Floating heavy lift vessel with stabilizing suction anchors

摘要

A floating vessel for offshore load transfer operations comprises two parallel groups of elements each formed from a pontoon 1 and 2 having a horizontal axis, columns (3 to 8, Fig 1) projecting upwards from the pontoon and a respective horizontal support 9 and 10 connected to the upper ends of the columns. Suction anchors 27 and 28 are provided at the ends of adjustable tethers 30 and 31 connected to each of the groups of elements, to attenuate motion of the floating vessel relative to the seabed during load transfers. Each suction anchor may be attached to a pump device (Fig 7) and stored above the waterline. Each pontoon may have at least one Voith propeller (19 to 22, Fig 3), for propulsion, while the horizontal supports may include gravity discharge ballast tanks for adjusting the buoyancy of the vessel during load transfers.