Gangway system for an offshore service vessel, suitable for the transfer of personnel between said service vessel and an offshore structure, in wave motion conditions

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gangway system (1) for an offshore service vessel (N), suitable for the transfer of personnel between said service vessel and an offshore structure(S), in wave motion conditions.The gangway system (1) comprises a telescopic corridor (7), which has an upstream section (71) and a downstream section (72), movable in translation relative to said upstream section (71).The gangway system (1) further comprises means for maneuvering said gangway (5), in particular yaw maneuvering means (11), pitch maneuvering means (12) and translation maneuvering means (13).The maneuvering means (10) cooperate with control means (15) so as to stabilize the downstream end (722) of the gangway (5) at, preferably resting on, said offshore structure(S).

1 . Gangway system ( 1 ) for an offshore service vessel (N), suitable for the transfer of personnel between said service vessel (N) and an offshore structure(S), in wave motion conditions,
 which gangway system ( 1 ) comprises:
 a tower ( 2 ), defining a longitudinal axis ( 2 ′) and designed to be erected from a deck (P) of said offshore service vessel (N), 
 a carriage ( 3 ) maneuvered in translation over the height of said tower ( 2 ), along an elevation axis (E) oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis ( 2 ′), 
 a gangway ( 5 ) extending from said carriage ( 3 ), 
   which gangway ( 5 ) comprises:
 a waiting platform ( 6 ), which is assembled with said carriage ( 3 ) by means of rotational assembly means ( 8 ) defining a yaw rotation axis (R 1 ) oriented parallel to said elevation axis (E), and 
 a corridor ( 7 ), extending from said waiting platform ( 6 ), 
   which corridor ( 7 ), telescopic, comprises:
 an upstream section ( 71 ), one upstream end ( 711 ) of which cooperates with said waiting platform ( 6 ) by means of rotation assembly means ( 9 ) defining a pitch rotation axis (R 2 ) oriented perpendicular to said yaw rotation axis (R 1 ), and 
 a downstream section ( 72 ), movable in translation relative to said upstream section ( 71 ) along an extension axis (A) oriented perpendicular to said pitch rotation axis (R 2 ), 
   which downstream section ( 72 ) comprises a downstream end ( 722 ) which is designed to be stabilized at said offshore structure(S),   which gangway system ( 1 ) further comprises maneuvering means for maneuvering said gangway ( 5 ):
 yaw maneuvering means ( 11 ), for the rotational maneuver of said gangway ( 5 ) around said yaw rotation axis (R 1 ), 
 pitch maneuvering means ( 12 ), for the rotational maneuver of said corridor ( 7 ) around said pitching rotation axis (R 2 ), and 
 translational maneuvering means ( 13 ), for the translational maneuvering of said downstream section ( 72 ) relative to said upstream section ( 71 ) along said extension axis (A), and 
   which maneuvering means ( 10 ) cooperate with control means ( 15 ) comprising an active compensation module which is designed to control said maneuvering means ( 10 ) of said gangway ( 5 ), based on data coming from a movement acquisition module ( 16 ), so as to stabilize the downstream end ( 722 ) of said gangway ( 5 ) at, preferably resting on, said offshore structure(S).   
     
     
         2 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the maneuvering means ( 10 ) of said gangway ( 5 ) consist of electric maneuvering means ( 10 ). 
     
     
         3 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the maneuvering means ( 10 ) in pitch ( 12 ) comprise:
 at least one electric winch ( 121 ), carried by said waiting platform ( 6 ), and   at least one traction line ( 122 ), extending between said electric winch ( 121 ) and said upstream section ( 71 ).   
     
     
         4 . Gangway system ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , characterized in that said at least one electric winch ( 121 ) is carried by a gantry ( 61 ) extending above said waiting platform ( 6 ),
 and in that said at least one traction line ( 122 ) comprises a downstream end ( 1221 ) which is secured to said upstream section ( 71 ), at an attachment point ( 7121 ) above said upstream section ( 71 ), preferably on the side of a downstream end ( 712 ) of said upstream section ( 71 ).   
     
     
         5 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the maneuvering means ( 10 ) in translation ( 13 ) comprise:
 at least one electric winch ( 131 ), carried by said upstream section ( 71 ), and   at least one traction line ( 132 ), extending between said electric winch ( 131 ) and said downstream section ( 72 ).   
     
     
         6 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 5 , characterized in that said at least one electric winch ( 131 ) is carried by said upstream section ( 71 ), mounted below said upstream section ( 71 ), and in that said at least one traction line ( 132 ) comprises a downstream end ( 1321 ) which is secured to said downstream section ( 72 ), at an attachment point ( 7221 ) mounted below said downstream section ( 72 ), preferably on the side of a downstream end ( 722 ) of said downstream section ( 72 ). 
     
     
         7 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said movement acquisition module ( 16 ) comprises a contact sensor ( 161 ) installed on said downstream end ( 722 ) of said downstream section ( 72 ), which contact sensor ( 161 ) comprises:
 at least one support member ( 1611 ), designed to bear on said offshore structure(S), advantageously comprising shock absorber blocks, and   an interface ( 1612 ), extending between said support member ( 1611 ) and said downstream end ( 722 ) of said downstream section ( 72 ),   which interface ( 1612 ) comprises means for detecting the movements of said at least one support member ( 1611 ) relative to said downstream end ( 722 ) of said downstream section ( 72 ),   which motion detection means are designed to detect:   a translational movement (T 1 ) parallel to said extension axis (A),   two rotational movements (T 2 , T 3 ), in yaw and in pitch, perpendicular to said extension axis (A).   
     
     
         8 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the tower ( 2 ) incorporates a lift ( 21 ) for personnel, for transfer between the deck (P) of the offshore service vessel (N) and said gangway ( 5 ). 
     
     
         9 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said gangway system ( 1 ) comprises maneuvering means ( 31 ) of said carriage ( 3 ) which consist of electrical maneuvering means ( 31 ), for example:
 at least one electric winch ( 311 ), carried by said tower ( 2 ), and   at least one traction line ( 312 ), extending between said electric winch ( 311 ) and said carriage ( 3 ).   
     
     
         10 . Gangway system ( 1 ), according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said waiting platform ( 6 ) is protected within a rotunda ( 62 ) which comprises retractable side walls ( 621 ), following the yaw movements of said gangway ( 5 ), for the protection of personnel, in particular against weather conditions. 
     
     
         11 . Gangway system ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the retractable side walls ( 621 ) are opaque or perforated. 
     
     
         12 . Offshore service vessel (N) equipped with a gangway system ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 .