Fast transit self-elevating platforms

Abstract

A jack-up vehicle having a hull including at least two hull sections ( 2, 3 ) interconnected in such manner as to be positionable in an end-to-end relationship having a first vehicle width and for the purpose of movement of the vehicle from one location to another location and to be positionable in a side-by-side configuration having a second vehicle width when at said another location, wherein the first vehicle width is less than the second vehicle width. A jack-up vessel such as this can maintain stability when elevated with square positioning of supporting legs and yet reposition the hull sections to achieve a preferred hull shape for transit from location-to-location at more than twice the usual speed of known jack-up vessels.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A jack-up vehicle having a hull including at least two hull sections and a plurality of legs displaceable substantially vertically relative to the hull sections, said hull sections being interconnected in such manner as to be positionable in an end-to-end relationship having a first vehicle width and for the purpose of movement of the vehicle from one location to another location and to be positionable in a side-by-side configuration having a second vehicle width when at said another location, wherein the first vehicle width is less than the second vehicle width. 
     
     
         15 . A jack-up according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least two hull sections are interconnected by way of a hinge/pivot arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . A jack-up according to  claim 15 , wherein the hinge/pivot arrangement turns about a substantially vertical hinge/pivot axis. 
     
     
         17 . A jack-up according to  claim 14 , wherein a first hull section and a second hull section are interconnected by a first hinge/pivot arrangement located between the first and second sections at respective end regions that form the end-to-end relationship. 
     
     
         18 . A jack-up according to  claim 17 , and further comprising a third hull section and a second hinge/pivot arrangement. 
     
     
         19 . A jack-up according to  claim 18 , wherein the second hinge/pivot arrangement is located at an opposite end region to the first hinge/pivot arrangement. 
     
     
         20 . A jack-up according to  claim 18 , wherein the second hinge/pivot arrangement is located at the same end region to the first hinge/pivot arrangement and on the respective opposite side of the respective hull section. 
     
     
         21 . A jack-up according to  claim 20 , and comprising a major hull section and first and second minor hull sections, the arrangement being such that, in the end-to-end relationship, the minor hull sections are adjacent each other, respective adjacent ends of the minor hull sections laying in a face-to-face relationship with a rear end of the main hull section. 
     
     
         22 . A jack-up according to  claim 21 , wherein the side-by-side configuration is achieved when the minor hull sections are rotated about the first and second hinge/pivot arrangements and come to lie against respective opposite sides of the main hull section. 
     
     
         23 . A jack-up according to  claim 14 , wherein the hull sections include a deck region having equipment mounting zones thereon for receiving pieces of equipment. 
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a jack-up vehicle comprising arranging at a first location at least two hull sections of the vehicle in an end-to-end relationship and having a first vehicle width, transporting to a second location the vehicle with a plurality of legs displaceable substantially vertically relative to the hull sections in a raised condition and, at the second location, moving the at least two hull sections into a side-by-side configuration having a second vehicle width and lowering the plurality of legs from the raised condition to a lowered stabilising condition, the first vehicle width being less than the second vehicle width. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein there is one major hull section and two minor hull sections, and in the end-to-end relationship, the minor hull sections are arranged adjacent each other and against the rear end of the main section, and in the side-by-side configuration, the minor hull sections are moved to bear against respective opposite sides of the main hull section.