Gangway system for an offshore service vessel, adapted for transferring personnel between said service vessel and an offshore structure, in the condition of waves

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gangway system (1) for an offshore service vessel (N), suitable for transferring personnel between said service vessel and an offshore structure (S), in swell conditions. The gangway system (1) comprises a telescopic corridor (7), which comprises an upstream section (71) and a downstream section (72), movable in translation relative to said upstream section (71). The gangway system (1) further comprises means for maneuvering said gangway (5), in particular yaw maneuvering means (11), pitch maneuvering means (12) and translation maneuvering means (13). The maneuvering means (10) cooperate with control means (15) so as to stabilize the downstream end (722) of the gangway (5) at, preferably resting on, said offshore structure (S).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of gangway systems for offshore service vessels, suitable for the transfer of personnel between said service vessel and an offshore structure, in swell conditions. State of the art

[0002] Some offshore operations require the use of offshore service vessels.

[0003] Offshore service vessels are specifically designed to provide logistical support for offshore operations, including the transport of personnel to and from various offshore structures, such as offshore platforms or offshore wind turbines.

[0004] Gangway systems are therefore of crucial importance for the safe transfer of personnel between the service vessel and offshore structures, including in swell conditions.

[0005] These bridges play a crucial role in offshore industries, where harsh environmental conditions are common.

[0006] To allow this transfer, even when the sea is rough, the gangways are generally compensated for in movement by hydraulic maneuvering means.

[0007] However, in general, hydraulic actuators increase the mechanical complexity of the bridge system and require frequent maintenance operations.

[0008] There is therefore a need for technical solutions to simplify the active compensation of the gateway system, as well as its maintenance. Presentation of the invention

[0009] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawback of the state of the art, the present invention proposes a gangway system for an offshore service vessel, suitable for the transfer of personnel between said service vessel and an offshore structure, in swell conditions.

[0010] The gateway system includes: a tower, defining a longitudinal axis and intended to be erected from a deck of said offshore service vessel, a trolley maneuvered in translation over the height of said tower, along an elevation axis oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis, a walkway extending from said trolley, which gateway includes: a waiting platform, which is assembled with said carriage by means of rotational assembly means defining a yaw rotation axis oriented parallel to said elevation axis, and a corridor, extending from said waiting platform, which corridor, telescopic, includes: an upstream section, one upstream end of which cooperates with said waiting platform by means of rotational assembly means defining a pitch rotation axis oriented perpendicular to said yaw rotation axis, and a downstream section, movable in translation relative to said upstream section along an elongation axis oriented perpendicular to said pitch rotation axis, which downstream section comprises a downstream end which is intended to be stabilized at the level of said offshore structure, which gateway system also includes means for operating said gateway: yaw maneuvering means, for the rotational maneuver of said gangway around said yaw rotation axis, pitch maneuvering means, for the rotational maneuver of said corridor around said pitch rotation axis, and translational maneuvering means, for the translational maneuver of said downstream section relative to said upstream section along said elongation axis, and which maneuvering means cooperate with control means comprising an active compensation module which is designed to control said maneuvering means of said gangway, taking into account data coming from a movement acquisition module, so as to stabilize the downstream end of said gangway at the level of, preferably resting on, said offshore structure.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the operating means of said footbridge consist of electrical operating means.

[0012] Other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics of this embodiment according to the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are the following: the pitching maneuvering means comprise at least one electric winch, carried by said waiting platform, and at least one traction line, extending between said electric winch and said upstream section; preferably, said at least one electric winch is carried by a gantry extending above said waiting platform and said at least one traction line has a downstream end which is secured to said upstream section, at an attachment point above said upstream section, preferably on the side of a downstream end of said upstream section; in this embodiment, said at least one electric winch is connected to the corridor which is carried by the waiting platform so that said at least one electric winch follows the rotational movement of the gangway;the advantage of this solution is that the angular orientation between said at least one electric winch and said gangway remains identical, whatever the angle of the corridor, which allows an improvement in the precision of the compensation and a reduction in the power installed on said at least one electric winch; the translational maneuvering means comprise at least one electric winch, carried by said upstream section, and at least one traction line, extending between said electric winch and said downstream section; preferably, said at least one electric winch is carried by said upstream section, underlying said upstream section, and said at least one traction line comprises a downstream end which is secured to said downstream section, at an attachment point underlying said downstream section, preferably on the side of a downstream end of said downstream section. ;

[0013] Other non-limiting and advantageous characteristics in accordance with the invention, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations, are the following: said movement acquisition module comprises a contact sensor fitted to said downstream end of said downstream section, which contact sensor comprises at least one support member, intended to bear on said offshore structure, advantageously comprising damping blocks, and an interface, extending between said support member and said downstream end of said downstream section, which interface comprises means for detecting the movements of said at least one support member relative to said downstream end of said downstream section, which movement detection means are designed to detect a translational movement parallel to said axis of elongation and two rotational movements, in yaw and in roll, perpendicular to said axis of elongation; the tower incorporates a personnel elevator, for transfer between the deck of the offshore service vessel and said gangway;said gangway system comprises means for operating said trolley which consist of electrical operating means, for example at least one electric winch, carried by said tower, and at least one traction line, extending between said electric winch and said trolley; said waiting platform is protected within a rotunda (rotonda) which comprises retractable side walls, matching the yaw movements of said gangway, for the protection of personnel, in particular against weather conditions; preferably, the retractable side walls are opaque or openwork.

[0014] The present invention also relates to an offshore service vessel equipped with a gangway system according to the invention.

[0015] Of course, the various features, variants and embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. Detailed description of the invention

[0016] In addition, various other characteristics of the invention emerge from the appended description given with reference to the drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention and where: [ Fig. 1 ] is a general and perspective view of a gateway system according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] is a partial and schematic view of the figure 1 , aimed at illustrating in particular the structure of the footbridge and its means of maneuver; [ Fig. 3 ] is a partial and schematic view of the footbridge, illustrating the contact sensor equipping its downstream end; [ Fig. 4] is also a general and perspective view of a gateway system according to the invention.

[0017] It should be noted that, in these figures, the structural and / or functional elements common to the different variants may have the same references.

[0018] The present invention thus relates to a gangway system 1 for an offshore service vessel N, suitable for the transfer of personnel between this offshore service vessel N and an offshore structure S, in swell conditions ( figures 1 And 4 ).

[0019] The invention also relates to the offshore service vessel N equipped with a gangway system 1 according to the invention.

[0020] By "offshore service vessel" we mean advantageously a vessel specially designed and equipped to carry out various logistics, supply, maintenance and personnel transfer missions to an offshore structure S.

[0021] The main functions of these vessels include the transport of personnel, the transfer of goods, supplies, as well as the supply of equipment and materials necessary for activities at sea.

[0022] This bridge system 1 is thus suitable for being embarked on the offshore service vessel, for example a service operation vessel (also called “Service Operation Vessel”).

[0023] By "vessel" we mean in particular vessels for wind farm operation service (also called "wind farm Service Operation Vessel" or "wind farm SOV" in English).

[0024] The term "offshore structure S" includes in particular oil platforms, gas platforms or offshore wind turbines.

[0025] The offshore service vessel N, and possibly the offshore structure S, is subject to wave-induced movements, such as rolling, pitching and yaw, which can significantly influence the stability and safety of operations at sea.

[0026] Furthermore, in general, the gateway system 1 includes: a tower 2, defining a longitudinal axis 2' and intended to be erected from a deck P of the offshore service vessel N, a trolley 3 maneuvered in translation over the height of the tower 2, along an elevation axis E oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis 2', and a walkway 5 extending from the trolley 3.

[0027] The gangway system 1 also comprises maneuvering means 10 for maneuvering the gangway 5 which are intended in particular to stabilize, in swell conditions, the free end of this gangway 5 at the level of the offshore structure S. Round

[0028] Walkway 5 extends from trolley 3 which is movable along the height of tower 2.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment, tower 2 incorporates a personnel elevator 21, suitable for transfer between deck P of offshore service vessel N and gangway 5.

[0030] This elevator 21 is advantageously maneuvered over the height of the tower 2, preferably by means of electrical maneuvering means 22 (for example an electric winch located at the upper end of the tower 2).

[0031] Generally speaking, Tower 2, for example, has a height ranging from 15 to 25 m. Cart

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the gangway system 1 comprises maneuvering means 31 for maneuvering the trolley 3.

[0033] These operating means 31 advantageously consist of electrical operating means 31.

[0034] For example, these maneuvering means 31 include: at least one electric winch 311, carried by the tower 2, for example at its upper end, and at least one traction line 312, extending between the electric winch 311 and the trolley 3. Gateway

[0035] Generally speaking, Gateway 5 includes: a waiting platform 6, movable along a yaw rotation axis R1 oriented parallel to said elevation axis E, and a corridor 7, extending from the waiting platform 6.

[0036] The waiting platform 6 is assembled with the carriage 3 by means of first rotational assembly means 8 defining the yaw rotation axis R1.

[0037] In this case, the waiting platform 6 is above the trolley 3.

[0038] The rotational assembly means 8 consist, for example, of rolling means equipped with electric motor means (for example, electric geared motors meshing with a crown), advantageously conventional in themselves.

[0039] The waiting platform 6 is advantageously surmounted by a gantry 61.

[0040] This gantry 61 advantageously follows the rotational movements of the waiting platform 6, along the yaw rotation axis R1.

[0041] For this, this gantry 61 is here secured to the waiting platform 6.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment, the waiting platform 6 is protected within a rotunda 62 (rotonda) which comprises retractable side walls 621, matching the yaw movements of the gangway 5.

[0043] This rotunda 62 is useful for the protection of personnel, particularly against weather conditions.

[0044] Preferably, the retractable side walls 621 are opaque or perforated. They consist, for example, of roller shutter aprons composed of a plurality of slats.

[0045] In practice, during a yaw movement of the waiting platform 6, the retractable side walls 621 retract, or deploy, so as to maintain communication between the tower 2 and the corridor 7.

[0046] Corridor 7, telescopic, includes: an upstream section 71, fixed in translation relative to tower 2, and a downstream section 72, movable in translation relative to the aforementioned upstream section 71 and to tower 2.

[0047] In other words, the downstream section 72 is guided in translation along the length of the upstream section 71.

[0048] The upstream section 71 and the downstream section 72 cooperate by sliding means, for example rail / roller pairs.

[0049] The upstream section 71 and the downstream section 72 each have two ends: an upstream end 711, 721, on the side of tower 2, and a downstream end 712, 722, at a distance from tower 2.

[0050] More specifically, corridor 7 includes: an upstream section 71, an upstream end 711 of which cooperates with the waiting platform 6 along a pitch rotation axis R2 oriented perpendicular to said yaw rotation axis R1, and a downstream section 72, movable in translation relative to the upstream section 71 along an elongation axis A oriented perpendicular to said pitch rotation axis R2.

[0051] The upstream end 711 of the upstream section 71 cooperates with the waiting platform 6 by means of second rotational assembly means 9 defining the pitch rotation axis R2.

[0052] The second rotational assembly means 9 consist, for example, of a pivot joint.

[0053] Furthermore, the downstream section 72 comprises a downstream end 722, forming a free end of the footbridge 5, which is intended to be stabilized at the level of the offshore structure S.

[0054] Furthermore, the upstream section 71 and the downstream section 72 are advantageously generally U-shaped or tubular, with: a lower wall 71a, 72a, forming a floor (on which the passengers walk), two side walls 71b, 72b, forming a railing, and possibly an upper wall 71c, 72c, for example formed by a metal frame. Means of operation and control means

[0055] The bridge system 1 also comprises means 10 for maneuvering the bridge 5.

[0056] These means of maneuver 10 include in this case: yaw maneuvering means 11, for the rotational maneuver of the gangway 5 around the yaw rotation axis R1, pitch maneuvering means 12, for the rotational maneuver of said corridor 7 around the pitch rotation axis R2, and translational maneuvering means 13, for the translational maneuver of the downstream section 72 relative to the upstream section 71 along said elongation axis A.

[0057] Preferably, the operating means 10 of the gangway 5 consist of electric operating means 10.

[0058] Such electrical maneuvering means 10 have the advantage of optimizing the active compensation of the gateway system 1, as well as its maintenance.

[0059] According to a preferred embodiment, the pitch maneuvering means 12 comprise: at least one electric winch 121, carried by the waiting platform 6, and at least one traction line 122, extending between the electric winch 121 and the upstream section 71.

[0060] Preferably, said at least one electric winch 121 is carried by the gantry 61 extending above said waiting platform 6.

[0061] And said at least one traction line 122 comprises a downstream end 1221 which is secured to the upstream section 71, at the level of an attachment point 7121 above the upstream section 71, for example at the level of an upper wall 71c.

[0062] As mentioned previously, the advantage of this solution is to maintain the angular orientation between said at least one electric winch 121 and the gangway 5, whatever the angle of the corridor 7.

[0063] This technical solution allows an improvement in the precision of the compensation and a reduction in the power installed on said at least one electric winch 121.

[0064] Preferably, said at least one traction line 122 is secured to the side of the downstream end 712 of the upstream section 71.

[0065] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the translational maneuvering means 13 comprise: at least one electric winch 131, carried by the upstream section 71, and at least one traction line 132, extending between the electric winch 121 and the downstream section 72.

[0066] Preferably, said at least one electric winch 131 is carried by the upstream section 71, underlying this upstream section 71, for example at the level of its lower wall 71a.

[0067] And said at least one traction line 132 comprises a downstream end 1321 which is secured to the downstream section 72, at an attachment point 7221 underlying this downstream section 72 (for example at its lower wall 72a), preferably on the side of a downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0068] The direction of rotation of said at least one electric winch 131 then generates a movement of the downstream section 72, along the elongation axis A.

[0069] The maneuvering means 10 cooperate with control means 15 which comprise an active compensation module (Active 3D Compensation) which is designed to control the maneuvering means 10 of the gangway 5, taking into account data coming from a movement acquisition module 16 (forming an MRU for “Motion Reference Unit”), so as to stabilize the downstream end 722 of the gangway 5 at the level of, preferably resting on, the offshore structure S.

[0070] The control means 15 are thus structured to control the maneuvering means 10 so as to compensate for the movements of the offshore service vessel N, and in particular of the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72, caused by the waves.

[0071] Such control means 15 thus provide precise positioning of the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72, making it possible to maintain this downstream end 722 in a constant position at the level of, preferably resting on, the offshore structure S.

[0072] According to a preferred embodiment, illustrated in the figure 3 , the movement acquisition module 16 comprises a contact sensor 161 equipping the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0073] This 161 contact sensor includes: at least one support member 1611, intended to bear on the offshore structure S, advantageously comprising shock-absorbing blocks (also called “bumpers”), for example made of elastic material and preferably of elastomeric material, and an interface 1612, extending between the support member 1611 and the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0074] This interface 1612 also comprises means for detecting the movements 1613 of said at least one support member 1611 relative to the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72.

[0075] The 1613 motion detection means are designed to detect: a translational movement T1, parallel to said elongation axis A, and two rotational movements T2, T3, in yaw and pitch, perpendicular to said elongation axis A.

[0076] The motion detection means 1613 may include, for example: at least one LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) sensor, also known as a Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) displacement sensor, and / or at least one force sensor, or load cell, for measuring the forces applied in the X, Y and Z directions in a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system.

[0077] In particular, preferably, said at least one support member 1611 has two degrees of freedom relative to the interface 1612: one degree of freedom in translation according to translational movement T1, and one degree of freedom in translation according to rotational movement T2 in yaw.

[0078] More preferably, the contact sensor 161 is movable in rotation at the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72 according to the rotational movement T3 in pitch.

[0079] Preferably, the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72 comprises detection and positioning means 17, for example by radar and / or camera, for its positioning at the level of the offshore structure S. Implementation

[0080] In practice, the offshore service vessel N is stabilized near the offshore structure S.

[0081] Bridge System 1 is then deployed, on one side of the offshore service vessel N.

[0082] The downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72 (and in particular its contact sensor 161) is correctly positioned at the level of, preferably resting on, the offshore structure S.

[0083] The control means 15 are then activated to control the maneuvering means 10 so as to compensate for the movements of the offshore service vessel N, and in particular of the downstream end 722 of the downstream section 72, caused by the waves.

[0084] In particular, the control means 15 aim to compensate for the different movements of the offshore service vessel N: the control means 15 control the yaw maneuvering means 11, for the rotational maneuver of the gangway 5 around the yaw rotation axis R1, in order to compensate for the yaw and surge movements the control means 15 control the pitch maneuvering means 12, for the rotational maneuver of said corridor 7 around the pitch rotation axis R2, in order to compensate for the rolling and heave movements (preferably, the height of the trolley is stable during the operations), and the control means 15 control the translational maneuvering means 13, for the translational maneuver of the downstream section 72 relative to the upstream section 71 along said elongation axis A, in order to compensate for the yaw movements.

[0085] Operators can then move between the offshore service vessel N and the offshore structure S in complete safety.

[0086] At the end of the intervention, the gangway system 1 can be brought into a retracted configuration at the level of the offshore service vessel N, suitable for transport.

[0087] Of course, various other modifications may be made to the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Gangway system (1) for an offshore service vessel (N), suitable for transferring personnel between said service vessel (N) and an offshore structure (S), in swell conditions, which gangway system (1) comprises: - a tower (2), defining a longitudinal axis (2') and intended to be erected from a deck (P) of said offshore service vessel (N), - a trolley (3) maneuvered in translation over the height of said tower (2), along an elevation axis (E) oriented parallel to said longitudinal axis (2'), - a gangway (5) extending from said trolley (3), which gangway (5) comprises: - a waiting platform (6), which is assembled with said trolley (3) by means of rotational assembly means (8) defining a yaw rotation axis (R1) oriented parallel to said elevation axis (E), and - a corridor (7), extending from said waiting platform (6), which corridor (7), telescopic, comprises: - a section upstream (71),an upstream end (711) of which cooperates with said waiting platform (6) by means of rotational assembly means (9) defining a pitch rotation axis (R2) oriented perpendicular to said yaw rotation axis (R1), and - a downstream section (72), movable in translation relative to said upstream section (71) along an elongation axis (A) oriented perpendicular to said pitch rotation axis (R2), which downstream section (72) comprises a downstream end (722) which is intended to be stabilized at the level of said offshore structure (S), which gangway system (1) further comprises means for maneuvering said gangway (5): - yaw maneuvering means (11), for the rotational maneuver of said gangway (5) around (2) of said yaw rotation axis (R1), - pitch maneuvering means (12), for the rotational maneuver of said corridor (7) around (2) of said pitch rotation axis (R2), and - translational maneuvering means (13),for the translational maneuvering of said downstream section (72) relative to said upstream section (71) along said elongation axis (A), and which maneuvering means (10) cooperate with control means (15) comprising an active compensation module which is designed to control said maneuvering means (10) of said gangway (5), taking into account data coming from a movement acquisition module (16), so as to stabilize the downstream end (722) of said gangway (5) at the level of, preferably resting on, said offshore structure (S)., 2. Gateway system (1), according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating means 10 of said gateway (5) consist of electric operating means (10).

3. Gateway system (1), according to claim 2, characterized in thatthe maneuvering means (10) in pitch (12) comprise: - at least one electric winch (121), carried by said waiting platform (6), and - at least one traction line (122), extending between said electric winch (121) and said upstream section (71).

4. Gateway system (1), according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one electric winch (121) is carried by a gantry (61) extending above said waiting platform (6), and in that said at least one traction line (122) comprises a downstream end (1221) which is secured to said upstream section (71), at an attachment point (7121) above said upstream section (71), preferably on the side of a downstream end (712) of said upstream section (71).

5. Gateway system (1), according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in thatthe maneuvering means (10) in translation (13) comprise: - at least one electric winch (131), carried by said upstream section (71), and - at least one traction line (132), extending between said electric winch (131) and said downstream section (72).

6. Gateway system (1), according to claim 5, characterized in that said at least one electric winch (131) is carried by said upstream section (71), underlying said upstream section (71), and in that said at least one traction line (132) comprises a downstream end (1321) which is secured to said downstream section (72), at an attachment point (7221) underlying said downstream section (72), preferably on the side of a downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72).

7. Gateway system (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in thatsaid movement acquisition module (16) comprises a contact sensor (161) equipping said downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72), which contact sensor (161) comprises: - at least one support member (1611), intended to bear on said offshore structure (S), advantageously comprising damping blocks, and - an interface (1612), extending between said support member (1611) and said downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72), which interface (1612) comprises means for detecting the movements of said at least one support member (1611) relative to said downstream end (722) of said downstream section (72), which movement detection means are designed to detect: - a translational movement (T1) parallel to said elongation axis (A), - two rotational movements (T2, T3), in yaw and in pitch, perpendicular to said elongation axis (A).

8. Gateway system (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the tower (2) incorporates a lift (21) for personnel, for transfer between the deck (P) of the offshore service vessel (N) and said gangway (5).

9. Gateway system (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said gangway system (1) comprises operating means (31) of said carriage (3) which consist of electric operating means (31), for example: - at least one electric winch (311), carried by said tower (2), and - at least one traction line (312), extending between said electric winch (311) and said carriage (3).

10. Gateway system (1), according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said waiting platform (6) is protected within a rotunda (62) which comprises retractable side walls (621), matching the yaw movements of said walkway (5), for the protection of personnel, in particular against weather conditions.

11. Gateway system (1), according to claim 10, characterized in that the retractable side walls (621) are opaque or openwork.

12. Offshore service vessel (N) equipped with a bridge system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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