more emergency brakes are in a non-enabled mode and are prohibited from engaging and cannot inhibit motion of the connecting device relative to the floating vessel.

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