EP2093143B1 - Service vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

The ship (1) has superstructures arranged into decks (6, 8) lying one above the other, and a stack (5) extending upwards from a moon pool (3). An upper opening is formed on the decks of the stack, where the decks are provided with a removable or openly designed closure (7) i.e. dome or plate-like stack cover. Working and/or research units e.g. container, are arranged adjacent to the stack on the decks at defined application positions (9). The stack and the adjacently defined application positions are implemented for bringing of the working and/or research units.

Description

The invention relates to a work vessel with ship superstructures, which are divided into several, superimposed decks. Furthermore, such a work vessel has a moonpool and a shaft extending upwards from the moonpool. This slot can have at least the same footprint as the Moonpool.

As a working vessel in the context of the invention, for example, research vessels, drilling ships, exploration vessels or floating platforms are to be regarded. All these floating units have in common that they are capable of carrying out certain activities, e.g. in the research, exploration or development area. The term work ship in the context of the invention is to be seen as a delimitation to pure passenger and transport ships, especially for conventional cargo loads.

Moonpool refers to an opening in the hull of a ship or in the bottom of a platform that provides direct access to the surrounding water. Through a Moonpool, it is possible to lower devices into the water surrounding the ship or the platform, and resume them. A Moonpool usually provides better access to the surrounding water than an access that is only possible via the railing or the stern. In addition, the Moonpool is a quiet access to the water possible, since in the Moonpool little water movement is present and the water level remains essentially the same.

Basically, a Moonpool on a research vessel is a limited resource that should be used as effectively as possible by many researchers of different disciplines. On the one hand there is the problem that the simultaneous access to the Moonpool by several persons of the research groups is difficult. To the On the other hand, the various areas of research are usually distributed throughout the ship, which means that scientific research equipment must first be brought to the Moonpool.

From the garrungsgemäße WO 99/32352 is a working ship known, which has a main moonpool and several laterally arranged Hilfsmoonpools. The additional arrangement of the lateral Moonpools serves to work simultaneously with two work tools. For this purpose, the lateral Moonpools are arranged to compensate for a relative movement of the ship around the first Moonpool can.

The invention has for its object to provide a work vessel with a flexible, interdisciplinary use concept, especially for the area of a Moonpools.

The object is achieved by a working ship with the features of claim 1.

Further advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims, the description and the figures and their description.

According to claim 1, a generic working ship is developed such that the shaft is formed up to a top deck or a deck above the waterline. This shaft forms, with the decks, an opening which is watertight or non-watertight, by means of a removable or openable end, floor or deck, by means of a manhole cover. Furthermore, defined insert positions are provided adjacent to the shaft on at least one deck. At these deployment positions are facilities for arranging work and / or research units. Furthermore, the Schacht and the adjacent defined deployment positions for the introduction of work and / or research units executed.

A basic idea of the invention can be seen to form the shaft above the moonpool up to the top deck above the moonpool. This top deck does not necessarily have to be the highest point of the ship or the highest deck. It is sufficient according to the invention if the shaft extends up to the uppermost deck or a deck lying at any height between them over the Moonpool, so that access to the Moonpool from above, from outside the ship or its superstructures is possible. On this deck, the shaft usually forms an opening which is closed with a removable closure so that the interior of the shaft is not exposed to environmental influences. The above the Moonpool arranged and completed by the completion shaft, thus forming from the top of an atrium with natural light.

Another key idea of the invention can be seen in that the shaft is formed from the top deck down and that preferably the top opening of the shaft is provided with a removable or opening suitable for opening. Alternatively, it is also feasible to equip the opening of the shaft on an intermediate deck with a domed or plate-like manhole cover, which is also designed to be translucent and designed for removal or at least for opening. In this way, as it were seen from above, first a free shaft with free light incidence is formed over one or more decks downwards. This shaft can then preferably have a manhole cover in a deck, which is expediently designed watertight. The manhole cover is designed in particular translucent for the lower area of the shaft in the direction of Moonpool. However, it is also conceivable a removable plate-like cover in the manner of a cargo hold conclusion.

This type of shaft formation and the completion of the shaft on an intermediate deck can be advantageously combined with the conclusion of the uppermost opening of the shaft, in particular in the manner of a translucent dome.
In both cases, the access and insertion of modular units such as containers via the shaft into the corresponding decks is possible.

Via the shaft it is possible to introduce work and / or research units and to place them at deployment positions which are provided adjacent to the shaft. Depending on the purpose of the research or the task, special work and / or research units can be placed at the appropriate positions. In addition, the fact that the shaft extends above the Moonpool up to the top, all adjacent to the shaft decks on this shaft access, for example, take water samples or drop devices on the Moonpool in the sea.

In the following description, activities such as operations and research activities are ship specific referred to as comparable, similar activities. For the invention it is not essential whether the ship according to the invention used for work such as the exploration of new oil well areas or the control of submarine cords, or for research purposes such as analysis of seabed alteration or geological analysis of sediments. Such activities, which are listed here only as an example, are greatly facilitated by the inventive concept of the work vessel in a multi-functional and interdisciplinary respect.

In an advantageous embodiment, the work and / or research units are designed as modular units, in particular research containers and / or scientific devices or assemblies. The research containers or modular units can be regarded as equipped finished workplaces or laboratories, which are optimized for the respective research or working purpose. Furthermore, it is preferred if the device for arranging the work and / or research units is designed as a guiding, fastening and / or latching mechanism at the defined deployment positions. This can be done for example in the form of guide rails. Through an interaction of guide rails and module units, a simple placement of the work and / or research units at the deployment positions is possible.

On the one hand by the defined module dimensions of the module units and on the other hand by matched to the module dimension guide, fastening or locking mechanisms for these modular units, an exchange of work and / or research units is facilitated. Likewise, the installation of the work and / or research units is simplified. This makes it possible, for example, for a research vessel to retrofit it quickly and in a short time with differently equipped work and / or research units, so that researchers of different disciplines can use this ship. In addition, there is the advantage that the employment positions of the research and development units adjacent to the shaft which leads to the Moonpool are provided so that the Moonpool can be accessed relatively easily during research work.

If the individual work and / or research units are provided on top of each other like an apex, access to the shaft and thus to the Moonpool is possible in each case. This allows several different workgroups to work in parallel with and access the Moonpool.

In order to further simplify the structure of the work and / or research units, supply connections can be provided at the insert positions. This may be, for example, an energy and / or water supply of the work and / or research units. Likewise, other types of supply connections are possible, for example, with fresh air or compressed air, depending on the design of the work and / or research units and the corresponding supply connections, and connections to information technology networks of the ship or IT networking to external. For example, a work unit designed as a sample reefer container requires connections to the ship's power supply or cooling system.

In principle, it is possible to lift the work and / or research units in the port to their respective positions by means of existing cranes. However, it is preferred if on board the work vessel an on-board crane is provided, which is designed such that it can transport the work and / or research units from standby positions on the ship to the deployment positions both in the harbor and during the sea mission , To facilitate transport by crane, the standby positions should be accessible from the top. Such a construction makes it possible to use different work and / or research units with devices provided differently in each case even during a research or work trip. It is conceivable, for example, that several days of research units in the form of research containers for biologists stand at the deployment positions, and that after a certain period of time, for example several days, these research containers are exchanged with research containers for geologists in order to measure the seabed over the ocean Moonpool make. This allows the Moonpool to be used during a single exploration trip by different scientists, each with the special equipment needed for their research in the Moonpool area.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one lifting device is provided in the shaft above the moonpool. On the one hand, this lifting device can be used to transport devices from the individual research units into the Moonpool, so that they can be put into the water there. On the other hand, it is also possible that on the lifting equipment work and / or research units be transported to their deployment positions. In this case, an on-board crane must only be designed to transport the work and / or research units to a specific position within or above the shaft. The transport within the shaft can then take place via the lifting devices. The lifting device may be embodied, for example, as a hydraulic arm or cross-toothed bar for longitudinal crossbeams with trolleys.

Basically, the completion of the shaft on the top deck can be performed arbitrarily. Preferably, however, it is designed as a dome. This dome can be designed, for example, displaceable. In this case, it is displaceable between a position in which it covers the shaft, and a further position in which the dome releases the upper opening of the shaft, for example, to lower work and / or research units into the shaft. It is also possible that the conclusion of two or more parts is designed and both parts of the financial statements can be pushed to the side. In principle, however, it is not necessary for the degree to be displaceable. It is also conceivable that he can be lifted by means of an on-board crane from the upper opening of the shaft and placed on an intermediate storage position, and then to transport work and / or research units or scientific equipment through the shaft to the use position. The conclusion may also be executed pontoon-like in the form of a pontoon hatch.

It is advantageous if the conclusion translucent, for example, simple or double glazed executed. The conclusion can also be designed in the form of a glass dome, which is displaceable or open. The shaft extends from the final deck to the Moonpool. The areas of the decks adjacent to this shaft usually have openings to the shaft in order to access the Moonpool. In the case of a translucent cover, there is the possibility that daylight can also reach the adjoining decks through the shaft. To increase this effect, it is advantageous if daylight reflectors are provided in the region of the shaft.

In principle, it is possible to design the shaft as an inner shaft with a constant diameter which, for example, is slightly larger than the base of the Moonpool and extends unaltered to the upper opening. It is advantageous, however, if the shaft is widening upwards. In this case, the are arranged terrace-like defined mission positions, whereby they can be better supplied by the translucent cathedral with daylight and the exchange of work and / or research units is facilitated.

In order to provide an environment within the shaft and the adjacent insert positions or the work and / or research units placed on these deployment positions in which reliable and effective work is possible, it is advantageous if the closure weatherproof and / or seawater resistant the upper opening closes. As a result, even in adverse outdoor conditions, storm or when the work ship is in the vicinity of the Polbereiche, be worked inside regardless of the weather.

In order to facilitate access to the Moonpool, it is preferable if the shaft above the Moonpool has balcony-like work projections or stages. These work tabs make it easy to lower devices or items into the Moonpool or remove them from the Moonpool.

An essential core idea for the work vessel can be seen in realizing an atrium concept with a translucent upper dome and access to a lower moon pool, whereby a terraced arrangement of the decks connected to the shaft or their platforms open to the shaft is possible.

Fig. 1

einen Längsschnitt durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Arbeitsschiff etwa auf Höhe des Hauptdecks;

Fig. 2

eine Skizze eines Vertikalschnittes durch ein erfindungsgemäßes Arbeits- schiff im Bereich oberhalb eines Moonpools;

Fig. 3

eine Schnittansicht etwa entlang der Linie III-III aus Fig. 1 mit einer Schacht- abdeckung auf einem unteren Deck; und

Fig. 4

eine Prinzipskizze eines sich nach oben verbreiternden Schachtes.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments and schematic drawings. In these drawings show:

Fig. 1

a longitudinal section through an inventive work vessel approximately at the height of the main deck;

Fig. 2

a sketch of a vertical section through an inventive work vessel in the area above a Moonpools;

Fig. 3

a sectional view approximately along the line III-III Fig. 1 with a manhole cover on a lower deck; and

Fig. 4

a schematic diagram of an upwardly broadening shaft.

In Fig. 1 a longitudinal section of a working ship 1 according to the invention is shown. As a working ship 1 in relation to the invention, for example, research vessels, exploration vessels or drilling ships are to be regarded. On the ship 1 different ship bodies 2 are provided. Furthermore, the research vessel 1 shown here has a front 3 and a rear moonpool 4. An atrium-like shaft 5 extends around the front moonpool 3. The base area of the shaft 5 corresponds in this case to the surface of the moonpool 3 and a circular passage 14 surrounding the moonpool.

In contrast to the front Moonpool 3, the rear Moonpool 4 is not located within the ship superstructures 2. The rear Moonpool 4 can be used for test drilling, similar to the known Moonpool. For this purpose, appropriate devices for storing the pipe string and the samples taken are provided.

The front Moonpool 3 is located within ship superstructures 2 and is surrounded by the atrium-like shaft 5. Adjacent to the shaft 5 insert positions 9 are provided for work and / or research units. These work and / or research units can be provided, for example, in the form of ready-made containers 11.

On the deck, which is shown in the longitudinal section, are exemplary four research containers 11 at deployment positions 9 to the Moonpool 3 and the atrium-like shaft 5. About the atrium-like shaft 5, it is also possible to exchange the research container 11. For this purpose, there are further research containers 11 in standby positions 19. The standby positions 19 can be found, for example, on the foredeck or in designated storage areas below deck. Equipped Research Containers 11 can be fully equipped workstations for researchers of different disciplines or even any cargo container. By exchanging individual containers 11, in which a container 11 is transported from a standby position 19 to an insertion position 9, it is possible to provide other scientific equipment or any loads and equipment for use in the area of the front moonpool 3 ,

In order to be able to carry out such an exchange of containers 11, the atrium-like shaft 5 is dimensioned around the moonpool 3 such that the containers 11 can be removed from the insertion positions 9 from the shaft 5 and, for example, by means of an on-board crane to a standby position 19 can be transported. Analog is moved with containers 11, which are located on the standby positions 19. These are e.g. transported by means of an on-board crane on the atrium-like shaft 5 to the deployment positions 9, so that research facilities, which are located in this container 11, are available for further work.

In principle, the transport of the container 11 can also be carried out by an external crane. The advantage of transport by means of an on-board crane lies in the fact that the containers 11 between the deployment positions 9 and the standby positions 19 can also be exchanged on a research trip and thus the area around the Moonpool can be flexibly converted for use in relation to different scientific disciplines can

Fig. 2 FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a cross section through a research vessel 1 according to the invention in the area above the moonpool 3. In this schematic diagram, the atrium-like shaft 5 extends from the moonpool 3 over two decks 6 and 8. In this case, the atrium-like shaft 5 ends in the upper region of the uppermost deck 6. The upper deck 6 in the context of the invention designates the deck which forms the uppermost deck above the Moonpool. The research vessel can also have other, higher-lying decks, such as a command bridge.

On the uppermost deck 6, the atrium-like shaft 5 forms an opening, which is sealed seawater-tight by means of a dome 7. This dome 7 is here made in two parts, so that it can be moved, for example, each as a half-dome on the sides and the shaft releases.

After the dome 7 has been removed from the upper opening of the shaft 5, as previously described with reference to FIG Fig. 1 described containers 11 are transported to their use positions 9. For this purpose, they are lowered by means of a crane from above through the upper opening of the shaft 5 in the shaft 5 and placed on their insertion positions 9 in the decks. To simplify placing, guide rails can be used be provided in the field of deployment positions 9 to transport containers 11 from the shaft to their deployment positions 9 can.

For this purpose, passages 23 are provided on the shaft wall, which are dimensioned such that corresponding containers 11 can be transported through them to the insertion positions 9, for example pushed. The passages 23 may be designed as large gates, which are formed without sull.

In order to simplify the transport of the containers 11 to the deployment positions 9, it may be provided, for example, that a working platform 24 is mounted above the moonpool 3 on the deck on which the container 11 is to be installed, on which the container 11 is temporarily parked can be.

To further simplify the handling of the container 11 within the atrium-like shaft 5 lifting devices 12 are provided within the shaft. These lifting devices 12 may be designed, for example, as sliding bars or crane crossbeams with cross-toothed beams for longitudinal crossbeams and trolleys. These lifters 12 may also be used to lower heavy equipment into the Moonpool 3, such as ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle).

At the insert positions 9 of the container 11 corresponding supply connections for the container 11 are present. The containers 11 are preferably ready-equipped units, which only need to be supplied with external resources. Accordingly, connections for power, water and also, for example, air, compressed air or for a hydraulic system are present at the deployment positions, depending on the requirements of the containers 11. The container 11 may also contain larger scientific devices which are required for carrying out appropriate analyzes. In addition, corresponding fastening mechanisms for the containers 11 are provided at the insert positions in order to secure them against slipping in rough seas. These attachment mechanisms may be similar to attachment mechanisms for containers in container ships.

In the embodiment shown here, the dome 7 is translucent, for example, by a double glazing executed. This allows daylight through the atrium-like Manhole 5 arrive at the deployment positions 9 of the container 11. This can be further enhanced by daylight reflectors, so that daylight can also be directed into the research container 11.

In order to allow the simplest possible access to the Moonpool 3 also over several decks 6, 8, working decks 13 or stages are provided on the decks 6, 8, which extend into the atrium-like shaft 5. These working projections 13 can protrude into the shaft 5 so far that they end above the Moonpool 3 and thus allow vertical access to the water of the Moonpool 3.

Similarly, it is possible to place work platforms 24 over the Moonpool 3 on individual decks 6, 8 to provide better access to the Moonpool 3. Access to the Moonpool 3 in the context of the invention not only means access to the Moonpool 3 at the water level, but also the possibility of working vertically above and below the water level to lower tools into the Moonpool 3 or via the Moonpool 3 samples, for example from the seabed.

In Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of the research vessel 1 from Fig. 1 shown. In this view it can be seen that the uppermost deck 6 above the Moonpool 3 does not have to be the highest deck of the ship. In this case, the bridge 28 located further to the rear of the research vessel 1 projects beyond the top deck 6 with respect to the moonpool 3.

In this embodiment, a plurality of further decks 8 are arranged below the uppermost deck 6, each of which provides deployment positions 9 for containers 11. The atrium-like shaft 5 is sealed weatherproof with a dome-like finish 7. The lower opening 31 of the Moonpool 3 can also be closed by appropriate watertight or non-watertight flaps, gates or pontoons, so that it is possible to pump the Moonpool 3, among other things empty and directly in the drained Moonpool 3 installation equipment to assemble and build, either After opening the Moonpool 3 can be left into the sea or even perform measurements within the Moonpool 3.

In this embodiment shown here, the atrium-like shaft 5 is surrounded by a tour 14. By means of this tour, a relatively good access to the Moonpool 3 can be achieved. The height of the water level in Moonpool 3 depends on the waterline 29 of the research vessel 1, which varies depending on the charge and depth.

The representation after Fig. 3 also shows the possibility of providing the shaft 5 on a lower deck or intermediate deck with a manhole cover 17. This manhole cover 17 is expediently also removable, movable or at least open to allow access via the shaft 5 to the lower deck and the Moonpool.
The manhole cover 17 is advantageously designed to be translucent, so that a light incidence even to the lower decks is still possible. In an alternative of the design of the shaft, the illustrated dome 7 can be completely eliminated, so that the shaft 5 initially forms a free atrium as far as the manhole cover 17 when viewed from above. But also the combination with a Dom 7 in the region of the uppermost opening and a manhole cover 17 at the level of an underlying deck is possible depending on special requirements, such as areas of application of the ship.

In Fig. 3 Furthermore, a rescue boat 32 is shown with a sliding mechanism. Similarly, a shifting mechanism may be provided for the containers 11 to transfer them from their deployed position to the shaft and from there to another position, for example other deployment positions 9 or standby positions, by means of a crane or lifting devices 12 in the shaft 5 19 to be able to transport or even to the side to the outboard or at least to the outside of the deckhouse or structure to promote.

In Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a widening upward spacious atrium-like shaft 5 shown. In this embodiment, the atrium-like shaft 5, the individual decks 6, 8 are each arranged offset to the rear terraced. The individual decks 6, 8 can also be regarded as staggered levels. With such an embodiment, a great deal of natural light can be passed through the translucent dome 7 onto the individual decks 6, 8. On each deck 6, 8 here again a tour 14 is arranged around the Moonpool 3, which, however, in the upper deck lying 6, 8 due to the terraced formation of the Decks is set back. A direct access to the Moonpool 3 is possible in this embodiment only from directly on Moonpool 3 lying deck. From the other decks 6, 8, however, devices or other devices can be placed in the Moonpool 3 via the lifting devices 12 provided in the shaft 5.

Another advantage of a terraced arrangement of the individual levels or decks 6, 8 is that all the decks 6, 8 and the moonpool 3 can be easily reached by means of a hoist 12. The hoist 12 may also be used to transport materials or articles between the individual decks 6, 8.

In another embodiment, not shown here, it is also possible, only on one side of the shaft 5, the decks 6, 8 set back terraced and the other three sides of the shaft 5 is substantially perpendicular, as in Fig. 3 is shown to execute. It is also possible to execute only certain decks 6, 8 offset to the rear and to build up the remaining decks 6, 8 not set back over some set-back decks 6, 8. The exact design of the shaft 5 is dependent on the design of the research vessel 1, in particular which disciplines on this ship 1 research or otherwise work and what environment they need for their research. Thus, it is also possible to provide a terraced arrangement on two or three sides of the shaft 5.

In order to be able to transport the containers 11 to their insertion position 9, the railings 35 shown here are detachably mounted so that they do not stand in the way of removing a container 11 or to facilitate work to be carried out in the area of the railing 35.

In another embodiment of the shaft 5, the shaft 5 narrows upwards so that superimposed decks 6, 8 can each be accessed directly on the moonpool 3. The atrium form can therefore be task or purpose-related also in "negative" form, i. be tapered upwards with or without inwardly overhanging balconies.

The working vessel according to the invention provides by providing an atrium-like shaft 5 above a Moonpool 3 with the corresponding adjacent Deployment positions 9 is a flexible usage concept that allows Moonpool 3 to be used for a variety of purposes.

Claims (15)

1. Working ship, particularly for research and/or drilling purposes,
   with ship superstructures (2) which are divided into a plurality of decks lying one above the other,
   with a moon pool (3),
   with a shaft extending upwards from the moon pool (3),
   characterised in that
   the shaft (5) is formed as far as a top deck (6) and thereby forms a top opening, the top opening and/or an opening formed by the shaft (5) on a deck lying below is provided with a closure (7) which is removable or is designed for opening, installations for arranging exchangeable work and/or research units (11) are provided alongside the shaft (5) on at least one deck (8) at defined operational positions (9),
   the shaft (5) and the adjacent defined operational positions (9) are designed for incorporation of the exchangeable work and/or research units,
   supply connections for the exchangeable work and/or research units (11) are provided, in particular for power or water supply and/or for communication networks and
   the exchangeable work and/or research units (11) are designed as modular units.
2. Working ship according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the exchangeable work and/or research units (11) are designed as containers, scientific units and/or components.
3. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the devices for arrangement are implemented as guides, fixing or detent mechanisms at the defined operational positions (9).
4. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that
   an onboard crane is provided for transporting the exchangeable work and/or research units (11) between the defined operational positions (9) and assigned standby positions (19).
5. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that
   at least one lifting installation (12) is provided in the shaft (5) above the moon pool (3).
6. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the closure (7) is designed as a dome or plate-like shaft cover.
7. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the closure (7) is arranged and designed displaceably, in particular being in two or more parts, in order to expose the opening of the shaft.
8. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   the closure (7) is designed to be light-permeable, in particular being glazed.
9. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 8,
   characterised in that
   daylight reflectors are provided in the region of the shaft (5).
10. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 9,
    characterised in that
    the closure (7) is designed for the weatherproof and seawater-proof closure of the, in particular upper, opening of the shaft.
11. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the defined operational positions (9) are arranged in a terrace-like manner positively or negatively.
12. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that
    the shaft (5) comprises above the moon pool (3) balcony-like platforms or work projections (13),
    which are arranged in particular in a terrace-like manner and can be combined with an upward widening of the shaft (5).
13. Working ship according to one of the claims 5 to 12,
    characterised in that
    the lifting installation (12) is positioned in particular in the region of the top deck (6) and
    the lifting installation (12) is designed to transport objects to, from and/or between the operational positions (9), the work projections (13) and/or the moon pool (3).
14. Working ship according to one of the claims 1 to 13,
    characterised in that
    a closure (17) of the opening of the shaft (5) is provided below the top deck.
15. Working ship according to claim 14,
    characterised in that
    the upper region of the shaft (5) forms a free atrium.

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