Field of the invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method for arranging a pile on a vessel, the pile having a circular cross-section and two opposing pile ends, and the vessel comprising a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction and two opposing vessel sides, such as a starboard side and a port side, and a lateral direction, being a direction perpendicular to the vessel sides, a deck with a support surface for supporting the pile, one or more onboard cranes arranged on the deck near one of the two vessel sides suitable for lifting the pile, a pile moving arrangement for moving the pile on the support surface, by means of rolling, comprising the steps of: a) using one or more cranes, either the one or more onboard cranes or one or more external cranes situated outside of the vessel, to lift the pile from a position outside of the vessel to a loading position aboard the vessel, wherein the pile is supported on the support surface, the centre line of the pile defining a rolling axis.

Background of the invention

[0002] Such a method is known. With the known method, arranging a pile on a vessel is carried out by using one or more cranes to lift and load the pile to a transport position on the deck of a vessel. [0003] With the known method for arranging a pile on a vessel, the vessel arrives at an offshore position where the pile is to be overboarded, and there a lifting cable is connected to the pile as to allow the onboard cranes to lift the pile from the transport position to the overboard position. A disadvantage, however, is that during lifting of the pile from the transport position to the overboard position by the cranes, equipment, in particular equipment arranged on the deck, may easily get damaged due to collision with the lifted pile, since the lifting trajectory of the pile above the deck is relatively long. This especially applies to wild sea states. [0004] The known method furthermore has as a disadvantage that the cranes can not be used to store the pile at a wide variety of locations on the vessel, due to the cranes having a relatively limited useful lifting angle/working range. [0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for arranging a pile on a vessel that reduces the length of the lifting trajectory of the pile above the deck and thus minimizes chances of equipment damage at the offshore location. [0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for arranging a pile on a vessel, wherein the pile can be stored at a relatively wide variety of locations on the deck of the vessel.

Summary of the invention

[0007] Hereto the method according to the invention is characterized by: b) subsequently ensuring a cable, such as a sling, having a first and a second cable end is connected with the first cable end to a releasable cable attachment device, such as a lifting shoe, releasably arranged at or near one of the pile ends and being capable of transmitting forces, in particular lifting forces, from the cable to the pile, c) operating the pile moving arrangement as to roll the pile in a lateral direction, being a direction substantially perpendicular to the rolling axis of the pile and substantially parallel to the support surface, from the loading position to a laterally spaced-apart transport position, wherein, prior to rolling, the second, opposing end of the cable is connected to the vessel, such as the deck thereof, at a longitudinal distance from the first cable end connected to the releasable cable attachment device, in such a way, that the cable is kept under tension during the rolling of the pile, wherein during the rolling of the pile the cable is wound up on an outer surface of the pile in a spirallike manner. [0008] By carrying out the aforementioned steps, the pile is arranged on the vessel in such a way that the pile is put is in good order for being lifted by the onboard crane in order to be overboarded at the offshore location: by having the cable wound up around the pile during transport of the pile, the second end of the cable can be easily connected to one of the onboard cranes at the offshore location. Due to the cable already being connected with the first end to the pre-installed releasable cable attachment device, at the offshore location, the pile can first be rolled to a desired position while unwinding the cable and subsequently be lifted by the onboard cranes to the overboard position using the same cable, thereby reducing the length of the lifting trajectory of the pile above the deck and thus reducing chances of damage to e.g. deck equipment.

Furthermore, due to the advantageous use of rolling, the pile can be stored at more locations on the deck of the vessel, even outside of the useful working range of the cranes. [0009] In the context of this patent application a 'vessel' is to be understood as a structure capable of floating on water, such as a barge, a motorized ship, et cetera. Furthermore, 'pile' is to be interpreted as any object having a substantially circular cross-section such that it can essentially be rolled, such as a hollow pile, a suction pile, et cetera.

[0010] In an embodiment of the invention, when after carrying out steps a) and b) and before carrying out step c), the pile is at a longitudinal loading position on the support surface being different from a desired longitudinal loading position on the support surface, attaching the second, opposing end of the cable to one of the onboard cranes, lifting the pile to the desired longitudinal position by operating the onboard cranes, and, after the pile is positioned at the desired longitudinal position, disconnecting the second end of the cable from the onboard crane again, while keeping the first end of the cable connected to the releasable cable attachment device. [0011] Advantageously, this allows especially the initial pile to be positioned at the proper longitudinal position on the vessel. The initial pile, in particular one of its pile ends, may then serve as a positional reference for subsequent piles to be loaded. [0012] In an embodiment of the invention, the releasable cable attachment device of step b) was already attached to the pile end as part of the lifting of the pile from the position outside of the vessel to the loading position aboard the vessel as found under step a).

[0013] By having the releasable cable attachment pre-installed on the pile as part of the lifting of the pile from the position outside of the vessel to the loading position aboard the vessel, the releasable cable attachment device no longer has to be installed as an additional step after loading the pile on the vessel. Only one cable attachment device can thus be used for all subsequent pile operations.

[0014] Analogously, the first cable end of the cable of step b) preferably was already attached to the releasable cable attachment device as part of the lifting of the pile from the position outside of the vessel to the loading position aboard the vessel as found under step a), and, therein, the cable was used as a lifting cable with the second cable end attached to one of the cranes.

[0015] By doing so, the same advantages as mentioned under paragraph [0013] basically apply, i.e. the same lifting cable as used during the loading operation can be used for all subsequent pile handling steps.

[0016] In an embodiment of the invention, the loading position is situated near one side of the vessel, such as the port side, and the transport position is situated between the loading position and the other side of the vessel, such as the starboard side. This allows the vessel to be able to load piles in a wide variety of ports, e.g. from the port side as the port side during loading is usually turned towards the port.

[0017] In an embodiment of the invention, after carrying out step c) one or more pile stopper members are installed on or near the support surface, adjacent to the pile, for preventing the pile from rolling during transport thereof by the vessel.

[0018] In an embodiment of the invention, prior to the rolling of the pile as found under step c), the second cable end of the cable of step c) is connected to an extension line, such as a tugger line, at a first line end of the extension line, therein forming a combined cable arrangement, while a second, opposing line end of the extension line is connected to the vessel, such as the deck thereof, at a longitudinal distance from the first cable end connected to the releasable cable attachment device, in such a way that the cable is kept under tension during the rolling of the pile.

[0019] This provides the possibility to extend the cable without compromising the integrity of the connection between the pipe and the deck of the vessel, in a very simple and efficient manner. This furthermore allows increased flexibility for attaching the second cable end to the vessel for keeping the cable under tension during rolling.

[0020] Accordingly, the second line end of the extension line is connected to a winch, wherein the winch is used to keep the combined cable arrangement under tension during rolling of the pile. Such a winch enables line tension to be accurately controlled during the rolling operation.

[0021] According to the invention, the combined cable arrangement is led around a cable guidance device, such as a sheave, situated at a lateral distance from the pile, between the pile and a side of the vessel, such as the port side, wherein a first section of the combined cable arrangement, extending between the first cable end and the cable guidance device, is positioned at an angle with respect to a second section of the combined cable arrangement extending between the cable guidance device and the second line end of the extension line. [0022] This allows a great deal of flexibility regarding the placement of means for tensioning the cable. For instance, winches commonly placed near the forward side of the vessel can even be used as tensioning devices. The combined cable arrangement can be led all the way from the pile to the forward side of the vessel along the port side of the vessel, without hindering deck operations.

[0023] In an embodiment of the invention, the pile moving arrangement comprises a winch situated at a first lateral side of the pile, wherein the winch is configured to provide a pulling action on a first end of a pile rolling cable, at a predetermined longitudinal pulling position with respect to the pile, such that a lateral pulling action occurs, and a second, opposing end of the pile rolling cable is fixedly connected to the vessel at the first lateral side of the pile, such as to the deck thereof, to absorb the lateral pulling action exerted by the pile rolling cable at the same predetermined longitudinal pulling position relative to the pile, in such a way, that when the pile rolling cable is slung around the outer surface of the pile at a second, opposing lateral side thereof, the lateral pulling action causes the pile to roll toward the first lateral side.

[0024] Such an arrangement provides precise control of the rolling of the pile. In principle, such an arrangement is known in the art.

[0025] According to the invention, when multiple, laterally adjacent piles have been arranged on the support surface in a first layer of piles, a further support surface is installed above the first layer of piles for supporting a second layer of laterally adjacent piles, wherein the piles of the second layer can be arranged therein by using the method according to any of the preceding claims.

[0026] Advantageously, this provides the possibility of transporting a number of piles in an efficient manner, without consuming a lot of deck space. The aforementioned method can furthermore be put to good use to arrange piles in the second layer.

[0027] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a vessel comprising a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction and two opposing vessel sides, a starboard side and a port side, a deck with a support surface upon which a pile is supported, the pile having a circular cross-section and two opposing pile ends, one or more onboard cranes arranged on the deck near one of the two vessel sides suitable for lifting the pile, a pile moving arrangement for moving the pile on the support surface, in a lateral direction, being a direction substantially parallel to the support surface and substantially perpendicular to a rolling axis defined by the centre line of the pile, by means of rolling wherein a cable, such as a sling, is connected with a first cable end to a releasable cable attachment device, such as a lifting shoe, arranged at or near one of the pile ends, and a second, opposing end of the cable is connected to the vessel, such as the deck thereof, at a longitudinal distance from the first cable end connected to the releasable attachment device, wherein the cable is wound up on an outer surface of the pile in a spiral-like manner.

[0028] One or more pile stopper members can be arranged on or near the support surface, adjacent to the pile, for preventing the pile from rolling during transport thereof by the vessel.

[0029] Moreover, multiple, laterally adjacent piles can be arranged on the support surface in a first layer of piles and a further support surface is installed above the first layer of piles supporting a second layer of laterally adjacent piles, wherein the individual piles of both the first and the second layer are each connected with a first cable end to a releasable cable attachment device, such as a lifting shoe, arranged at one of the pile ends, and a second, opposing end of the cable is connected to the vessel, such as the deck thereof, at a longitudinal distance from the first cable end connected to the releasable attachment device, wherein the cable is wound up on an outer surface of the pile in a spiral-like manner. Thus, the use of valuable deck space is minimized and, more importantly, piles in the second layer can be arranged using the aforementioned pile arrangement method. [0030] It should be noted that the British patent publication GB 2.327.930 A discloses a transhipping hoist and guide apparatus for transferring cargo between two ships comprises a hoisting beam, provided with cargo grippers, suspended from flexible hoisting elements arranged on one of the ships and a number of contact surfaces for positioning the grippers located on one of the ships. Preferably the hoisting beam, which may be a spreader, has a side shaped complementary to the hoisted cargo, e.g. wedge shaped, and may be suspended by flexible elements from a second beam which may also be a spreader. GB 2.327.930 A does not describe, however, that a pile can be rolled from a transport position to a transfer position in a controlled manner and that the subsequent lifting action by a crane is simplified.

[0031] Furthermore, the Japanese patent publications JP S49 120384 A and JP S48 29555 U disclose how lumbers are shipped through the use of cables connected to a winch. However, these solutions do not deal with deck loading arrangements. Furthermore, none of these documents shows a cable connected at a first end to a pile and at the second end to the deck at a longitudinal distance of the first end, so that the cable is spirally wound around the pile during rolling. [0032] The French patent publication FR 1.533.994 A discloses a way of supporting a pile-shaped object on a vessel by means of a fixed support. Not disclosed, however, is rolling the pile-shaped object to the fixed, elongated support and fixing the pile-shaped object by means of a cable wound around the pile-shaped object in a spiral-like manner. [0033] The United States patent publication US 3.865.256 A discloses an apparatus for handling piping, casing, or other elongated elements employed in a well drilling operation or the like. This patent publication does not relate to the technical problem of arranging such piping or casing on the deck of a vessel for transport, however. Brief description of the drawings

[0034] Embodiments of a method and a vessel according to the invention will by way of non-limiting example be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0035] Figures la and lb show a side view, respectively a top view, of a vessel with piles arranged thereon,

[0036] Figures 2a and 2b show a top view of the vessel, wherein a pile is longitudinally moved from a loading position as shown in figure 2a to a desired longitudinal position as shown in figure 2b,

[0037] Figure 2c shows a side view of the pile during longitudinal movement thereof,

[0038] Figure 2d shows the pile both in the loaded position and the transport position after carrying out the method according to the invention. [0039] Figures 3-5 show side views of intermediate stages of piles being arranged on the vessel using the method according to the invention, and

[0040] Figure 6 shows the pile moving arrangement as preferably used in the method according to the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

[0041] Figures la and lb show a side view, respectively a top view of a vessel 1, such as a heavy lift vessel for offshore installation of piles. The vessel 1 is shown in the final seagoing state, i.e. the state wherein the piles 2 have been secured to the vessel after using the method according to the invention (which method will be explained with reference to figures 2a to 6). [0042] The vessel 1 comprises a longitudinal axis X defining a longitudinal direction and two opposing vessel sides, in this case a starboard side 15 and a port side 14. The vessel 1 has a deck 5 with a support surface 8 upon which a first layer 27 of four laterally adjacent piles 2 is supported. The support surface 8 may comprise multiple spaced-apart I-beams extending in a lateral direction Y, being a direction parallel to the support surface 8 and perpendicular to the vessel sides 14, 15.

[0043] The piles 2 generally have a circular cross-section and comprise two opposing pile ends 3, 4. In figures la and lb one pile end 3 forms an aft pile end, situated near the aft side of the vessel 1, and the other pile end 4 forms a forward pile end, situated more to the forward side of the vessel.

[0044] The vessel 1 is equipped with two onboard cranes for lifting piles 2, an aft crane 6 and a forward crane 7, arranged on the deck 5 near one of the two vessel sides, such as the starboard side 15, as shown.

[0045] The vessel 1 is furthermore provided with a pile moving arrangement (not shown) for moving the piles 2 on the support surface 8, in a lateral direction (Yl), by means of rolling. The operation of the pile moving arrangement will be explained with reference to figure 6.

[0046] As mentioned before, the vessel 1 comprises a first layer 27 of piles, wherein multiple, laterally adjacent piles 2, such as four of these piles 2, have been arranged on the support surface 8. A further support surface (not shown), is installed above the first layer 27 of piles to support a second layer 28 of laterally adjacent piles, such as four, wherein the individual piles of both the first 27 and the second layer 28 are secured to the vessel 1 by means of the method according to the invention, which will be discussed with reference to figures 2a to 6. The aft pile ends 3 as shown in figures la and lb are equipped with releasable cable attachment devices in the form of lift shoes 12.

[0047] Figure 2a shows a vessel 1 with a support surface 8 in the form of several parallel I-beams with a first pile 2 at a longitudinal loading position LLP1 on the support surface 8. The pile 2 is shown just after it has been loaded onto the vessel 1 by either the use of external cranes, such as port cranes, or by using the onboard cranes 6, 7. Preferably, a structure having a pile bumper 32 as shown in figure 6 is used to especially aid in positioning the pile 2 on the support surface 8 during off-loading. The (longitudinal) centre line of the pile 2 defines a rolling axis XI and correspondingly a lateral direction Yl is defined, being a direction perpendicular to the rolling axis XI of the pile 2 and substantially parallel to the support surface 8.

[0048] With the pile 2 as shown, the actual longitudinal loading position LLP1 just after loading differs from a desired longitudinal loading position LLP2 on the support surface 8. Note that the loading position LP, LLP1 is preferably situated near the port side 14 of the vessel 1.

[0049] To move the pile 2 to the desired position LLP2 a first end of a cable 9 is connected to the lifting shoe 12 and second, opposing end of the cable is connected to the aft onboard crane. The forward pile end 4 is to be lifted by the forward crane. The onboard cranes are then used in conjunction for lifting the pile 2 in an afterward direction to the desired longitudinal position LLP2. After the pile 2 is positioned at the desired longitudinal position LLP2 (as shown in figure 2b), the second end of the cable 9 is disconnected from the aft onboard crane again, while the first end of the cable 9 remains attached to the lifting shoe 12. [0050] Preferably, the lifting shoe 12 was already attached to the aft pile end 3 as part of the lifting of the pile from the position outside of the vessel to the loading position LP, i.e. the pile loading operation. Analogously, the first cable end of the cable 9 was preferably already attached to the lifting shoe 12 as part of the loading operation, wherein the cable 9 was used as a lifting cable with the second cable end attached to one of the respective external or onboard cranes.

[0051] Figure 2c shows a side view of the pile 2 during the movement thereof from he actual longitudinal loading position LLP1 to the desired longitudinal loading position LLP2. It can be seen that a cable 9 in the form of a sling is connected with the first cable end 10 to the lifting shoe 12 arranged at the aft pile end 3. The second, opposing end of the cable 11 is connected to a triplate 31. A top part of the triplate 31 is attached to the aft crane 6. A lower part of the triplate 31 is connected to an intermediate part of the pile 2 for additional support of the pile 2 during lifting. [0052] Figures 2d-6 then show the rolling of the pile 2 by using the method according to the invention from the loading position LP to the transport position TP. The method can be initiated when the pile is at its desired longitudinal position LLP2 as shown in figure 2b. Please note, however, that the longitudinal moving operation as elucidated in the foregoing is usually only required for the first pile to be arranged on the support surface 8. Subsequent piles 2 can be loaded on the vessel 1 in such a way that they are already at their desired longitudinal position, wherein the first pile 2 is used as a positional reference.

[0053] A first step of the method according to the invention is to ensure the first cable end 10 is connected to a lifting shoe 12, arranged at the aft pile end 3, and a second, opposing end 11 of the cable 9 is connected to the vessel 1, such as the deck 5 thereof, at a longitudinal distance LI from the first cable end 10. [0054] The second cable end 11 can also be connected to an extension line in the form of a tugger line 17. The second cable end 11 is then connected in a connection point to a first line end 18 of the tugger line 17, therein forming a combined cable arrangement 22 of the sling 9 and the tugger line 17. A second, opposing line end 19 of the tugger line 17 is then connected to the vessel 1, such as the deck 5 thereof (basically instead of the second cable end 11) and preferably to a winch 20, wherein the winch 20 is used to keep the combined cable arrangement 22 under tension during rolling of the pile 2 from the loading position LP to the transport position TP. [0055] Furthermore, the combined cable arrangement 22 can be led around a cable guidance device in the form of a sheave 21, situated at a lateral distance Dl from the pile 2 to be rolled, between the pile 2 and a side of the vessel, such as the port side 14. A first section 23 of the combined cable arrangement 22 then extends between the first cable end 11 and the sheave 21 and is positioned at an angle a with respect to a second section 24 of the combined cable arrangement 22 extending between the sheave 21 and the second line end 19 of the tugger line 17 connected to the winch 20. The sheave 21 can be arranged for instance in a recess in the deck 5.

[0056] A second step of the method is then to operate the pile moving arrangement 13 as shown in figure 6 to roll the pile 2 in the lateral direction Yl from the loading position LP to a laterally spaced-apart transport position TP. Prior to rolling, the second, opposing end of the cable 9 is connected to the vessel 1, as explained in the foregoing, to keep the cable 9 under tension during the rolling of the pile 2. [0057] As shown in figure 6, the pile moving arrangement 13 comprises a winch 25 situated at a first lateral side SI of the pile 2. The winch 25 is configured to provide a pulling action on a first end of a pile rolling cable 26, at a predetermined longitudinal pulling position LPuP with respect to the pile 2, such that a lateral pulling action occurs. A second, opposing end of the pile rolling cable 26 is fixedly connected to the vessel 1 at the first lateral side SI of the pile 2, such as to the deck 5 thereof, to absorb the lateral pulling action exerted by the pile rolling cable 26 at the same predetermined longitudinal pulling position LPuP relative to the pile. This is done in such a way, that when the pile rolling cable 26 is slung around the outer surface of the pile at a second, opposing lateral side S2 thereof, wherein the cable 26 thus resembles a sort of U-shape. The lateral pulling action causes the pile 2 to roll toward the first lateral side SI . The pile moving arrangement 13 can also be used in a mirrored configuration to move the pile to the other way around. Preferably, two opposing pile moving arrangements 13 are used to make this possible. Please note that other ways of laterally rolling the piles are also conceivable.

[0058] During the rolling of the pile 2 the cable 9 is wound up on an outer surface of the pile in a spiral-like manner 29, as shown in figure 2d. After the pile 2 has reached its designated lateral transport position TP, one or more pile stopper members 16 are preferable installed on or near the I-beams 8, adjacent to the pile 2, for preventing the pile 2 from rolling during transport thereof by the vessel 1. The second cable end 11 of each pile 2 is connected to a seafastening position 33 relatively close to the pile 2, such as of the deck 5, in case of piles 2 in the first layer 27. When a tugger line 17 has been used, of course, the second cable end 11 is preferably first to be disconnected from the tugger line 17.

[0059] Multiple, laterally adjacent piles 2 can thus be arranged on the support surface 8 in a first layer of piles 27, and a further support surface 30 can be installed above the first layer 27 of piles 2 for supporting a second layer of laterally adjacent piles 28, wherein the piles 2 of the second layer 28 can be arranged therein by using the aforementioned method, such as shown in figure 5.

[0060] Thus, the invention has been described by reference to the embodiments discussed above. It will be recognized that these embodiments are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms well known to those of skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention. Reference numerals

1. Vessel

2. Pile

3. Pile end

4. Pile end

5. Deck

6. Aft onboard crane

7. Forward onboard crane

8. Support surface

9. Sling (cable)

10. First cable end

11. Second cable end

12. Lifting shoe (releasable cable attachment device)

13. Pile moving arrangement

14. Port side

15. Starboard side

16. Pile stopper member

17. Tugger line (extension line)

18. First line end of extension line

19. Second line end of extension line

20. Winch (extension line)

21. Sheave (cable guidance device)

22. Combined cable arrangement

23. First section of combined cable arrangement

24. Second section of combined cable arrangement

25. Winch (of pile moving arrangement)

26. Pulling cable (pile movement arrangement)

27. First layer of piles

28. Second layer of piles

29. Cable wound up around pile in spiral-like manner

30. Further support surface

31. Triplate 32. Pile bumper

33. Seafastening point

X = longitudinal direction of vessel

Xi = rolling axis of pile

Y = lateral direction of vessel

Yi = lateral rolling direction of pile Li = longitudinal distance between first cable end and second cable end

Di = lateral distance between sheave and pile

LLPi = longitudinal loading position

LLP ₂ = desired longitudinal loading position

LP = loading position on support surface

TP = transport position a = angle between first section and second section of combined cable arrangement

51 = first lateral side of pile

52 = second, opposing lateral side of pile LPuP = longitudinal pulling position