BE1024263B1 - Anchor handling vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vessel comprising a hull with a bottom and a peripheral side, a deck, and a cove. The cove opens into the bottom, the deck and the peripheral side. The vessel further comprises a system for treating an anchor with a treatment line through the inlet. The present invention further relates to an assembly comprising a vessel and an anchor and a method for operating the above vessel.

Description

(73) Holder (s):

JAN DE NUL N.V. 9308, AALST Belgium (72) Inventor (s):

STANDAERT Rutger Filip Leon

8720 WAKE UP

Belgium (54) Anchor handling vessel (57) The present invention relates to a vessel comprising a hull with a bottom and a circumferential side, a deck, and a cove. The inlet flows into the bottom, the deck and the peripheral side. The vessel further includes an anchor handling system with a treatment line through the inlet. The present invention further relates to an assembly comprising a vessel and an anchor and a method of operating the above vessel.

Fig. 2

BELGIAN INVENTION PATENT

FPS Economy, K.M.O., Self-employed & Energy

Publication number: 1024263 Filing number: BE2016 / 5644

Intellectual Property Office

International Classification: B63B 1/08 B63B 35/00 Date of Issue: 16/01/2018

The Minister of Economy,

Having regard to the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property;

Having regard to the Law of March 28, 1984 on inventive patents, Article 22, for patent applications filed before September 22, 2014;

Having regard to Title 1 Invention Patents of Book XI of the Economic Law Code, Article XI.24, for patent applications filed from September 22, 2014;

Having regard to the Royal Decree of 2 December 1986 on the filing, granting and maintenance of inventive patents, Article 28;

Having regard to the application for an invention patent received by the Intellectual Property Office on 17/08/2016.

Whereas for patent applications that fall within the scope of Title 1, Book XI, of the Code of Economic Law (hereinafter WER), in accordance with Article XI.19, § 4, second paragraph, of the WER, the granted patent will be limited. to the patent claims for which the novelty search report was prepared, when the patent application is the subject of a novelty search report indicating a lack of unity of invention as referred to in paragraph 1, and when the applicant does not limit his filing and does not file a divisional application in accordance with the search report.

Decision:

Article 1

JAN DE NUL N.V., Tragei 60, 9308 AALST Belgium;

represented by

NLO BVBA, Technologiepark 19, 9052, ZWIJNAARDEGENT;

a Belgian invention patent with a term of 20 years, subject to payment of the annual fees as referred to in Article XI.48, § 1 of the Code of Economic Law, for: Anchor handling vessel.

INVENTOR (S):

STANDAERT Rutger Filip Leon, Mandelvijver 24, 8720, WAKKEN;

PRIORITY:

07/06/2016 BE 2016/5423;

BREAKDOWN:

Split from basic application: Filing date of the basic application:

Article 2. - This patent is granted without prior investigation into the patentability of the invention, without warranty of the Merit of the invention, nor of the accuracy of its description and at the risk of the applicant (s).

Brussels, 16/01/2018,

With special authorization:

BE2016 / 5644

Anchor handling vessel

The present invention relates to an anchor handling vessel.

The present invention also relates to an assembly according to claim 14 and a method for operating the above vessel according to claims 15 and 16.

State of the art

An anchor handling vessel is a vessel by means of which relatively heavy anchors are treated for anchoring objects, such as dredgers, for example. Other examples include semi-floating platforms as used in the oil and gas industry, or work platforms for the construction of offshore wind farms and the like.

An anchor handling vessel consists of a hull with a bottom, a circumferential side and a deck, and usually has rather limited dimensions with a limited gross tonnage. An anchor handling system consisting of a winch on which a handling line can be wound is provided on the deck of the vessel. There is a bow roller at the end of the hull. The treatment line is connected across the bow roller to an anchor to be treated. Thus, when the treatment line is connected to the winch, the anchor can be raised or lowered by energizing the winch in connection with placing it at the desired position on the bottom of a water body. The anchor remains connected to the object to be anchored via an anchor line. After the anchor is thus placed, the treatment line is disconnected from the winch.

A known problem of such a relatively light craft according to the prior art is that when lifting a relatively heavy anchor suitable for use in the above applications, in particular dredging work, submersion of the deck can occur. An important factor here is the fact that the treatment line runs over the bow roller located at the end of the hull. The anchor hanging from the treatment line thereby exerts a relatively large moment on the hull, such that the vessel can lie at an angle.

BE2016 / 5644

Object of the invention

An object of the invention is to provide a vessel with a limited gross tonnage, for example less than 500 tons, with the aid of which relatively heavy objects such as heavy anchors can be treated without immersion of the deck of the vessel. Another object of the invention is to provide a vessel by means of which a heavy object, such as an anchor, can be safely handled during both lifting and lowering. A further object is to provide a vessel in which a heavy object such as an anchor can be treated, whereby the risk of damage to the vessel is reduced.

Description of the invention

These and other objects are accomplished with an anchor handling vessel comprising a hull with a bottom, a deck, a circumferential side, an inlet opening to the bottom, the deck and the circumferential side, as well as a system for treating an anchor with a treatment line through the cove. The vessel is provided with a, preferably relatively large, inlet with a system for hoisting an anchor in the inlet, so that the anchor can be hoisted relatively close to the center of gravity of the vessel. This reduces the moment to which the vessel is exposed by the weight of the anchor, and consequently reduces the chance of immersion with such a relatively light (less than 500 tons) vessel. Not only is the immersion of the deck avoided, but it is also ensured that the propeller remains submerged.

One embodiment relates to the aforementioned vessel in which the anchor handling system comprises an anchor handling winch with a guide disk for the treatment line, and wherein the guide disk is arranged above the inlet such that, in top view, the guide disk is within a perimeter of the inlet. Preferably, the guide disc and / or the treatment line guided thereover is as close as possible to the point of compression or center of gravity of the vessel, such that the moment exerted on the vessel during hoisting remains as small as possible.

One embodiment relates to the aforementioned vessel, in which the anchor handling system comprises a winch for winding and unwinding the treatment line.

BE2016 / 5644

One embodiment concerns a said vessel, in which the inlet is enclosed between a double hull. Because the inlet is bounded by double hull sections, the integrity of the vessel is also protected if the hull is damaged during anchor work.

One embodiment relates to a vessel mentioned above, in which the bottom is connected to the inlet via truncated bilge, the truncated bilge guide the anchor into the inlet from below.

Because truncated bumps are provided at the bottom of the cove, an anchor located under the vessel can be guided more easily into the cove from below through the wider opening at the bottom of the cove and through the sloping sides of the clamps.

The anchor treatment portal is demountable, making it possible to close the inlet. The inlet can be partially (in combination with the portal) or completely shielded with a removable work deck.

One embodiment relates to the aforementioned vessel, in which a removable bow roller is provided which bridges the free or outer end of the inlet.

By removing the bow roller, the inlet is completely open on one side. This allows cables and other objects to be introduced into the inlet without obstructions without any obstacles.

An embodiment relates to the aforementioned vessel, wherein the tonnage of the vessel is less than 500 tons.

An embodiment concerns a said vessel, wherein the vessel is a work boat.

One embodiment relates to the aforementioned vessel, wherein a length of the vessel varies between 30-40 m and a width of the vessel varies between 10-20 m, preferably the length of the vessel is about 34 m and the width of the vessel is about 15 m.

One embodiment relates to the aforementioned vessel, in which a length of the cove varies between 10-20 m and a width of the cove varies between 3-8 m, preferably the length of the cove being about 12.5 m and the width of the inlet is about 5.5 m.

BE2016 / 5644

In addition, the invention relates to an assembly comprising a vessel as described above and an anchor with treatment line which is connected to the anchor treatment system.

In addition, the invention relates to a method of operating the anchor handling vessel as described above, comprising the following steps:

- providing an anchor connected to a treatment line, the anchor being located at the bottom of a water body and the treatment line extending to the surface of the water body;

- moving the treatment line and vessel relative to each other such that the treatment line enters the inlet through its free or outer end;

- connecting the treatment line to the anchor handling winch;

energizing the anchor handling winch to lift the anchor, such as to a position within the inlet.

In addition, the invention relates to a further method of operating the anchor handling vessel as described above, comprising the following steps:

- providing an anchor connected to a treatment line, the treatment line connected to and wound on the anchor handling winch;

- unwinding the treatment line of the anchor handling winch and depositing the anchor on the bottom of a water body;

- disconnecting the treatment line from the winch;

- moving the treatment line and vessel relative to each other such that the treatment line exits the inlet via its free or outer end.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing.

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of an anchor handling vessel according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic front view of the anchor handling vessel of Figure 1;

Figure 3A shows a schematic top view of the anchor handling vessel of Figure 1;

BE2016 / 5644

Figure 3B shows a schematic top view of an embodiment of the anchor handling vessel of Figure 3A.

Detailed description of the figures

Figure 1 shows an anchor handling vessel 1 according to the present invention. The vessel 1 comprises a hull 2 with a bottom 3, a peripheral side 5 and a deck 4 (see Figures 3A and 3B to be discussed further). The vessel 1 can for instance be a work boat and can be provided with propulsion means, in particular screws.

In an embodiment of a vessel according to the present invention, a length of the vessel ranges from 30 m to 40 m and a width of the vessel ranges from 10 to 20 m. In a preferred embodiment of a vessel according to the present invention, the length is of the vessel about 34 m and the width of the vessel is about 15 m.

In a preferred embodiment of a vessel according to the present invention, the tonnage of the vessel 1 is less than 500 tons.

Figure 2 shows the anchor treatment vessel 1 according to Figure 1 in front view. The vessel 1 comprises a cove 11, the cove 11 opening into the deck 4, into the bottom 3 and on the circumferential side 5.

The vessel 1 further comprises a system 6 for treating an anchor 10, which during use is connected to a treatment line 9 passing through the inlet 11. The anchor treatment system 6 includes an anchor treatment portal 7 (see Figures 3A and 3B to be discussed below) with a guide disc 8 for the treatment line. The guiding disc 8 is arranged above the inlet 11 such that, in top view, the guiding disc 8 is within a circumference of the inlet 11.

Furthermore, the anchor handling system has a winch 12 for winding and unwinding the treatment line 9.

In an embodiment of a vessel according to the present invention, the inlet 11 comprises walls which can be arranged as a double hull such that the inlet 11 is enclosed between a double hull.

The bottom 3 of the hull 2 is also connected to the inlet via truncated bilge

13. This configuration makes it easier to guide the anchor 10 into the ham from below.

2016/5644

BE2016 / 5644

Figure 3A shows the anchor treatment vessel 1 according to the previous figures in a top view. Here, an anchor treatment system 6 is shown which includes an anchor treatment gantry 7 with a guide disc 8 for the treatment line.

The anchor treatment portal 7 can be detachably mounted.

The guiding disc 8 is arranged above the inlet 11 such that, in top view, the guiding disc 8 is within the circumference of the inlet 11.

In an embodiment of a vessel according to the present invention, a length of the inlet varies from 10 m to 20 m and a width of the inlet varies from 3 m to 8 m. In a preferred embodiment of a vessel according to the present invention, the length of the cove is about 12.5 m and the width of the cove is about 5.5 m.

Figure 3B shows an embodiment of the anchor handling vessel 1 according to Figure 3A, in which the inlet 11 is partly covered with a removable working deck 14.

Furthermore, a removable bow roller 15 is provided, which bridges the free or outer end of the inlet. Cables, chains and the like can be guided via this bow roller 15, which are used in performing various, mainly light, work.

BE2016 / 5644

Claims (15)

Conclusions An anchor handling vessel (1) comprising a hull (2) with a bottom (3), a deck (4), a circumferential side (5), an inlet (11) opening at the bottom (3), the deck (4) and the circumferential side (5) and a system (6) for treating an anchor (10) with a treatment line (9) through the inlet (11). Vessel according to claim 1, wherein the anchor treatment system (6) comprises an anchor treatment portal (7) with a guide disk (8) for the treatment line (9), which guide disk (8) is arranged above the inlet (11) such that, in top view , the guide disc (8) lies within a circumference of the recess (11). Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the anchor handling system (1) comprises a winch (12) for winding and unwinding the treatment line (9). Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet (11) is enclosed between a double hull. Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom (3) is adjacent to the inlet (11) via truncated bilge (13), the truncated bilge (13) guiding the anchor (10) into the inlet (11) from below off. A vessel according to any one of claims 2-5, wherein the anchor handling portal (7) is removably mounted. Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inlet (11) is coverable with a removable working deck (14). Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a removable bow roller (15) is provided which bridges the free or outer end of the inlet (11). Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tonnage of the vessel (1) is less than 500 tons. BE2016 / 5644 Vessel according to claim 1, wherein the vessel (1) is a work boat. Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a length of the vessel (1) varies between 30-40 m and a width of the vessel (1) varies between 10-20 m, preferably the length of the vessel (1 ) is about 34 m and the width of the vessel (1) is about 15 m. Vessel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a length of the cove (11) varies between 10-20 m and a width of the cove (11) varies between 3-8 m, preferably the length of the cove (1 ) is about 12.5 m and the width of the inlet (1) is about 5.5 m. Assembly comprising a vessel according to any one of claims 1-12 and an anchor (10) with treatment line (9) connected to the anchor treatment system (6). A method of operating the anchor handling vessel (1) according to any one of claims 1-12, comprising the following steps: - providing an anchor (10) connected to a treatment line (9), the anchor (10) located at the bottom of a water body and the treatment line (9) extending to the surface of the water body; - moving the treatment line (9) and the vessel (1) relative to each other such that the treatment line (9) enters the inlet (11) through its free or outer end; - connecting the treatment line (9) to the anchor handling winch (12); - energizing the anchor handling winch (12) to raise the anchor (10), such as to a position within the inlet (11). A method of operating the anchor handling vessel according to any one of claims 1-12, comprising the following steps: - providing an anchor (10) connected to a treatment line (9), the treatment line (9) connected to and wound on the anchor treatment winch (12); 2016/5644 9 BE2016 / 5644 - unwinding the handling line (9) of the anchor handling winch (12) and depositing the anchor (10) on the bottom of a body of water, - disconnecting the handling line (9) from the winch (12), - moving the treatment line (9) and the vessel (1) relative to 5 each other such that the treatment line (9) exits the inlet via the free or outer end thereof. BE2016 / 5644 BE2016 / 5644 BE2016 / 5644 BE2016 / 5644 LO ia „Ö3 2016/5644 BE2016 / 5644