Ihc Engineering Business Limited

The Engineering Business Limited

Royal Ihc Limited

Michael John Watchorn

Jonathan Ralph Manchester

Timothy William Grinsted

Andrew James Eaton

Martin Bingham

A gangway apparatus () for transfer between vessels or between a vessel () and a fixed structure such as an offshore construction or a quay is disclosed. The gangway apparatus () includes a gangway component () which is preferably buoyant and may be inflatable. The gangway component () is mounted on a skate or bogie and traverses a fixedly mounted runway (). The runway () may be inclined. Control means are provided for controlling the motion of the gangway component on the runway. These may include biasing means such as a counterweight. The apparatus is preferably mounted in a shipping container such as a 40' ISO container.

Gangway apparatus

A method and system for transporting an offshore structure such as a wind turbine generator includes a supporting frame in which the offshore structure is assembled on land in an upright configuration. The frame is used for lifting the structure onto a transport vessel, on which it is retained in the upright configuration. At its location of use, the offshore structure is transferred to a pre-prepared foundation. The foundation is provided with a frame which cooperates with the supporting frame. The supporting frame includes a plurality of legs having hydraulically controlled feet. The frame of the foundation includes an equal number of supporting formations on which the feet ultimately rest. The feet are moveable in response to the hydraulic control along a nominally vertical line of action and provide a damping arrangement for the mounting of the offshore structure.

Installation of offshore structures

Access means are provided for accessing a fixed offshore structure () such as a wind turbine, larger vessel or the like form a smaller vessel (), or for providing for transfer between vessels. One or more guide wires () are connected from the vessel () to the fixed structure () or second vessel and placed in tension such as by directing the vessel away from the fixed structure. In one embodiment, inflatable members () are suspendable from the guide wires and inflation of the inflatable members causes them to extend along the guide wires to form an access surface across which personnel may walk to access the fixed structure or second vessel from the first vessel. Mounting means are also provided which accommodate relative rotational, translational and pitching movement of the apparatus and vessel, caused by wave motion. In another embodiment, a bridge member is retained on a runway of the first vessel and deployed using said guide wires.

Access method between marine structures and apparatus

Access means are provided for accessing a fixed offshore structure such as a wind turbine (), larger vessel or the like form a smaller transfer vessel (), or for providing for transfer between vessels One or more guide wires () are connected from the vessel () to the fixed structure () or second vessel and placed in tension such as by directing the transfer vessel away from the fixed structure. In one embodiment, inflatable, members are suspendable from the guide wires and inflation of the inflatable members causes them to extend along the guide wires to form an access surface () across which personnel may walk to access the fixed structure or second vessel from the first vessel Mounting means are also provided which accommodate relative rotational, translational and pitching movement of the apparatus and vessel, caused by wave motion. In another embodiment, a bridge member is retained on a runway of the first vessel and deployed using said guide wires ().

Offshore structures such as wind turbines, wave machines and tidal stream turbines are mounted in a previously located foundation including a socket. The foundation includes an upper body with a conical inner surface which acts as a guide for inserting a leading end of the structure into the socket. The conical surface also provides a reaction surface for setting the vertical alignment of the structure when inserted in the socket. Clamps are provided supported by an A frame for controlled lowering of the structure into the socket.

Mounting of offshore structures

A prime mover for extracting power from moving water is described comprising a body which is caused to oscillate in water by reversing the direction of thrust generated by at least one submerged control member e.g. a hydroplane or rotating cylinder protruding from a side of the body.

Extracting power from moving water

A prime mover for extracting power from moving water is described comprising a body which is caused to oscillate in water by reversing the direction of thrust generated by at least one submerged control member e.g. a hydroplane or rotating cylinder protruding from a side of the body. Preferably, the prime mover comprises an open bottomed tank which when it oscillates alternately compresses and decompresses a fluid inside it between a closed top of the tank and the water surface. Preferably the fluid is air. Other energy removal schemes can be combined with the prime mover to generate power.

Growing community of inventors

Stocksfield, United Kingdom

Michael John Watchorn