Method and apparatus for placing at least one wind turbine on open water

Abstract

A method for placing at least one windmill on open water, wherein the windmill is built up at least for the greater part on or near land and is supported in a stage; the windmill with the stage is placed on a vessel and transported with the vessel to a set-up position; the windmill is taken with a hoisting device from the vessel, preferably stabilized by means of legs, and is placed on a foundation mounted in the water.

1 . A method for placing at least one windmill on open water, wherein 
 the windmill is built up at least for the greater part on or near land and is supported in a stage;    the windmill with the stage is placed on a vessel and is transported with the vessel to a set-up position;    the windmill is taken from the vessel with a hoisting device and is placed on a foundation disposed in the water.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a series of windmills are placed on the vessel and transported to set-up positions.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein, near the set-up location, the vessel is supported and stabilized on the floor of the open water, wherein the vessel is at least partly lifted such that the draft of the vessel is reduced.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the draft is reduced by more than 10% to less than 100%, more in particular between 20% and 75%, preferably between 20% and 50%.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the vessel is lifted completely above the water surface.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to claims  3 - 5 , wherein the vessel in the lifted position is actively stabilized.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hoisting device is transported to the set-up position with the vessel.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the hoisting device for placing the windmills is wheeled on the vessel.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each windmill is built up in the stage and, preferably, is wheeled onto the vessel with the stage.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a series of windmills are built up in stages and are arranged on or near a quay, wherein said series of stages with windmills are wheeled onto a vessel while a further series of windmills are built up in further stages-  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for placing windmills on open water, comprising a vessel with a hoisting device and means for supporting and stabilizing the vessel on the floor of said open water, wherein, on the vessel, at least one stage is provided for carrying at least one substantially assembled windmill.  
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the vessel is provided with a number of legs with which it can be supported on the floor, which legs are arranged for lifting the vessel out of the water at least partly and preferably completely.  
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the stabilizing means are provided with which the vessel in the position at least partly lifted from the water can be stabilized by compensation for swell working on the vessel and/or the legs.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the stabilizing means comprise hydraulic or pneumatic means for actively adjusting the length of the legs between the vessel and the floor.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to any one of claims  11 - 14 , wherein the at least one stage is detachably coupled to the vessel, such that it can be placed on and be taken from the vessel preferably in a mobile manner.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 . wherein a series of stages are provided, which can be exchangeably placed on the vessel.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to any one of claims  11 - 16 , wherein the hoisting device is movable on the vessel.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to any one of claims  11 - 17 , wherein the vessel is a pontoon.  
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to any one of claims  11 - 17 , wherein the means for supporting and stabilizing the vessel on the floor of said open water comprise buffer means for compensating occurring impact farces on the vessel during use, in particular on the means for supporting and stabilizing.