Floating lift systems and methods for launching and recovering structures in a marine environment

Abstract

Systems and method for assembling, launching, retrieving, and maintaining marine vessels, structures, and equipment, including floating vessels, structures, and equipment, are disclosed. The systems include a floating dock, that can be modular or monolithic, including steel and/or concrete modules and a lift platform that can be locked to the floating dock.

1 . A system for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the system comprising:
 a floating dock, the floating dock comprising a plurality of floating modules coupled together, wherein cavities of the floating modules comprise buoyant concrete;   a plurality of hoists coupled with the floating dock;   a lift platform, wherein the plurality of hoists are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the floating dock.   
     
     
         2 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating dock comprises rails, wherein the lift platform comprises rials, and wherein, in a lifted position, the rails of the lift platform are aligned with the rails of the floating dock. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating dock is moored in the sea, and wherein in a lowered position the lift platform is positioned in the sea. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating dock is moored adjacent a quayside dock. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the lift platform is positioned on a side of the floating dock opposite the quayside dock, wherein the quayside dock has rails and the floating dock has rails, and wherein the rails of the quayside dock are aligned with the rails of the floating dock. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the lift platform is positioned on a side of the floating dock adjacent the quayside dock, wherein the quayside dock has rails and the lift platform has rails, and wherein, with the lift platform in a raised position, the rails of the quayside dock are aligned with the rails of the lift platform. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in a raised position, the lift platform is lifted above a top surface of the floating dock. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking system configured to lock the lift platform to the floating dock and maintain a position of the lift platform relative to the floating dock. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating dock comprises a body at a first longitudinal end of the floating dock, a first arm extending from the body to a second longitudinal end of the floating dock, and a second arm extending from the body to the second longitudinal end of the floating dock, wherein space is defined between the first and second arms, and wherein an opening into the space is positioned at the second longitudinal end of the floating dock. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising at least one structural arm coupled with the floating dock at or proximate the second longitudinal end of the floating dock, wherein the at least one structural arm has at least two positions including a first position wherein the at least one structural arm extends between and is coupled with both of the first and second arms at or proximate the second longitudinal end of the floating dock across the opening, and a second position wherein the at least one structural arm is clear of the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a transfer lift platform coupled with the floating dock adjacent the lift platform, and a hydraulic jack coupled between the floating dock and the transfer lift platform, wherein the hydraulic jack is configured to raise and lower the transfer lift platform relative to a top surface of the floating dock. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the floating dock is moored at a quayside dock with the transfer lift platform positioned adjacent the quayside dock and between the lift platform and the quayside dock. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , comprising rails on each of the quayside dock, the transfer lift platform, and the lift platform, wherein, with the transfer lift platform and the lift platform in raised positions, the rails of each of the quayside dock, the transfer lift platform, and the lift platform are aligned. 
     
     
         21 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lift platform comprises steel. 
     
     
         26 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein floating dock is moored at a site in proximity to a wind farm. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating dock is docked at a quayside dock for transfer of equipment between the floating dock and the quayside dock. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating dock is moored in water away from a quayside dock for retrieval or deployment of equipment. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the floating dock includes a floating structure that comprises:
 at least one first floating module;   at least one second floating module;   wherein each floating module comprises a plurality of walls extending between a first longitudinal end and a second longitudinal end,   wherein each floating module comprises a first partition and a second partition connecting each wall of the plurality of walls, defining with the plurality of walls an internal volume of the respective floating module, and   wherein each floating module comprises at least one extension emerging from an external face of a respective wall of the plurality of walls, the at least one extension extending longitudinally in projection from the first longitudinal end or from the second longitudinal end, wherein the at least one extension and the respective wall from which the at least one extension emerges being materially integral; and   a sealing device is located between the at least one first floating module and the at least one second floating module, wherein the sealing device is inserted between the at least one extension of the at least one first floating module and the at least one extension of the at least one second floating module,   wherein a hollow bounded by a first cavity of the at least one first floating module and by a second cavity of the at least one second floating module is filled with concrete.   
     
     
         40 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of launching and recovering marine equipment, the method comprising:
 providing a floating dock, the floating dock comprising a plurality of floating modules coupled together, wherein cavities of the floating modules comprise buoyant concrete;   providing a lift platform coupled with the floating dock;   deploying marine equipment into water by positioning the marine equipment on the lift platform and lowering the lift platform, relative to the floating dock, into the water; retrieving marine equipment from water by lowering the lift platform, relative to the floating dock, into the water, positioning the marine equipment on the lift platform, and raising the lift platform, relative to the floating dock, out of the water; or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         51 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . A system for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the system comprising:
 a quayside dock;   a floating dock moored adjacent the quayside dock, the floating dock comprising a plurality of floating modules coupled together, wherein cavities of the floating modules comprise buoyant concrete;   a plurality of hoists coupled with the floating dock; and   a lift platform, wherein the plurality of hoists are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the floating dock.   
     
     
         73 - 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises steel, concrete, or combinations thereof.