Mobile underwater work and protection station for people

Abstract

Mobile underwater work and protection station (1) for persons, in particular for divers (100), which allows temporary stays and the performance of work underwater, comprising at least one accommodation space (10, 20, 30) designed as a double-walled, structurally reinforced housing, characterized in that the accommodation space (10, 20, 30) has a continuous supply of breathing air and fresh air, wherein the breathing air and fresh air supply is provided via a detachable fluid connection (5) between the accommodation space (10, 20, 30) and a surface station (200), a ship, a building or a surface platform (201) and / or the breathing air and fresh air supply is provided via an autonomous breathing air supply independent of the fluid connection (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile underwater work and protection station for persons, in particular for divers, which allows temporary stays and the performance of work underwater, comprising at least one living space designed as a double-walled, structurally reinforced housing, according to the preamble of claim 1, a system with the station according to the invention, which is technically or structurally equipped with at least one of the following functions, work, supply, safety or emergency function, according to claim 19, and the use of the station or system according to the invention with an offshore installation, with a ship, with a building or in a port facility according to claim 20. DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Based on the list of existing underwater stations, underwater stations can be categorized into different types depending on their planned depth and mobility. This makes it clear that underwater stations are not always conceptually distinct from submersibles, diving bells, or ships. A submersible that can be deployed on the seabed and equipped with airlocks can certainly be categorized as an underwater station. The same applies to diving bells that have a dry area and allow divers to surface completely; or ships that have a compartment in the hull whose pressure can be adjusted to the environment, allowing divers to exit via airlocks [Source: https: / / de.wikipedia.org / wiki / Unterwasserstation]. Known underwater stations can be categorized as floating, accessible via surface corridor, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous. The floating station is located within the hull of a floating structure and therefore remains constantly submerged. In the case of Sea Orbiter, this area is intended to extend to a depth of 30 meters. The advantage of this type is its mobility. The station, designed with a surface corridor, is accessible via a corridor leading to the water's surface. This severely limits its operating depth. However, an internal pressure of 1 bar can be maintained, eliminating the need for visitors to undergo any decompression procedures. This type of station is generally used in coastal areas, such as the underwater restaurant Ithaa in the Maldives or Red Sea Star in Eilat, Israel. Exits are either not provided or only possible through an airlock. Furthermore, this design can lead to significant problems, as was the case with Ithaa when a tsunami threatened to flood the corridor after the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. Semi-autonomous stations are only accessible by diving, but receive energy and breathing gas through a supply line (umbilical). Most stations are of this type, such as Aquarius (laboratory), Sealab I and II, and Helgoland. - Self-sufficient stations that possess their own reserves of energy and breathing gas. Due to their self-sufficiency, these stations are necessarily capable of maneuvering independently (at least vertically). This type is therefore similar to submersibles or armored diving suits, but avoids "complete isolation from the environment" due to its escape option. Examples include the Conshelf III and the Bentos-300.

[0003] Regarding internal pressure, two types of underwater stations can be distinguished, as follows: - Open ward Almost all underwater stations are designed to maintain ambient pressure or slightly above it, similar to a diving bell. In this case, the station has an exit in the form of a moonpool at the bottom, through which divers can enter and exit. Once the divers are saturated with breathing gas, they can remain in the station indefinitely. At the end of a mission, a decompression procedure, the extent of which depends on the operating depth, is necessary. For this purpose, the divers are either transported in a capsule to a decompression chamber aboard a supply vessel (see Sealab II), or the station is sealed underwater and itself serves as a decompression chamber (see Aquarius). The latter is only possible down to depths of approximately 40 meters. - Closed station The internal pressure in closed stations, as in a submarine, is identical to the atmospheric pressure at sea level. To exit, divers must use an airlock that compresses them to the ambient pressure of the respective depth and later decompresses them again. While the operating depth depends on the pressure resistance of the station, exits can only be made at limited depths, as even short exits at greater depths would require considerable decompression times. The Russian station Bentos-300 (pronounced: Bentos Minus Three Hundred) was designed for depths of up to 300 m and had such an airlock for exits [Source: https: / / de.wikipedia.org / wiki / Unterwasserstation]. REVELATION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The object of the invention is to improve, at least partially, the underwater stations known from the prior art. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide an underwater work and protection station for persons that can be used for temporary work underwater. Furthermore, the underwater work and protection station for persons according to the invention, hereinafter referred to as the station, should be usable both mobile and stationary for underwater work.

[0005] The foregoing problem is solved by a mobile underwater work and protection station for persons, in particular for divers, which allows temporary stays and the performance of work underwater, comprising at least one accommodation space designed as a double-walled, structurally reinforced housing, according to the preamble of claim 1, by a system with the station according to claim 19, and by the use of the station or the system according to the invention with an offshore installation, with a ship, with a building or in a port facility according to claim 20.

[0006] Further advantages, features and details which may be essential to the invention will be revealed in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0007] The movable underwater work and protection station according to the invention for persons, in particular for divers, which allows temporary stays and the performance of work underwater, comprises at least one living space designed as a double-walled, structurally reinforced housing, and includes the technical teaching that the living space has a continuous supply of breathable air and fresh air, wherein the breathable air and fresh air supply is provided via a detachable fluid-technical connection between the living space and a surface station, a ship, a building, or a surface platform, and / or the breathable air and fresh air supply is provided via an autonomous breathing air supply independent of the fluid-technical connection. Tanks for the autonomous breathing air supply, as well as operating fluids or water tanks, are advantageously arranged in an intermediate floor of the living space or the station.

[0008] For the purposes of this application, a structurally reinforced double-walled enclosure is understood to be an enclosure that has stabilizing structures between the two walls or on the outer or inner wall, such as rings in the form of struts placed around the outer wall and connected to it. A supporting structure in the form of a honeycomb structure or in the form of struts running parallel or intersecting is also conceivable between the two walls.

[0009] In contrast to known diving stations, which are either semi-autonomous or fully autonomous, the station according to the invention has both a fluid-connected system for supplying breathing air and fresh air to the living space and a separate breathing air supply independent of the fluid-connected system. This increases the safety of the diving station according to the invention and allows the fluid-connected system between, for example, an offshore installation and the living space to be disconnected when the diving station is repositioned, for example, from location A to location B. This enables the diving station, along with its crew, to be moved to another offshore installation, and the station to be reconnected to the other offshore installation via a fluid-connected system for supplying breathing air and fresh air to the living space.

[0010] If the fluid connection between the living space and a surface station, ship, building or surface platform is severed, the independent breathing air supply can be provided by battery-, accumulator- or hybrid-powered compressors that move oxygen and / or air from oxygen and / or breathing air tanks into the living space.

[0011] Advantageously, the station features a safe, multi-stage oxygen supply to protect the crew. The primary breathing air supply is preferably via a double-walled pipe from the surface. Additionally, internal oxygen storage units and automatic emergency systems are integrated for autonomous operation, which, for example, take over independently in the event of a failure of the external supply via the fluid connection. The breathing air is continuously monitored and treated, ensuring a safe and stable oxygen level in the living area at all times. This allows the station to operate autonomously, for example, during relocation or in an emergency, thus protecting the crew.

[0012] The fluid connection is advantageously designed as a double-walled pipe system running between the station and, for example, the above-water station. The double wall of the pipe system allows the station to operate at depths between 200 m and 500 m, as the double wall enables the fluid connection to withstand pressures between 2000 kPa and 5000 kPa. This also applies to the double-walled construction of the containment chamber. By designing the fluid connection and the containment chamber's housing as a double-walled, structurally reinforced structure—for example, by incorporating bracing between the two walls—the containment chamber can be advantageously designed with a safety factor (SF) of 2.0 to at least 2.5 against the maximum external pressure at the intended operating depth.

[0013] The underwater mobile station, also referred to here as the underwater platform "Marini," is advantageously designed as a mobile, modular work and safety platform for temporary underwater use. Marini is intended to serve divers as a stable, equipped, and controlled work base for salvage, clearance, and safety operations, for example, for handling, securing, and recovering munitions and metallic objects. The underwater platform "Marini," or the station according to the invention, is not intended to serve as a permanent underwater habitat, but rather as a task-specific underwater work platform that is manned only for the duration of the respective underwater operations.

[0014] The station according to the invention (Marini) is advantageously movable along the seabed or a defined underwater infrastructure and can be positioned precisely. The underwater platform (station according to the invention) preferably has a load-bearing, ballasted base structure with a non-slip work surface, which provides divers with a secure footing, tool storage, and anchor points. Work, safety, and retreat zones are structurally separated from one another, thus ensuring a structured and safe workflow.

[0015] The station or underwater platform is advantageously driven by at least one electrically or hybrid-powered motor, controlled by associated power electronics. The motor, drive, and control units are preferably pressure-resistant and suitable for continuous underwater use. The control system advantageously allows manual, remote-controlled, or semi-automated movement of the station, enabling slow, precise, and controlled movement and positioning of the station or underwater platform.

[0016] To ensure the safe placement of the underwater platform on the bottom of a body of water, such as the seabed or the bottom of a lake, the Marini station according to the invention advantageously features a landing and damping system comprising shock absorbers, spring-loaded, elastic, and / or hydraulic damping elements. This system reduces impact forces upon contact with the bottom of the body of water and ensures a stable position even on uneven, soft, or inclined surfaces. Unintentional tipping, sinking, or displacement of the station during safety-critical operations can thus be prevented.

[0017] The Marini station or platform is advantageously functionally connected to supply lines that provide not only breathing air or oxygen, but also power, as well as communication and data links. This allows divers to perform their work with less stress, greater concentration, and reduced risk, without relying solely on their own compressed air cylinders. Power, data, control, and / or camera lines running between the surface station, the ship, or the platform and the at least one living area are advantageously routed within the double-walled pipe system.

[0018] For the safe execution of recovery operations, the "Marini" station according to the invention advantageously features integrated holding, fixing, and shielding systems. Ammunition or metal finds can thus be stabilized, secured, or prepared for further recovery in a controlled manner. Advantageously designed spacers, protective grids, and shielding elements make it possible to maintain a defined safety distance from hazardous objects.

[0019] A camera-based inspection and monitoring system can be advantageously used before, during, and after diving operations. The workflow is advantageously designed so that a visual reconnaissance is carried out first, and divers only intervene after receiving clearance. Human and machine work together in a complementary manner, thereby avoiding unnecessary dives and reducing risks. The camera-based inspection and monitoring system is advantageously designed as a pipeline containing a movable camera unit, which allows the underwater environment, such as a lake or sea, to be surveyed before a dive. For the design of the aforementioned monitoring system in the form of the pipeline with the movable camera unit, reference is made to German patent application 10 2025 149 303.Reference is made to DE 10 2025 149 303.0, and the design of the monitoring system is based on this patent application, thus making the design of the monitoring system disclosed in DE 10 2025 149 303.0 the subject of disclosure in the present application. The following exemplary areas to be monitored are additionally listed as non-exhaustive examples of areas of application for the station according to the invention with the monitoring system disclosed in DE 10 2025 149 303.0: - Sea trenches, - Oil rigs, - Offshore installations, such as wind turbines, - Shallow water areas near the coast, - Port facilities, and - potential tsunami and fire zones.

[0020] The station according to the invention, in the form of a platform, can preferably be fixed in a stationary position or, even more preferably, moved slowly and is suitable for use in ports, coastal waters, rivers, areas contaminated with munitions, and offshore areas. Depending on the location, the above-water platform can be an above-water station, a ship, a building (e.g., on land), or an offshore platform such as an oil rig.

[0021] Preferably, the station is modularly expandable, meaning that the at least one common room can be supplemented by further rooms or cabins, with each of the rooms being considered a separate station or the modularly added rooms collectively as one station. Due to the modular design, the station according to the invention, or Marini, can be adapted to different operational requirements, numbers of people, and durations of use. Preferably, the modular units are connected to each other via at least one bulkhead and are pressure-tight, so that in the event of a loss of structural integrity in one unit, it can be isolated from the connected unit by the bulkhead. Advantageously, 4 to 10 cabins can be modularly assembled, with each cabin advantageously serving a different purpose, such as housing sanitary facilities or sleeping quarters. The size of a cabin is advantageously between 3 and 6 square meters.

[0022] By using the mobile underwater work and protection station for personnel according to the invention, or the Marini platform, divers do not work freely and unprotected in the water, but within a structured, supplied, and controlled underwater working environment. This significantly reduces stress, physical strain, and the risk of accidents, while simultaneously increasing efficiency, precision, and safety in the recovery of munitions and metal underwater.

[0023] In summary, the following technical embodiments of the station according to the invention can be mentioned: - Swimming, diving and surfacing ability, as well as controlled ballast, - Emergency surfacing function, - secure air, energy and data supply, - Design of the fluid connection in the form of a double-walled "profocus line pipe system", through which breathing air, supplies and communication can be routed from the ship or a surface unit to the underwater station, - modular construction with several interconnectable common rooms, wherein the smallest unit of the station according to the invention consists of a common room, - Integration of lighting, cameras, sensors, communication and surveillance technology, - Emergency power supply via batteries as well as safety and redundancy concepts for underwater operation, - Use as a stationary work base for divers, for example at offshore installations, ports, pipelines and maritime infrastructure.

[0024] The movable underwater work and protection station for persons according to the invention “Profokus-Line” thus already represents a technically scalable and economically viable solution for demanding underwater work at the current stage.

[0025] A further aspect of the invention in the present application is a system comprising at least the station according to the invention, which is technically or structurally equipped with at least one of the following functions: operational, supply, safety, or emergency function. The system thus combines all operational, supply, safety, and emergency functions. Advantageously, the system can be understood as an integral component of what the inventor calls a Profokus-Line system, which ensures the safety and quality of the station according to the invention. The system advantageously ensures that the living space, i.e., the station, automatically or under controlled conditions rises to the water's surface in an emergency, for example, in the event of an air failure, a fire, a medical emergency, or critical system conditions.For example, ballast tanks that support the station's stability on the seabed could be automatically emptied. As an integral part of the Profokus Line system, all work, supply, safety, and emergency functions can be integrated into the station.

[0026] Finally, another aspect of the invention is the use of the station or system according to the invention in operation with an offshore installation, with a ship, with a building or in a port facility.

[0027] The station or system according to the invention is advantageously designed for carrying out underwater work on offshore installations and their anchorages, drilling rigs, their anchorages, foundations, pipelines or comparable underwater structures and for underwater munitions legacy areas.

[0028] In order to avoid repetitions regarding the advantages of the system according to the invention and regarding the advantages of using the station or system according to the invention for carrying out underwater work, reference is made to the description of the advantageous embodiments of the movable underwater work and protection station for persons according to the invention, and full use is made of the disclosure provided by this description, and vice versa. Preferred embodiments:

[0029] Further measures improving the invention are described in more detail below with reference to the figures and preferred embodiments of the invention. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. It should be noted that the embodiments shown in the figures are for descriptive purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

[0030] They show: Fig. 1 A modular, movable underwater work and protection station for persons according to the invention, composed of three units, in a schematic representation showing the modules of the station; and Fig. 2 in a detailed view D a fluid technical connection designed in the form of a double-walled pipe system for the supply of breathing air and fresh air to the station in a perspective cross-sectional view.

[0031] In the different figures, identical parts are always marked with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.

[0032] Fig. Figure 1 shows a mobile underwater work and protection station for personnel according to the invention, "Profokus-Line" 1. The station is modularly composed of three workrooms 10, 20, and 30. The three workrooms 10, 20, and 30, also called modules, are pressure-tightly connected to one another. A workroom or module is understood to be the smallest unit of a station. The workrooms or modules 10, 20, and 30 can be separated from one another by bulkheads 60 and 61. The interior of the workrooms 10, 20, and 30 allows the station to be divided into three areas. The illustrated station 1 consists of a main area, module 20, an entry and exit area with a wet area, and a changing area, module 30, in which different pressure conditions can be set. The underside of the wet area, module 30, is open to the water in the form of a so-called moon pool 2.A Moon Pool 2 is arranged as a vertical shaft on the underside of Module 30, providing direct access to the water below Station 1. Moon Pool 2 allows the deployment of equipment such as remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs), underwater cameras, and scientific instruments without exposing the Station 1 crew to harsh weather conditions. Module 30 maintains a constant pressure higher than the water pressure, preventing water ingress. This allows divers to access the interior of Station 1 without the need for an airlock. Module 30, designed as a wet area, provides storage space for diving equipment and a hot water shower, allowing divers to change from their wetsuits into dry clothes. In addition to Moon Pool 2, Module 30 also incorporates a dive hatch, also known as an airlock.The dive hatch 50, or airlock, allows a diver 100, as already described for Moon Pool 2, to swim into or out of Station 1. Additionally, equipment can be transported into or out of Station 1 via dive hatch 50. The lounge 10, or module 10, is designed as sleeping quarters for the crew and the divers 100.

[0033] The housing 3, or shell, of station 1 is double-walled, consisting of an inner wall 3.1 and an outer wall 3.2, with structural reinforcement in the form of struts 4 that are arranged around the individual modules 10, 20, and 30 on the outer wall. An approximately 2 cm thick insulation layer 3.2 lies between the inner wall 3.1 and the outer wall 3.1 of the housing. Station 1 is supported on the seabed by pillars with a bearing and damping system 60.1. The height of the pillars 60 can be individually adjusted within a range of approximately 2 m, allowing for leveling of station 1 depending on the seabed conditions. Station 1 is designed to withstand even severe storms. The housing material is steel, a metal alloy, for example.a titanium-aluminium alloy or a composite material such as glass fiber reinforced plastic or a combination of one of the aforementioned materials, wherein, for example, the inner wall 3.1 is made of a different material than the outer wall 3.2.

[0034] The wet area of ​​Module 30, in addition to the dive / entry hatch 50 (which also serves as a docking facility, for example, for supplying the station with food or toiletries via a submersible), and Moon Pool 2, conveniently offers a toilet, a sink, and a shower. Control panels for the gas and power supply, life support systems, and workstations are located in Module 20. Storage space for crew members' personal belongings is provided in the sleeping quarters of Module 10.

[0035] Module 10 is equipped with a drive 200 in the form of a propeller drive 201 with an electrically or hybrid-powered motor, which allows the station 1 to be moved and positioned slowly, precisely, and in a controlled manner. In this embodiment, the propeller drive 201 can be pivoted about both the vertical and horizontal axes, so that, in addition to the horizontal control of the station 1, the propeller drive 201 can also assist with its vertical control, for example, when the station surfaces or is lowered onto the seabed. The electrically or hybrid-powered motor is advantageously powered by accumulators or batteries, or by other operating fluids, which, along with breathable air and water supplies, are stored in tanks that are advantageously located in the intermediate floor 300 of the station 1.

[0036] In addition to the inventory shown for Station 1, a dining table with benches, a galley with sink, a microwave oven and storage space for food, as well as communication and video equipment, medical equipment and life support systems can also be provided.

[0037] In the event of an emergency, both the main area and the entry airlock can be supplied with power from batteries and breathing air from emergency tanks. Equipment for the disposal of the resulting CO2 is also available should the fluid connection 5, in the form of a double-walled pipe system 5.1, between Station 1 and the above-water station 200 (schematically represented in the figure as offshore platform 201) rupture. Station 1 is supplied with breathing air and fresh air via the fluid connection 5, in the form of the double-walled pipe system 5.1, from the above-water station 200. In addition to supplying breathing air and fresh air, the double-walled pipe system 5 also houses power, data, control, and / or camera lines (in Fig. (2 shown). Station 1 also includes heating, ventilation, and / or air conditioning systems, either for the entire station or for each module (10, 20, or 30) individually. Station 1 may also be equipped with a biological early warning system for monitoring air quality, in particular in the form of a canary or a similarly sensitive creature kept at the bottom of the station. Modules 10, 20, and 30 are equipped with sensors for monitoring oxygen levels, pollutants, pressure, temperature, and humidity. Furthermore, Station 1 includes communication systems, in particular acoustic, optical, and / or wired communication devices for contacting divers, vessels, or control centers.

[0038] Finally, it shows Fig.Figure 2 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the fluid connection 5, designed as a double-walled pipe system 5.1, for the supply of breathing air and fresh air to station 1. An insulating layer 5.4 is formed between the outer wall 5.2 and the inner wall 5.3. The fluid connection formed by the inner wall 5.3 carries the breathing air and fresh air from the above-water station 200 to station 1. Power lines 8.1, data lines 8.2, control lines 8.3, and / or camera lines 8.4 between the above-water station 200 and station 1 are also routed in the insulating layer 5.4 or between the outer wall 5.2 and the inner wall 5.3. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 9"?>10 2025 149 303.0

[0019]

Claims

[1] Mobile underwater work and protection station (1) for persons, in particular for divers (100), which allows temporary stays and the carrying out of work underwater, comprising at least one accommodation room (10, 20, 30) designed as a double-walled, structurally reinforced housing, characterized by , that the room (10, 20, 30) has a continuous supply of breathing air and fresh air, wherein the breathing air and fresh air supply is provided via a detachable fluid connection (5) between the room (10, 20, 30) and an overwater station (200), a ship, a building or an overwater platform (201) and / or the breathing air and fresh air supply is provided via an autonomous breathing air supply independent of the fluid connection (5). [2] Station (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the fluid connection (5) is designed in the form of a double-walled pipe system (5.1). [3] Station (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the living space (10, 20, 30) is designed to be submersible and buoyant and can be positioned underwater on the bottom of the body of water, in particular the seabed or the bottom of a lake. [4] Station (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the living space (10, 20, 30) can withstand a water pressure of 2000 kPa to 5000 kPa at an operating depth between 200 m and 500 m. [5] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the living space (10, 20, 30) is designed with a safety factor (SF) of 2.0 to at least 2.5 against the maximum external pressure of the intended operating depth. [6] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that several common rooms (10, 20, 30) can be connected to each other in a modular and pressure-tight manner. [7] Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that at least one lock or docking facility (50) is provided which allows divers (100) to enter and exit underwater. [8] Station (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that power lines (8.1), data lines (8.2), control lines (8.3) and / or camera lines (8.4) are routed in the double-walled pipe system between the above-water station (200), the ship or platform (201) and the at least one habitable room (10, 20, 30). [9] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one room (10, 20, 30) includes an autonomous breathing air supply independent of the pipe system (5.1). [10] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one habitable room (10, 20, 30) includes at least one heating, ventilation and / or air conditioning system. [11] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that in at least one room (10, 20, 30) a biological early warning system for monitoring air quality is provided, in particular in the form of a canary or a similar sensitive living being. [12] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one common room (10, 20, 30) is equipped with sensors to monitor oxygen levels, pollutants, pressure, temperature and humidity. [13] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by Communication systems, in particular acoustic, optical and / or wired communication devices for connecting with divers (100), ships or control centers. [14] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized bythat at least one common room (10, 20, 30) includes medical emergency and first aid facilities, in particular emergency oxygen supply, first aid equipment, medical monitoring equipment and / or emergency call systems. [15] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one common room (10, 20, 30) includes at least one sanitary facility. [16] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that at least one living space (10, 20, 30) can surface independently or remotely. [17] Station (1) according to claim 16, characterized by , that the appearance of at least one room (10, 20, 30) can be triggered automatically or in a controlled manner. [18] Station (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the at least one habitable space (10, 20, 30) includes at least one electric or hybrid propulsion unit, wherein the habitable space (10, 20, 30) can be moved in the water via the propulsion unit. [19] System comprising at least the station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which is technically or structurally equipped with at least one of the following functions: working, supply, safety or emergency function. [20] Use of the station (1) or the system according to any of the preceding claims in operation with an offshore installation (201), with a ship, with a building or in a port facility. [21] Use of the station or system according to claim 20 for carrying out underwater work on offshore installations (201) and their anchorages.

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