Marine evacuation systems and methods

Abstract

A marine evacuation system includes an escape vessel, a platform removably engaged with the vessel, and a conduit. The conduit can enable direct passage of personnel from the facility to be evacuated to the escape vessel, while the platform and conduit can be configured to engage a stabilization system while permitting vertical movement of the platform and escape vessel caused by wave motion. The platform can optionally include movable portions that allow rotation or other horizontal movement of the escape vessel relative to the platform, such as movement caused by severe weather. The system can be stored within a container or skid, with a winch or similar mechanism for deploying and retrieving the system. The container or skid and the chute can be adapted to protect personnel from fire, heat, smoke, explosion, and other hazards.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A marine evacuation system comprising:
 an escape vessel;   a platform removably engaged with the escape vessel; and   a conduit engaged with the platform, wherein the conduit is extendable from a retracted position adapted for storage in a facility to an extended position adapted to position the escape vessel, the platform, or combinations thereof at a location remote from the facility.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for extending the conduit, retracting the conduit, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the mechanism comprises a pneumatic winch. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an integrated power source in communication with the pneumatic winch, wherein the integrated power source provides power to the pneumatic winch sufficient to enable retraction of the escape vessel and the platform. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one stabilization member engaged with the conduit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one elongate member engaging said at least one stabilization member to the conduit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the platform comprises at least one orifice formed therein, and wherein said at least one elongate member passes through said at least one orifice to enable relative vertical movement between the platform and said at least one elongate member. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the escape vessel comprises an inflatable vessel and a mechanism for inflating the inflatable vessel engaged with said at least one stabilization member for enabling deployment of said at least one stabilization member to actuate the mechanism to cause inflation of the inflatable vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a skid frame, a container, or combinations thereof adapted to contain the escape vessel, the platform, and the conduit when the conduit is in the retracted position. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the skid frame, the container, or combinations thereof comprises a first portion positioned on a deck of the facility and a second portion extending outward from the deck of the facility above a body of water. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second portion comprises a door in a lower portion thereof for enabling extension of the conduit therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises a first member engaged to the conduit and a second member engaged to the escape vessel, and wherein the second member is rotatably movable relative to the first member for enabling horizontal movement of the escape vessel relative to the platform. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pin engaging the escape vessel, a fastener connected to the escape vessel, or combinations thereof, to the platform, wherein said at least one pin is adapted for quick removal to enable movement of the escape vessel away from the platform, the conduit, the facility, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the conduit comprises a first opening in communication with the facility and a second opening in communication with the escape vessel for enabling direct transport of personnel from the facility to the escape vessel through the conduit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the conduit comprises an external layer adapted to resist flame, heat, smoke, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . A method for enabling evacuation of a facility, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing an escape vessel, a platform, and a conduit within a container, a skid frame, or combinations thereof disposed at the facility;   providing an opening in the container, the skid frame, or combinations thereof;   extending the conduit through the opening, from the facility to a remote location, wherein the conduit engages the platform, and wherein the escape vessel is removably engaged with the platform; and   disengaging the escape vessel from the platform to enable movement of the escape vessel away from the platform, the conduit, the facility, or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of extending the conduit further comprises deploying at least one stabilization member engaged with the conduit and passing at least one elongate member engaged with said at least one stabilization member through an orifice in the platform to enable relative vertical movement between the platform and said at least one elongate member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of deploying said at least one stabilization member comprises actuating a mechanism engaged with said at least one stabilization member to cause inflation of the escape vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of rotating a first portion of the platform relative to a second portion of the platform thereby moving the escape vessel relative to the platform along a horizontal plane. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of retrieving the conduit, the platform, or combinations thereof to the facility.