Pile upending devices and methods

Abstract

In a first aspect, a cradle of a device for upending of a pile is provided with movable fender pads at respective lateral sides of the cradle. The fender pads form, together with a base support against which the pile rests backwardly during upending, inward surfaces of the cradle defining an internal space inside the cradle for the pile to which radial movement of the supported pile is limited. Each fender pad is controllably movable by one or more fender actuators into slanted fending positions, in which the fender pad slants towards the base support at sharp angles relative to the middle plane. In a second aspect, a pile end support structure has left and right connector beams hinged at an upper end thereof to the cradle and a pile support beam hinged at both ends to the lower ends of the connector beams. The connector hinge axes and the support hinge axes are horizontal when the pivotal structure together with the pile are in the vertical position.

Description

[0001] PILE UPENDING DEVICES AND METHODS

[0002] The process of installation of an offshore pile generally involves transportation of the pile in horizontal orientation to the offshore installation location, followed by upending of the pile to a vertical orientation, and subsequent lowering of the vertically oriented pile to the sea bottom for installation into the seabed, e.g. by piling using a pile driving device. For example, the pile is a monopile which serves as foundation for an offshore wind turbine.

[0003] To accomplish the installation of the pile, it is known to use a vessel having a crane for handling the pile, as well as a dedicated upending device and a dedicated pile holder device which is distinct from the dedicated upending device. Herein the upending device only is used in the process of upending of the pile, wherein the upper end of the pile is lifted by the crane of the vessel. Herein, the pile holder device, which is also known as pile gripper in the art, only serves for guiding of the upended pile as it is lowered vertically towards the seabed and subsequently driven into the seabed. These devices can be arranged on the vessel at separate locations, e.g. side-by-side. Herein it is known to use the crane and the dedicated upending device to upend the pile and to use the crane to subsequently transfer the upended pile to the dedicated pile holder device of the vessel which is then used for guiding the pile vertically towards and into the seabed. In another known arrangement, the upending device is placed in close proximity to the dedicated pile holder device, so that the upended pile can be engaged by the pile holder device without the need for a transfer by means of the crane.

[0004] It is also known to accomplish the installation of the pile using a vessel equipped with an integrated upending and holding device. Herein the pile is upended using the crane and the integrated device and then vertically lowered to the seabed while being guided by the integrated device. In this known approach also no transfer of the upended pile to a remotely arranged dedicated pile holder device is needed.

[0005] To accomplish the upending, it is known to use a dedicated upending device which supports the pile at a bottom section thereof while the pile is being rotated upwards from the horizontal to the vertical orientation, which is effected by lifting the upper end of the pile by means of a crane.

[0006] The upending device as well the integrated upending and holding device is known to generally comprise a support assembly configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a deck of a vessel, and a pivotal structure. The pivotal structure has a cradle which is hinged to the support assembly about a horizontal hinge axis, wherein the pivotal structure is configured for supporting the pile in a support position thereof, with a central longitudinal pile axis thereof on a vertical centre plane of the pivotal structure. The centre plane therein extends in a backwards- forwards plane which is laterally centred. When the support assembly is mounted to the vessel deck, the upending device enables the pivoting of the pivotal structure together with the pile in the support position around the horizontal hinge axis from a horizontal loading position into a vertical position, in which the pile axis of the supported pile is respectively horizontal and vertical, through lifting the upper end of the pile by means of a crane of the vessel.

[0007] In a first aspect thereof, the invention provides an upending device and method.

[0008] The upending device according to the invention is of the kind that is to be used for upending only. After upending, the pile is moved out of the cradle by means of the crane, forwardly through an opening of the cradle, and is placed while suspended from the crane in a dedicated pile holder, also known as pile gripper in the art, for lowering towards the seabed.

[0009] The pivotal structure of the upending device comprises a cradle. This cradle is for transversely supporting the pile along at least a back part of its circumference. For example, the pile is, seen in a side view, at least with a majority of its diameter, e.g. completely, within the cradle. In practical embodiments, the upending device is configured for supporting piles of a range of different diameters. For example, the smallest pile is seen in a side view completely within the contour of the cradle and the largest pile is with the majority of the diameter within the contour. The cradle provides at least forward support of the pile by means of a central base support.

[0010] The pivotal structure furthermore comprises a pile foot end support structure. The pile foot end support structure includes at least one connector member connected to the cradle, which connector member, seen in the vertical position, extends downwardly from the cradle towards a foot end of the pile. The at least one connector member has a lower end supporting a pile foot support member, which is for upwardly supporting the pile at its foot end in non-horizontal orientations of the pile. In embodiments, the pivotal structure includes two connector members, generally in the form of two connector beams, supporting a pile foot support member, generally in the form of a transverse pile support beam, extending in between their lower ends. The two connector members are connected at their upper ends to the cradle. Such arrangement is better suited for the large and heavy monopiles that are presently envisaged. The use of the upending device involves bringing the upending device in a state in which it can receive the pile in horizontal orientation in a support position, and subsequently engaging and positioning the pile to be upended into the upending device, i.e. with its backward surface against the base support and with its foot end longitudinally against the foot support member. This positioning is generally done by operating a crane from which the pile is suspended in horizontal orientation during loading. The upending by lifting the upper end of the pile by means of the crane, with the bottom section of the pile being supported, forwardly by the base support and, in non-horizontal orientations, upwardly by the foot end support, entails that the upending device is also brought into its vertical position.

[0011] As the size and weight of monopiles is enormous, handling of the monopile in view of the upending process on-board the vessel is a delicate task, e.g. in view of the need to avoid damage to the monopile and / or equipment involved in the process.

[0012] The present invention is envisaged for use with monopiles for supporting wind turbines - however, is suitable for handling other, similar piles of offshore structures within the same range of magnitude as well.

[0013] It is an object of the first aspect of the present invention to reduce the risk of, and / or mitigate, any damage during the upending process. Thereto it provides an upending device according to claim 1.

[0014] The invention is based on the insight that during loading of the pile into the device, upending of the pile, and the removal of the upended pile from the device, it is crucial to carefully control the position and / or motion of the pile. In case of uncontrolled and unintended movements, there may be undesired contact between the very heavy pile and the upending device. For example, a monopile may weigh more than 1000 tonnes, even more than 2000 tonnes. This may lead to an impact of the pile against the device, which may damage both the pile and the device. Any impact of the pile is becoming generally progressively malicious with the trend towards larger and heavier piles, for example since the wall thickness thereof becomes relatively smaller to keep the total weight of the pile within acceptable limits. Furthermore, larger monopiles have a larger outer surface and are more susceptible to the influence of wind and other conditions. This means that the walls may become relatively more vulnerable to damage by any impact.

[0015] The inventive upending device has movable fender pads at respective lateral sides of the cradle. These fender pads form, together with the base support, inward surfaces of the cradle which define an internal space inside the cradle for the pile to which radial movement of the supported pile is limited. The fender pads are each controllably movable into a range of slanted fending positions by means of one or more fender actuators. In each fending position of a fender pad, the fender pad extends at a sharp angle relative to the middle plane. In the fending positions of each fender pad, the fender pad slants towards the base support, thus in a way such that it decreases the width of the internal space in a backwards direction, extending more laterally inwards towards the base support.

[0016] The fender pads thus each extend such as to, when in the slanted fending positions, form a chute for the pile from the receiving opening towards the base, i.e. facing the pile axis when in the support position. The fender pads are provided for controlled loading, upending, and any removal of the upended pile from the upending device.

[0017] The device is envisaged to be connected to a control unit, controlling the actuation of the fender actuators.

[0018] In an embodiment, the fender pads are two fender pads, one on each lateral side of the cradle. Other embodiments are also envisaged, e.g. with four fender pads, two on each lateral side of the cradle.

[0019] During loading of the pile, the pivotal structure of the device is in the horizontal loading position thereof. The loading process is generally executed by suspending the pile horizontally from a crane of the vessel, and actuating the crane to vertically align the central longitudinal pile axis with the middle plane of the pivotal structure and the bottom end with the pile foot support, and lower the pile into the cradle until it is supported from below by the base support, and the bottom end longitudinally against the pile foot support.

[0020] Ideally, during this loading of the pile it would move purely backward - i.e., downwards in the horizontal position of the pivotal structure - with its pile axis in the middle plane of the cradle. In practice, however, the pile may be under the influence of wind and / or sea-state as it is suspended from the crane, and therefore may sway during the loading process. This may lead to undue impact of the pile against the sides of the cradle, which may damage both the pile and the cradle, and may furthermore interfere with the controlled positioning through rebounding.

[0021] The fender pads of the present invention are usable during the loading process to guide the pile and mitigate both the occurrence and magnitude of the lateral deviations of the pile axis from the middle plane of the cradle, and thus any impact, since these limit the internal movement space for the pile, converging towards the point at which the pile is to be supported on the base. Besides the guidance towards the support position by their converging configuration, the fender pads are furthermore controllably actuatable between different angles relative to the middle plane. This enables the fender pads to be set to angles which suit different pile diameters, e.g. smaller angles being used for piles with larger diameters to decrease the rate of convergence, i.e. forming a less steep chute, and providing for a larger internal space of the cradle.

[0022] The controlled actuation of the fender pads furthermore gives the possibility to configure and / or control each of the actuators such that these (partly) move along with an undue lateral motion of the monopile, cushioning / damping any impact by controllably engaging it along the motion and increasingly provide resistance thereto in the opposite direction, and to thereafter push it back towards the middle frame in a controlled way. This may reduce the impact and rebounding of the pile. For example, the actuators may to this end be embodied with a hydraulic damping arrangement, e.g. with a throttle to dampen flow of hydraulic fluid, or another damping arrangement.

[0023] During upending of the pile after loading is complete, the angle of the fender pads may be reduced to (near) zero by means of the fender actuators, so that the fenders may support the pile from the side and reduce lateral monopile motions. In this stage the fender pads may thus extend parallel to the middle plane. This makes that the pile is engaged by the fender pads laterally, at diametrically opposite locations, being tangential to the circumference in the plane of the pile in the center in the forwards direction.

[0024] When, during upending, the pile approaches the vertical orientation, the monopile is less stably supported. This is because the reaction force by the pile on the cradle, particularly the base, is caused by the weight of the pile, which is then vertically oriented. As the pile becomes closer to vertical, the radial component of the reaction forces on the base becomes relatively smaller. At near vertical stage, the pile is furthermore increasingly subjected to forces, for example wind loads or crane side- and offlead, which may cause the pile to shift or tilt relative to the base, causing an uneven load distribution over the contact interfaces. In case of large excursions of the pile, it could rebound with its pile axis off-center. The fender pads may by controlled actuation of their actuators reduce or prevent shifting, impact, and off-center rebounding by guidance towards the base support, cushioning as described, and pushing of the pile back to the support position, with its pile axis in the middle plane. The fender pads may be individually controllable in order to correct a movement with left and right side components respectively by the left and right fender pad. A combination is also possible, for example wherein the fender pads are at different angles to both be tangential to the pile in the off-center position, decreasing the difference between the angles to move the pile to the center position again.

[0025] Multiple other uses are easily envisaged by the skilled person.

[0026] After upending, the pile is transferred by means of the crane of the vessel from the upending device to a dedicated pile gripper which is designed for control of position and vertically of the pile while being lowered to the seabed and subsequent installation. In this case, the most common way to proceed is to move the vertical upended monopile by means of the crane, forwardly out of the cradle through a receiving opening at the front side of the cradle. Ideally, during this exiting the pile would move purely forwards with its pile axis remaining in the middle plane. In practice however, during this exiting of the cradle, there is again a risk of deviations from this path which could result in unintended contact between the pile and the cradle, both laterally and backwardly: the pile may sway in a range of transverse directions. When the monopile is exiting the upending device it is no longer engaged by the cradle and the foot support member to restrain its motions, since it has clearance with respect thereto to enable its removal, and can therefore freely sway. The fender pads may now be used in the same way as described for the loading process for reducing the risk and consequences of lateral movements of the pile axis out of the middle plane. The fender pads may be used to cushion impact as described before, so as to protect both the pile and the upending device.

[0027] To aid in the exiting movement of the pile, and the control thereof, reducing the risk of any unintended deviations, the fender actuators may furthermore be used to guide the forwards movement of the pile by gradually increasing the angle with the middle plane to remain in contact with the pile circumference. The result is that the fenders follow the exiting movement of the pile, and the fenders thus remain functional during a part of the exiting movement so as to keep the pile centered. The fender pads may, in embodiments, by controlled operation of the fender actuators even facilitate the exiting movement by exerting a pushing force in the forwards direction by increasing the angles.

[0028] During the loading, the control of the fender actuators may facilitate the pile reaching the loaded position. The fender pads may initially be set to a large, e.g. a maximum, angle relative to the middle plane to catch the pile being lowered, and then be controlled to gradually decrease the angle as the pile gets closer to the base support, guiding it towards the support position and decreasing the risk of, e.g. lateral, deviations from the intended path.

[0029] In an embodiment, the fender pads are both pivotable about a respective pivot axis, which extend parallel to, and preferably forwards of, the pile axis. The respective fender actuators are pivot actuators for controlled pivoting of the fender pads around the respective pivot axis into fending positions thereof.

[0030] The pivoting movement of the fender pads may facilitate robustness, predictability, and simple control of the angles of the fender pads. A position of the pivot axes forwards of the pile axis makes that small angles of the fender pads are sufficient for performing the fending function, which facilitates robustness and effectiveness. Furthermore the pile can be engaged at positions further forwards from the base support, which is beneficial when cushioning a backwards movement of the pile, when guiding a backwards movement of the pile - e.g. during loading, or when guiding or pushing a forwards movement of the pile - e.g. during exiting. A pivot axis further forwards, in particular in front of the pile axis, may moreover lead to a more advantageous angular position at which the fender pad is tangential to the pile circumference. It may provide a larger movement range which is useful in cushioning of impact by the pile, and in pushing it back, because the fender pads may contact the pile during a larger part of the pile movement.

[0031] In an example, the fender pivot actuators are linear actuators, which each have one end fixed to a section of the associated fender pad backwards of the pivot axis, e.g. a backwards end, and another end of the linear actuator to a stationary outer part of the cradle. For example, a side section of the cradle. This example provides a simple and robust solution for providing the pivoting. When the fender pads are to increase the angle with the middle plane to cushion the impact to decelerate the pile, and / or to decrease the angle again to push the pile back with its central longitudinal axis towards the longitudinal axis of the pivot structure, a linear actuator is able to do this by operating along its working axis - providing the necessary forces by extension and retraction in a predictable and easily controllable manner.

[0032] In an embodiment, the fender pads are both pivotable and translatable forwardly and backwardly relative to the base, the respective moving actuators of the cradle comprising both the pivot actuators and translation actuators for controlled movement of the fender pads. This enables to achieve a more backwards position of the fender pads in the slanted fending positions relative to the lateral fending position, which may facilitate the adjustability of the functionality of the fender pads to different pile diameters and different situations. In embodiment, the fender pads are laterally movable for increasing or decreasing a lateral distance to the pile, e.g. to engage the pile laterally more inwardly or outwardly.

[0033] The pile foot end support structure may, in function of robustness, be rigid, with the pile foot support member remaining engaged with, and being unreleasable from, the pile foot end in at least the vertical position. This engagement prevents downwards movement of the pile, when the pivotal structure is in non-horizontal positions, in particular in the vertical position.

[0034] In a practical embodiment, the cradle is U-shaped. The legs of the ‘U’ extend away from the hinge axis. The cradle has a base section and left-hand and right-hand side sections extending from the base at respective lateral sides of the cradle. The side sections may extend forwardly to beyond the pile axis and into ends remote from the horizontal hinge axis. The ends of the side sections define a receiving opening between them for receiving the pile in a backwards direction into the cradle. Through this same opening, the pile will also exit the cradle once upended and being moved by the crane to the remotely arranged pile gripper. The upending device is configured so that, in the horizontal loading position of the pivotal structure, the receiving opening of the cradle is directed upwards for loading of a pile in horizontal orientation from above into the cradle downwardly against the base and with the foot end of the pile facing the foot support member, wherein each of the movable fender pads is connected to a respective one of the side sections of the cradle to extend inwardly from the respective side members. In this embodiment, the pile is thus movable into and out of the cradle in the backwards and forwards direction through the front receiving opening - and the fender pads can advantageously be used to guide and / or correct these forwards and backwards movements.

[0035] In an example, each of the fender actuators is operative between the associated fender pad and the respective side section of the cradle. This may contribute to simplicity and robustness, given that the angles with the middle plane are sharp - the side sections also being forwardly directed, means that the smallest angles can be expected with the side members, so that actuating movements can effectively be done by providing the actuators between the fender pads and the side members. Providing the actuator between the side section and the fender pad, in particular in case of a linear actuator, provides for an advantageous alignment of the actuator with the expected force from the pile.

[0036] In an embodiment, the fender pads extend from proximate ends backward of the pile axis in the support position, to remote ends thereof forward of the pile axis, both in the lateral and slanted fending position.

[0037] Each fender pad is movable by the fender actuators into a resting position, in which the fender pad extends parallel to the middle plane. This may be useful to save energy and / or e.g. to give way to a monopile being loaded into the cradle, and exiting from the cradle. A movement of one, or more, e.g. all, e.g. both, of the fender pads from the resting position to the fending positions may be actuated to correct undue motions of the pile, or to aid in controlling intended motions thereof, in particular loading and exiting movements, as described before.

[0038] Typical dimensions of monopiles to be upended and installed offshore have a diameter of 8 - 11 meters at the foot end. Diameters of up to 15 meters are thinkable in the near future. The lengths range from 55 - 95m, with 130m or even more thinkable in the near future. The device is envisaged for monopiles with sizes within this order of magnitude. Examples of presently available monopiles have foot end diameters and lengths of: 8x55m, 10.4x85m, 10x92m, and 11x95m.

[0039] In an embodiment, the base support comprises one or more, e.g. two or four, pile support devices arranged and configured for engaging a backwardly directed laterally central circumferential portion of the supported pile by contact surfaces thereof, against which pile support devices the pile rests in the backward direction when loaded, and during upending. In an example, the inward surfaces of these devices are curved.

[0040] In an example, the base support comprises four pile support devices, arranged in a square.

[0041] In an example, the backward ends of the fender pads can be brought in line with the pile support devices so as to tangentially abut them.

[0042] In an example, the pile support devices are multiple pile support devices on different lateral sides of the middle plane, pivotable mounted to the remainder of the base about pivot axes parallel to the pile axis in the support position, for enabling making contact surfaces thereof tangential to circumferences of supported piles having different diameters, and thus different curvatures, by pivoting the pile support devices around their pivot axes, wherein the pile support devices are controllably pivotable around their pivot axes by means of respective pile support device actuators, e.g. operative between the pile support devices and the base section.

[0043] In an embodiment, the pile foot end support structure of the device includes a left-hand and a right-hand connector member, both in the form of a connector beam, the connector beams extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the middle plane at the respective lateral sides of the internal space of the cradle. Lower ends of the connector beams both support the pile foot support member, the pile foot support member extending transversely between them, so as to enable the bottom end of the pile in support position to be upwardly supported thereon between the connector beams. In an embodiment, the pile foot end support structure is adjustable to the length of the pile. Thereto a translatability of the connector member(s) relative to the cradle is provided, and thus the pile foot support member supported thereby, parallel to the pile axis in support position, wherein the connector members are releasably attachable to the cradle at multiple longitudinally spaced locations along the connector member(s). Alternatively, the adjustability may be provided by pile foot support member being longitudinally translatable relative to the connector member(s), and releasably attachable to the connector member(s) at multiple longitudinally spaced locations along the connector member(s).

[0044] In a storage position, the pivotal structure is in the horizontal loading position and has the connector member(s) maximally translated to the highest possible position relative to the cradle - seen in the vertical position - thus, with the connector member(s) attached to the cradle at the position most proximate the pile foot support.

[0045] In an embodiment, the device further comprises at least one hinge actuator, operative between the support structure and the pivotal structure, configured for controlled pivoting of the pivotal structure relative to the support structure around the horizontal hinge axis. It is envisaged that the at least one hinge actuator is capable of pivoting of the pivotal structure only - thus having a stroke that is adapted to the weight of the pivotal structure, not of the pile in addition. The pile is envisaged to be vertically supported by a lifting device, e.g. a crane, during upending, wherein the lifting action by the crane effectuates the upending of the pile itself. The hinge actuator(s) supports the upending only to the extent that the pivoting of the pivotal structure around the hinge axis is accomplished thereby during upending.

[0046] The first aspect of the invention furthermore relates to a method for upending a pile, e.g. a monopile, to be installed into the seabed, wherein use is made of the upending device according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0047] The first aspect of the invention relates to a method for upending a pile, e.g. a monopile, to be installed into the seabed, wherein use is made of the upending device according to the invention on a vessel, which comprises the following subsequent steps:

[0048] 1) with the pivotal structure in the horizontal loading position and the fender pads in the fending position, loading a pile into the pivotal structure,

[0049] 2) upending the pile by lifting the upper end thereof by means of the crane,

[0050] 3) with the pivotal structure the vertical position, removing the upended pile from the pivotal structure by means of the crane, e.g. followed by moving the suspended pile into a pile gripper of the vessel. Suitable embodiments are described in the subclaims 17 - 20.

[0051] In a second aspect thereof, the invention provides upending devices according to claims 21 and 22, and a method according to claim 30.

[0052] In prior art upending devices, the connector beams of the pile end support structure are rigidly connected to the cradle and the pile support beam is rigidly connected to the two connector beams.

[0053] As the size and weight of monopiles is enormous, handling of the monopile on-board the vessel is a delicate task, e.g. in view of the need to avoid damage to the monopile and / or equipment involved in the process. Typical dimensions of monopiles are a diameter of 8 - 11 meters at the foot end. Diameters of up to 15 meters are envisaged in the future. The length of the monopile now is often in the range from 55 - 95m, with 130m or even more envisaged for the future. Examples of presently available monopiles have foot end diameters and lengths of: 8x55m, 10.4x85m, 10x92m, and 11x95m. The weight of a monopile may exceed 1000 tonnes, e.g. more than 2000 tonnes. Weights of 3000 tonnes or even more are projected.

[0054] During the upending process, the (mono-)pile may exhibit some sway, e.g. due to vessel motion, e.g. sea-state induced vessel motion, crane motion and / or crane deflection / vibration, and / or environmental forces acting on the pile, e.g. wind or possibly currents / waves when the upended pile sticks into the sea with a part thereof, etc. The sway, even when minor in magnitude, combined with the dimensions and weight of the (mono-)pile may be the cause of interaction forces between the pile and the device, within the device, and / or with the hull of the vessel, etc. As the (mono-)piles become larger and heavier, these forces may lead to damage, e.g. to the pile, e.g. to the bottom end of the pile.

[0055] It is an object of the second aspect of the invention to reduce the risk of, and / or mitigate, any damage during the upending process.

[0056] The second aspect of the present invention provides a dedicated upending device according to claim 21. The present invention also provides an integrated upending and holding device according to claim 22. Suitable embodiments are included in claims 23-29. In particularly preferred embodiments, as according to claims 13 and 14, the upending device is also according to the first aspect of the invention, to achieve synergetic effects of both aspects in reducing the risk of, and / or mitigate, any damage during the complete upending process - i.e. during loading of the pile into the device, upending of the pile, and any removal of the upended pile from the device.

[0057] The second aspect of the present invention reduces the forces acting on the pile end support structure, as well as interaction forces with the (bottom end of) the (mono-)pile, and thereby the risk of damage, by having left and right connector beams which are hingedly connected to the cradle and by having the pile support beam hingedly connected to the left and right connector beams. This allows the pile foot end structure to sway with respect to the cradle, e.g. between 0.5 and 5 degrees to either side. The pile foot end structure can thus sway together with the pile during the upending and when upending has been completed. This serves to lower or limit any forces between the pile and the pile foot end structure and / or forces within the device, e.g. where the cradle hingedly connects to the support assembly, in particular compared to prior art approaches wherein the connector beams are rigidly connected to the cradle and the support beam is rigidly connected to the connector beams.

[0058] In the integrated device, preferably, the left and right connector beams are each also hinged at the upper end thereof to the cradle about a left and a right tilt axis, respectively, which tilt axes are parallel to the horizontal hinge axis. One or more tilt actuators are provided between the cradle and the connector beam(s) and are configured to tilt the pile end support structure about the left and right tilt axes between an operative position for supporting the pile in the non- horizontal orientations of the pivotal structure together with the pile and an inoperative position allowing for lowering of the upended pile to the seabed using the crane. In an alternative design, the support beam can be released from one of the connector beams so as to be pivoted away, e.g. downwards, to an inoperative position. In yet another alternative design, the support beam is composed to two halve support beam sections, each hinged to a respective connector beam and provided with a releasable coupling to couple the halves in the operative position and to release the halves for movement to an inoperative position. During the lowering phase, the (mono-)pile is guided by the multiple pile engaging devices that are distributed about the circumference of the ring, e.g. each pile engaging device comprising one or more pile guiding rollers that are positionable radially relative to the ring.

[0059] In an embodiment, the pile end support structure further comprises a foot support member which is configured to support the bottom end of the pile when the pile is in a non-horizontal orientation during upending of the pile and when the pile has been upended. The foot support member is hinged, e.g. to the centre of the pile support beam, around a hinge axis parallel to the centre plane of the pivotal structure, creating a sort of seesaw which supports the bottom end of the pile. In practical embodiments, the hinges axes of the pile end support structure are such that the pile support beam remains horizontal even during sway. If the upended pile would stand on this support beam and then sway would occur, the pile would effectively be supported at only one location on the pile support beam, which would concentrate the forces at one point, e.g. locally overloading the pile. By hingedly connecting the foot support member to, e.g. the centre of, the pile support beam, it allows the bottom end of the pile to be supported at two or more locations at all times, even when sway occurs.

[0060] In an embodiment, the pile end support structure has two pile clamps, e.g. placed on the foot support member, e.g. near or at the two outer ends of the foot support member. The pile clamps are configured to clamp the wall of the bottom end of the pile at two locations, e.g. diametrically opposite one another. This serves to ensure that the pile bottom remains in place relative to the pile end support structure.

[0061] In an embodiment, the pile clamps are actuated pile clamps, e.g. hydraulically actuated pile clamps, which can be moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position wherein the bottom end of the pile is clamped.

[0062] In an embodiment, the left and right connector beams are each connected to an alignment actuator, e.g. a hydraulic cylinder. Due to the left and right connecter beams being hingedly connected to the cradle about the hinge axes, the connecter beams can become out of line with the centre plane of the pivotal structure. However, this makes the loading of a pile into the device difficult. The alignment actuators are configured to keep the pile end support structure in line with the centre plane of the pivotal structure, e.g. only during the loading of a substantially horizontal oriented pile onto the device. The alignment actuators do not prevent the sway motion as discussed, in embodiments the alignment actuators are configured and operated as a damper, more preferably, the alignment actuators are only active prior to and / or during loading of the pile onto the device and rendered inactive during the upending phase.

[0063] In a practical embodiment, the cradle is U-shaped and is hinged to the support assembly around the horizontal hinge axis. The legs of the ‘U’ extend away from this hinge axis. The cradle has a base section and left and right side sections extending from the base at respective lateral sides of the cradle. The side sections may extend to beyond the pile axis and into ends remote from the horizontal hinge axis. The ends of the side sections define a receiving opening between them for receiving the pile into the cradle, e.g. when lowered into the cradle while suspended in horizontal orientation from the crane of the vessel or by some other loading approach.

[0064] In embodiments of the dedicated upending device, the pile will also laterally exit the cradle via this same receiving opening, once upended has been completed and the crane is used to move the pile to the remotely arranged pile holding device, also called pile gripper.

[0065] The device with U-shaped cradle may be configured so that, in the horizontal loading position of the pivotal structure, the receiving opening of the cradle is directed upwards for loading of a pile in horizontal orientation from above into the cradle.

[0066] In another embodiment, the (mono-)pile is horizontally moved into the cradle or the ring comprising the cradle. For example, a skid device is present on the vessel horizontally move the (mono-)pile into the cradle or the ring of the device.

[0067] In an embodiment, the cradle comprises one or more, e.g. two or four, pile support devices arranged and configured for engaging a laterally central circumferential portion of the supported pile by contact surfaces thereof, against which pile support devices the pile rests when loaded, and during upending. In an example, the inward surfaces of these devices are curved. The one or more pile support devices may be provided in addition to the one or more pile engaging devices on the ring of the integrated device, e.g. the pile engaging devices having controllable actuators, e.g. hydraulic actuators, to allow for a controlled squeeze force to be exerted on the pile and / or controlled positioning of the pile.

[0068] In an embodiment, the pile support devices are multiple pile support devices on different lateral sides of the centre plane, pivotable mounted to the remainder of the base about pivot axes parallel to the pile axis in the support position, for enabling making contact surfaces thereof tangential to circumferences of supported piles having different diameters, and thus different curvatures, by pivoting the pile support devices around their pivot axes, wherein the pile support devices are controllably pivotable around their pivot axes by means of respective pile support device actuators, e.g. operative between the pile support devices and the base section. In an example, the base section comprises four pile support devices, arranged in a square.

[0069] In an embodiment, the device further comprises at least one hinge actuator, operative between the support assembly and the pivotal structure and configured for controlled pivoting of the pivotal structure relative to the support assembly around the horizontal hinge axis. It is envisaged that the at least one hinge actuator is capable of pivoting of the pivotal structure only - thus having a stroke that is adapted to the weight of the pivotal structure, not of the pile in addition. Upending is done by the lifting action by the crane.

[0070] In an embodiment, as is known in the art, the support assembly of the integrated device comprises one or more horizontal hull mounted rails mounted on the hull of the vessel, e.g. on a deck thereof, e.g. X - rails extending horizontally and in a longitudinal direction of the hull of the vessel. A subframe is movable over said one or more hull mounted rails. One or more subframe mounted rails are mounted on the subframe and perpendicular to the hull mounted rails, e.g. one or more Y-rails extending horizontally and in transverse direction of the hull of the vessel. A support frame is movable over the subframe mounted rails. Controllable motion actuators of the support assembly are configured to move the subframe over the hull mounted rails and to move the support frame over the subframe mounted rails.

[0071] In embodiments, the device is provided with one or more load sensors that sense one or more of loads exerted on the device by the (mono-)pile. For example, one or more load sensors are configured to sense whether the pile bottom is in contact with the pile foot support during loading, e.g. avoiding that there is a gap here which could result in the pile sliding during the upending process into the contact with this pile foot support. For example, strain gauges are provided at one or more locations of the device.

[0072] In embodiments, one or more sensors are provided which measure actual sway motion of the pile end support structure, e.g. allowing for monitoring of sway during the upending, e.g. the measurement(s) being used in view of control of the crane. For example, one or more angle measurement sensors are provided to measure sway.

[0073] In an embodiment, provision is made for an alarm routine, e.g. when sensed actual sway exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0074] The invention also relates to a method for installation of a pile, e.g. a monopile, into the seabed, wherein use is made of the device according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0075] The second aspect of the invention also relates to a method for upending a pile, e.g. a monopile, to be installed into the seabed, wherein use is made of the dedicated upending device according to at least the claim 21 on a vessel having a crane, which comprises the following steps:

[0076] 1) loading the pile, with the pivotal structure in the horizontal loading position,

[0077] 2) upending the pile by lifting the upper end thereof by means of the crane, 3) with the pivotal structure and the pile in the vertical position, removing the upended pile from the pivotal structure by means of the crane, followed by moving the suspended pile into a pile holding device of the vessel.

[0078] The invention also relates to a method for installation of a pile, e.g. a monopile, into the seabed, wherein use is made of the integrated upending and holding device according to at least the claim 22 on a vessel having a crane, which comprises the following steps:

[0079] 1) loading the pile, with the pivotal structure in the horizontal loading position and the pile end support structure in operative position thereof,

[0080] 2) upending the pile by lifting the upper end thereof by means of the crane,

[0081] 3) with the pivotal structure and the pile in the vertical position, tilting the pile end support structure into the inoperative position,

[0082] 4) lowering the pile to the seabed, whilst being vertically guided by the pile engaging devices of the ring of the integrated device.

[0083] The invention furthermore relates to a vessel provided with the upending device as described herein according to the first and / or second aspect of the invention, e.g. wherein the upending device is provided with its hinge axis along a vessel edge and with the cradle extending outside the contour of the vessel in the vertical position.

[0084] The invention furthermore relates to a cradle for an upending device according to the first aspect of the invention. The invention furthermore relates to a pivotal structure according to the first and / or second aspect of the invention.

[0085] The invention according to the first and second aspects thereof will hereinafter be described with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings show one embodiment of a vessel according to the invention, one embodiment of an upending device according to both the first and second aspect invention, and one embodiment of an integrated upending and holding device according to the second aspect of the invention only. In particular: figure 1 shows in a side view the vessel with the device mounted thereto, and supporting a first monopile in horizontal orientation, figure 2 shows in both a side and top view of the vessel, the vessel with the device mounted thereto, and supporting the same monopile in the horizontal orientation, figure 3 shows in a side view the vessel with the device, supporting the same monopile now in a vertical orientation, figure 4 shows in a side view the vessel with the device, now supporting a second, smaller monopile in a vertical orientation, figures 5a-c show the same device mounted to the vessel with the first monopile, figures 6a-d show the same device mounted to the vessel, now without and with the second monopile, figure 7 shows in a side view the vessel with the device mounted thereto in a storage position, without any pile, figure 8 shows a schematic isometric of an integrated upending and holding device according to the second aspect of the invention, figure 9 shows a schematic view of the pile support beam and the foot support member, figures 10a-c show a schematic front vies of the pile being support by the pile end support structure, where the pile foot end structure is shown a neutral and a deflected position, and figures 11-12 show in a top and side view of the vessel, the vessel and the dedicated upending device respectively without any pile and while supporting the first monopile.

[0086] In the figures, lateral directions are indicated by the arrows 1 and 2, respectively denoting the left and right side of the device. The arrows 3 and 4 respectively indicate the forward and backward direction, i.e. upwards and downwards when in horizontal position. The longitudinal directions, i.e. upwards and downwards when in vertical position, are indicated by the arrows 5 and 6, respectively.

[0087] Throughout this disclosure, lateral directions are intended to mean directions parallel to the horizontal hinge axis of the pivotal structure. A right direction is to the right-hand side when considering the device from the front, and a left direction is to the left-hand side in this same view.

[0088] A forward direction is intended to mean a direction from the horizontal hinge axis to the pile axis, and a backward direction the opposite direction.

[0089] The middle plane is the vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the pile when it is in its loaded position.

[0090] The transverse plane is the plane perpendicular to the pile axis.

[0091] Radial directions are defined with respect to the central longitudinal pile axis in the loaded position of the pile. The terms ‘bottom’, ‘top’, ‘lower’, ‘upper’ etc. in relation to the pile, are to be considered with the pile in vertical orientation, i.e. the orientation after upending, in which it is to be installed into the seabed.

[0092] Upending device 100 is a dedicated upending device, which is shown in figure 1 being mounted to deck 11 of vessel 10 at an edge 13 thereof via a mounting means 129.

[0093] The mounting means 129 may have different forms known in the art, for example a fixed connection, or a connection providing movability in the horizontal plane, for example an X-Y frame, for adjusting the horizontal location of the device on the deck 11. Therefore, the mounting means 129 are illustrated simply by means of a cloud to denote the different possible embodiments.

[0094] Upending device 100 is configured for use in upending of a monopile 20, 30 that is to be installed into the seabed. The pile 20, 30 is thereto to be lowered to the seabed, e.g. the lowering to the seabed being guided by a pile holder 15 of the vessel 10. The upending device is shown in figures 1 , 2, 5a-b and 9 shown while supporting a first monopile 20, and in figures 3 and 6a-c while supporting a second, smaller, monopile 30. Monopile 20 has the smallest diameter D20 which can still be handled by device 100, and monopile 30 has the largest diameter D30 which can still be handled by device 100. Because the bottom section is placed in the pile upending device 100, it is the diameter of this section which is relevant to the design of the device 100.

[0095] The shown monopiles 20, 30 respectively have a top section 25, 35 having a smallest diameter which remains constant over the height, a transition section 26, 36 having a downwardly increasing diameter, and a bottom section 27, 37 having the largest diameter D20, D30 along the monopile length L20, L30. As can be verified by the drawings, other types of cylindrical piles may be handled by the upending device 100 as well.

[0096] Upending device 100 comprises a support assembly 110 and a pivotal structure 120. The support assembly 110 is via mounting means 129 mounted on deck 11 of vessel 10. Upending device 100 furthermore comprises pivotal structure 120, see in particular figures 1-4 and 7. Pivotal structure 120 is hinged to the support assembly 110 about horizontal hinge axis 121 , see figures 2 and 7, and is configured for supporting a pile, as is shown for he piles 20, 30 in a support position in figures 1-4, 5b, 6b and 9 with the respective central longitudinal pile axes 22, 32 thereof on a vertical backwards-forwards laterally central middle plane 122 of the pivotal structure 120.

[0097] Middle plane 122 is indicated in figure 2, figures 5a-b, and 6a-c.

[0098] With support assembly 110 mounted to vessel deck 11 , upending device 100 allows for the pivoting of the pivotal structure 120 and the respective piles 20, 30 in the support position, around horizontal hinge axis 121 from a horizontal loading position, shown in figures 1 , 2, 5b, 6c and 9, into a vertical position, shown in figures 3 and 4, in which pile axis 20, 30 of each of the supported piles 20, 30 is respectively horizontal and vertical, by lifting an upper end 23, 33 of each pile 20, 30 by means of a crane of the vessel.

[0099] In the horizontal loading position, the monopiles 20, 30 are initially supported on upper end support 12 mounted to the deck. It can be envisaged that when crane 16, see figures 8 and 9, is operated to lift the upper end 23, 33, this results in pivoting of the pile towards the vertical position.

[0100] Pivotal structure 120 comprises cradle 130, for transversely supporting a pile in the support position, which is shown most clearly in particular figures 5a-b and 6a-c for piles 20, 30. It furthermore provides at least forwards (i.e. directed according to arrow 3) support of the pile in the support position, by means of central base support 134 in non-vertical orientations of the pile. This can be verified from figures 5b and 6c: in non-vertical positions of the pile, it will as a result of the weight thereof, exert a force on the central base support 134 which has a backward (i.e. directed according to arrow 4) component, which will decrease as the pile 20,30 becomes more vertical, until finally the vertical position is reached. This backward component is counteracted by the lateral base support 134 so as to support the pile at the circumference of the bottom section 27, 37 during upending. Cradle 130 has an structural part 131 ,132,133 which is stationary relative to the middle plane 122 and is U-shaped, see in particular figures 5a-b and 6a-c. The stationary part 131 has a base section 132 and a left side section 133 and a right hand side section 134 which extend from the base section 132 at a respective lateral side of the cradle 130.

[0101] Pivotal structure 120 furthermore comprises pile foot end support structure 140, including two connector members 141 ,142 in the form of left connector beam 141 and right connector beam 142, which, seen in the vertical position - figures 3 and 4 - with the pile in the support position, extend parallel to and laterally spaced from the centre plane 122 of the pivotal structure 120 downwardly (i.e. directed according to arrow 6) from cradle 130 towards foot end 24,34 of the supported pile 20,30, and has a lower end supporting a pile foot support member 143, in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a pile foot support beam 143, which extends transversely between the lower ends of the left and right connector beams 141 ,142. The pile foot support beam 143 enables upwardly supporting the pile 20,30 at its foot end 24,34 in non-horizontal orientations of the pile 24,34. This can be verified from figures 5b and 6c: in non-horizontal positions of the pile, it will as a result of the weight thereof, exert a force on the foot support 143 which has a downward component. This component will increase as the pile becomes more vertical. The foot support 143 extends for the suitable range of pile diameters D20 - D30 at, or forwards from, the pile axis 22, 23, and because of the cylindrical shape of the piles 20, 30, therefore in front of the centre of gravity 21 , 31 thereof. This is preferred for reducing the chance of the monopile unduly tipping over forwards e.g. because of undesired motions under the influence of wind.

[0102] Now referring to figures 5a-b and 6a-c, the cradle 130 comprises movable fender pads 151 ,152 at respective lateral sides. Fender pads 151 ,152 forms, together with base support 134, inward surfaces of cradle 130 which define an internal space inside the cradle 130 for the pile 20, 30 to which radial movement of the supported pile 20,30 is limited.

[0103] Fender pads 151 ,152 are connected to respective side sections 131 ,132 of the U-shaped part 131 ,132,133 of the cradle 130, such as to each be controllably movable by a fender actuator 153,154 into multiple slanted fending positions.

[0104] Fender pads 151 ,152 are both shown in figures 5a and 6b-c in a fending position. In these positions, the fender pads 151 ,152 each extend at a sharp angle 0 relative to the middle plane 122. As shown in the mentioned figures, in the fending position, the fender pads 151 ,152 both decrease the width of the internal space in backwards direction 4: the fender pads 151 ,152 each slant laterally inwardly in the direction from the pile axis 22,32 towards the base support 134.

[0105] In the shown embodiment, the fender pads 151 ,152 are each pivotable about a respective pivot axis 157,158, extending parallel to, and here forwards of, the pile axis 22,32.

[0106] The fender actuators 153,154 of the cradle 130 are pivot actuators for controlled pivoting of the fender pads around the respective pivot axis into the fending positions thereof. The fender pads 151 ,152 are here movable by operation of the fender actuators 153,154 from the fending positions into a resting position along the side sections 132,133 and parallel to middle plane 122. Thus, the angle 0 has then been reduced to zero.

[0107] In figure 5b, the first monopile 20 is shown in the support position, with the fender pads 151 ,152 in the resting position. Figure 6a also shows this resting position.

[0108] Fender pads 151 ,152 extend, as is preferred, from proximate ends 155,156 backward of the pile axis 22,32 in the support position, to remote ends 137,138 thereof forward of pile axis 22,32, both in the lateral and slanted fending position. That is, when the pile is in the support position, i.e. resting backwardly against base support 134 and downwardly - considering the vertical position - against foot support member 143.

[0109] In the shown embodiment, the fender actuators 151 ,152 are linear actuators, connected at their bottom ends to respective side sections 132,133 of cradle 130 backwards of pivot axes 157,158 and at their rod side ends to the fender pads 151 ,152 near their proximate ends 155,156. As shown in figure 5a by the curved arrows, and by the advancement from figure 6a to 6b, extension leads to the fender pads moving from a resting position thereof parallel to middle plane 122 to a fending position thereof at an angle ©1, 02 with middle plane 122. The fending position of figure 5a with the smaller angle Oi suits the use of the upending device for a larger diameter pile, e.g. monopile 20. The fending position of figures 6b-c with the larger angle ©2 suits the use of the upending device for a smaller diameter pile. In the fending position of figures 5c and 6d fender pads 151 ,152 have an even larger angle ©3 with middle plane 122.

[0110] As shown most clearly in figs. 5a-c, 6a-d, the outwards part of cradle 130 has a base section 131 extending along the horizontal hinge axis 121 , and left-hand and right-hand side sections 132,133 extending from the base at respective lateral sides, forwardly to beyond the pile axis and into ends 137,138 remote from the horizontal hinge axis, the remote ends 137,138 of the side sections defining a receiving opening 139 between them for receiving the pile in a backwards direction into the cradle.

[0111] In the horizontal loading position of the pivotal structure 120, the receiving opening 139 of the cradle 130 is directed upwards for loading of a pile 20,30 in horizontal orientation from above into the cradle downwardly against the base support 134 and with the foot end 24,34 of the pile 20,30 near or at, and facing, the foot support member 143, so as to reach the support position. See figs.1-2, 5b, 6c. Each of the movable fender pads 151 ,152 is connected to a respective one of side sections 132,133 of the cradle 130 to extend inwardly from the respective side sections132,133.

[0112] The fender pads 151 ,152 extend from proximate ends 155,156 thereof backward of the pile axis 22,32 in the support position, to remote ends 137,138 forward of the pile axis 22,32, both in the lateral and slanted fending position.

[0113] The base support comprises one or more pile support devices 134 arranged and configured for engaging a backwardly directed laterally central circumferential portion 25,35 of the supported pile 20,30 by contact surfaces 135 thereof, against which pile support devices the pile 20,30 rests in the backward direction when loaded, and during upending - see figs.5b and 6c for the larger and smaller diameter monopile 20,30, respectively.

[0114] Pile support devices 134 here are four pile support devices arranged in a square, two longitudinally spaced devices extending on opposed lateral sides of the centre plane 122 and laterally spaced. The pile support devices are pivotable mounted to the base 131 of the cradle outwards part about pivot axes parallel to the pile axis 22,32 in the support position. As can be verified by comparing figure 5b with figure 6c, this pivotability enables making contact surfaces 135 of the pile support devices 134 tangential to the different circumferences of the supported piles 20,30 with different diameters D2o,D3o, and thus different curvatures. The pile support devices 134 can be controllably pivoted around their pivot axes 137, about their pivot axes 137 by means of respective pile support device actuators 136, in this case cylinders, operative between the pile support devices 134 and the base section 131 which is stationary relative to centre plane 122.

[0115] The pile foot end support structure 140 includes a left-hand and a right-hand connector member 141 ,142, both in the form of a connector beam. The connector beams 141 ,142 extend parallel to and laterally spaced from the centre plane 122 at the respective lateral sides of the internal space of the cradle. The lower ends of the connector beams 141 ,142 both support the pile foot support member 143, the pile foot support member extending transversely between them, so as to enable the bottom end 24,34 of the pile 20,30 in support position to be upwardly supported thereon between the connector beams 141 ,142.

[0116] The pile foot end support structure 140 is adjustable to the length l_2o,L3o of the pile 20,30 by a translatability of the connector members 142 relative to the cradle 130, and thus the pile foot support member 143 supported thereby, parallel to the pile axis in support position. The connector members 141 ,142 are releasably attachable to the cradle 130 at multiple longitudinally spaced locations along the connector members 141 ,142. By comparing figure 3 with figure 4, it is visible that the connector members are attached to the cradle 130 at a higher position (when seen in vertical orientation) for the longer, first monopile 20 and at a lower position for the shorter, second monopile 30.

[0117] Device 100 further comprises at least one hinge actuator 123, see figure 7, operative between the support structure 110 and the pivotal structure 120. Hinge actuator 123 is configured to control the pivoting of the pivotal structure 120 relative to the support structure 110 around the horizontal hinge axis 121 , e.g. designed to handle the weight of the pivotal structure 120 only, in particular for returning the empty device 100 back to the loading position. The actuator 123 is, preferably, not designed to support the pile 20,30 during upending, this is achieved by lifting of the upper end 23,33 thereof by means of the crane.

[0118] The fending pads may in an offshore pile upending process aid in controlling the monopile in at least four situations:

[0119] 1) upending device 100 is in its horizontal loading position, and monopile 20,30 is being lowered into cradle 130;

[0120] 2) upending device 100 is almost at the end of the upending process in a near-vertical position, monopile 20,30 unduly escapes from cradle 130, and is about to swing back into the cradle;

[0121] 3) upending device 100 is in its vertical position, and monopile 20,30 is after upending being moved forwardly out of cradle 130 by means of the crane,

[0122] 4) upending device 100 is in its vertical position, and monopile 20,30 has after upending just been moved out forwardly from the cradle 130 by means of the crane, but is about to unduly swing back towards the cradle.

[0123] In situation 1 , the figures 5a-c, 6-a-d would be views from the side of vessel 10, zoomed in from figure 9, fender pads 151 ,152 can by keeping the fending actuators 153,154 extended, guide monopile 20,30 towards the support position, already by their chute form. When monopile 20,30 becomes during lowering unduly offset from the middle plane 122, it may contact one of the fenders 151 ,152 and be slid along this fender downwards towards the base support 134, or in case of an impact, be bounced back towards the middle plane. With the lowering being a gradual slow movement of the monopile 20 wherein it is supported from above, this impact will generally be minimal - and the rebounding onto the fender results in a small correction of its position. The fenders 151 ,152 may in this process thus be kept in the same position. However, in case of a quicker / larger undue movement, for example caused by wind, one of the actuators 151 ,152 may be operated to brake and correct the movement by firstly moving the associated fender pad 151 ,152 along with pile 20,30, i.e. towards the same side from the middle plane 122 whilst providing increasingly more resistance, and then moving in the direction towards middle plane 122 to push the monopile 20 there towards as well. The fact that fender pads 151 ,152 are movable into multiple fending positions at multiple angles with the middle plane, makes that the chute is adjustable to the different pile diameters - compare figure 5a with larger monopile 20 and figures 6b-c with smaller monopile 30. In an example, when necessary e.g. in case of heavy winds or other disturbing factors to the positioning of the pile, fender pads 151 ,152 may during lowering of the monopile even be used to catch the pile during its downwards movement, by initially increasing the angle to a large angle 03 to catch the pile, and moving along with the backwardly moving pile towards the base support 134 by gradually decreasing the angle 0 again until the support position of the pile is reached - e.g. until fender pads 151 ,152 are aligned with the base support 134 like in figures 5a (at angle Oi) and figure 6b (at angle ©2).

[0124] In situation 2, in which figures 5a-c, 6-a-d would thus be near-top views of the vessel 10, monopile 20,30 is losing the backwards support from the base support almost completely, since it is almost completely upright. When the pile unduly tips over, moving forwards out of the cradle, e.g. under the influence of external conditions, the pile 20,30, still being held at its top end by the crane, may fall back towards the cradle again for example due to the suspension cable pulling it back. The fender pads 151 ,152 may be used to cushion any impact by moving into the fending positions first, upon or before the pile 20 moving back into the cradle, e.g. upon detection thereof, and for example push pile 20,30 back with its axis 22 towards the support position, by controlled operation of one or more of the fender actuators, e.g. to center it. In case the monopile makes a large excursion, the actuators 153,154 may in reaction be operated so as to place fender pads 153,154 at a large angle ©3 like in figures 5c and 6d to catch the pile upon its backwards movement, then moving along with the backwardly moving pile by controllably decreasing the angle O again to O1, ©2 and increasing resistance to decelerate the pile - thus, cushioning the backwards movement - until the pile is back into its support position.

[0125] In situation 3, in which figures 5a-c, 6-a-d would thus be top views, fender actuators 153,154 may be controllably operated to have fender pads 151 ,152 move along with the pile, maintaining the contact with the pile circumference during its forwards movement out of cradle 130 by increasing the angle O accordingly - e.g. to the angle ©3 shown in figures 5c and 6d. The effect is that the pile remains centered as small lateral movements are directly corrected, fender pads 151 ,152 remaining to form a chute. Fender pads 151 ,152 may, in embodiments, even be used to facilitate the controlled forwards movement of the pile by exerting a forwards pushing force thereto, operating the fender actuators 153,154 accordingly. In situation 4, in which figures 5a-c, 6-a-d would thus be top views, fender actuators 153,154 may be controllably operated as explained before to have fender pads 151 ,152 cushion the movement of the monopile 20,30 back into cradle 130. For example the fender pads may subsequently, even be operated to push monopile 20 back out of cradle 130, e.g. imparting some acceleration to monopile 20,30 in that direction.

[0126] In figure 5b, monopile 20,30 is in the support position with part 25 of its circumference being engaged by inner surfaces 135 of the base support 134. Fender pads 151 , 152 are in the resting position thereof. This position is for the first, large diameter D20 monopile 20 envisaged during upending.

[0127] In figure 6a, device 100 has been adjusted to the smaller diameter D30 of second monopile 30. By means of the cylinders 136 between the side sections132,133 and the pile support devices 134, the pile support devices 134 have been pivoted inwards about the axes 137 relative to the position of figures 5a-b, to fit the smaller pile diameter D30. Fender pads 151 , 152 are still in their resting position.

[0128] In figure 6b, fender pads 151 ,152 have been pivoted by means of the fender actuators 153,154 from the resting position into fending positions at an angle 02 with the middle plane 122 which is larger than the angle 0i in the fending positions of figure 5a for the larger diameter monopile 20. The larger angle 02 makes that fender pads 151 ,152 form a chute towards the base support 134 such that the lower ends 155, 156 directly about the outer ends of the base support 134. In figure 6b it is shown that second smaller monopile 30 is partly inside the cradle. In figure 6c it is in the support position, resting on the base support 134 with the inner surface 135 engaging part 35 of the pile circumference. Fender pads 151 ,152 are still in the fending position. The fending position of figure 6c is envisaged to be maintained during upending, the fender pads limiting any lateral movements of the pile 30.

[0129] With reference to figures 10a-c showing a front view of the pile 20 supported by the pile end support structure 140, the left and right connector beams 141 , 142 are hinged at an upper end thereof to the cradle 130 about respectively a left and right connector hinge axis 146, 147 which are parallel to the centre plane 122 of the pivotal structure 120. It is noted that even though figure 8 shows a - later discussed - integrated upending and holding device 300, the design of the pile end support structure 140 is similar, so that for this part 140, in the discussion of its construction and working principle thereof, the figure 8 may be consulted as well. The pile support beam 143 is hinged at both ends to the lower ends of the left and right connector members 141 , 142 about a left support hinge axis 144 and a right support hinge axis 145. The left and right support hinge axis 144, 145 are parallel to the left and right connector hinge axis 144, 145.

[0130] The connector hinge axes 146, 147 and the support hinge axes 144, 145 are horizontal when the pivotal structure 120 together with the pile 20,30 is in the vertical position.

[0131] In the shown embodiment, the pile foot support structure 140 further comprises a foot support member 148 which supports the bottom end of the pile 20,30 in non-horizontal orientations of the pile 20,30.

[0132] The foot support member 148 is hinged to the centre of the pile support beam 143 pivotally via a hinge 149, such that the bottom end of the pile 20,30 is, during the upending of the pile, always supported by the foot support member 143 at two or more locations.

[0133] Figure 10b shows the pile 20 and the pile end support structure 140 in the neutral position. In the neutral position the pile axis 21 and the vertical centre plane 122 of the pivotal structure 120 line up. The left and right connector beams 141 , 142 extend straight vertically down from the cradle 130, and the foot support member 148 is in a horizontal position.

[0134] Figure 10a and 10c show the pile 20 and the pile end support structure 140 in a deflected position due to sway of the pile 20. In the deflected position the pile axis 21 is angled, here around 5 degrees, with respect to the vertical centre plane 122 of the pivotal structure 120. The left and right connector beams 141 , 142 extend down at an angle equal to the angle of the pile axis 22 with respect to the vertical centre plane 122, due to the connector beams 141 ,142 being hinged to the cradle 130 around the respective connector hinges axes 146, 147.

[0135] The pile support beam 143 remains in a horizontal position, due to the pile support beam 143 being hinged to the left and right connector beams 141 , 142. The foot support member 148 is tilted with respect to the pile support beam 143. The hinge connection 149 between the pile support beam 143 and the foot support member 143 makes it possible for the foot support member 148 to be tilted with respect to the horizontal pile support beam 143 which allows the foot support member 148 to always support the pile foot end 24 at two locations during upending. As shown in figure 9, the foot support member 148 may have two pile clamps 160 arranged near the two outer ends of the foot support member 148. The pile clamps 160 are configured to clamp the wall of the bottom end 24 of the pile 20, such that the bottom end 24 of the pile 20 is secured to the foot support member 148.

[0136] The pile clamps 160 are actuated pile clamps, e.g. hydraulically or electrically actuated pile clamps. The pile clamps can be moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position where the clamps secure the bottom end 24 of the pile 20. As shown in figure 4, the pile clamps 160 comprise a stationary clamp member 161 and an actuated clamp member 162 which can be moved relatively to the stationary clamp member 161 .

[0137] In an embodiment not shown, the left and right connector beams 141 , 142 are each connected to an alignment actuator, e.g. a hydraulic cylinder. The alignment actuators are configured to keep the pile foot end support 140 structure in line with the centre plane 122 of the pivotal structure 120 during the loading of a horizontal oriented pile 20 onto the upending device 100.

[0138] From figures 11 and 12, it can be verified that device 100 is mounted to deck 11 of vessel 10 such that in the vertical position, the cradle, in particular the whole pivotal structure, is outside the vessel contour. Figure 7 illustrates device 100 in a storage position, in which the pivotal structure is in its horizontal loading position and inside the vessel contour. The connector members 141 ,142 are attached to cradle 130 at the position most proximate the pile foot support 143.

[0139] Figure 11 shows device 100 on vessel 10, and that the horizontal hinge axis is along the edge 13 of the vessel at the long side thereof. After upending, the upended pile is to be transferred to the pile holder 15, which is configured for holding the pile during lowering thereof towards the sea bottom and during installation thereof into the sea bottom. For this purpose it has pile support devices with horizontal axis rollers. Deck supports 12 are provided in line with base support 134 of upending device 100, for supporting a monopile in its support position after loading and prior to upending by lifting the upper end 23,33 by means of crane 16.

[0140] In figure 12, it is shown that two second monopiles 30 are in storage rack 14 and one second monopile 30 is in the support position for being upended.

[0141] In the slanted fending position (figs.5a,c,6b-d) of the fending pad, a backwards portion of the fending pad, extending backwards from the pile axis 22,32 is tangential to a portion of the circumference of the supported pile 20,30. In an embodiment (not shown), the internal space of the cradle 130 is adjustable to different pile diameters D2o,D3o by a backwards and forwards movability of the fender pads 151 ,152 relative to the base 131 , the cradle comprising first translation actuators of for controlled backwards and forwards movement 3,4 of the fender pads relative to the base.

[0142] In an embodiment (not shown), the internal space of the cradle 130 is adjustable to different pile diameters D2o,D3o by a lateral movability of the fender pads 151 ,15 relative to the base 131 , e.g. more inwardly to fit a smaller pile, the cradle comprising second translation actuators of for controlled laterally inwards and laterally outwards movement of the fender pads relative to the base.

[0143] Figure 8 shows an example of an integrated upending and holding device 300 according to the invention.

[0144] The device 300 is configured to be mounted, or mounted, on deck 10 of vessel 1 and for use in upending of a pile 200, e.g. a monopile, in combination with the crane of the vessel. After upending, the pile is lowered by means of the crane to the seabed whilst being guided by the device 300.

[0145] The device 300 comprises a support assembly 310 configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a deck of a vessel.

[0146] In an embodiment of the device 300, the support assembly 310 is a motion compensating support assembly configured to provide motion compensation in the horizontal plane, e.g. in two orthogonal directions, e.g. in X, Y directions, as is known in the art.

[0147] The device 300 comprises a pivotal structure 320 which is hinged to the support assembly 310 about a horizontal hinge axis 121 and is configured for supporting the pile 20 with a central longitudinal pile axis 21 thereof on a vertical centre plane of the pivotal structure, so that the device 300 enables the pivoting of the pivotal structure together with the pile around the horizontal hinge axis from a horizontal loading position into a vertical position through lifting an upper end of the pile by means of a crane of the vessel, the upended pile being lowered to the seabed whilst being guided by the device 300.

[0148] The pivotal structure 320 comprises a ring including a cradle 330 hinged to the support assembly 310 about the horizontal hinge axis 121. The ring further comprising one or more movable jaws, e.g. two semi-circular jaws 331 , 332, each jaw being movable between a closed position and an opened position.

[0149] As known in the art, not shown here, the ring is provided with multiple pile engaging devices that are distributed about the circumference of the ring and are configured to guide the pile during lowering onto the seabed. For example, each pile engaging device comprises one or more pile guiding rollers that are positionable radially relative to the ring.

[0150] The pivotal structure 320 further comprises a pile end support structure, which is denoted with the same reference numeral 140 as in the figures discussed above due to the design being similar.

[0151] The pile end support structure of the integrated device 300 comprises a left and a right connector beam 141 , 142, the connector beams extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the centre plane. The connector beams are each hinged at an upper end thereof to the cradle 330 about respectively a left and a right first connector hinge axis 146, 147 which are parallel to the centre plane of the pivotal structure.

[0152] The pile end support structure of the integrated device 300 further comprises a pile support beam 143 which extends transversely between the lower ends of the left and right connector beams 141 , 142 so as to enable the bottom end of the pile 20 to be supported in non-horizontal orientations of the pivotal structure 320 together with the pile. The pile support beam is hinged at both ends to the lower ends of the left and right connector beams about a left and a right support hinge axis 144, 145 which are parallel to the left and right connector hinge axis 146, 147.

[0153] In the integrated device 300, the first connector hinge axes 146, 147 and the support hinge axes 144, 145 are horizontal when the pivotal structure 320 together with the pile 20 are in the vertical position.

[0154] In the integrated device 300, the left and right connector beams are each also hinged at the upper end thereof to the cradle 330 about respectively a left and a right tilt axis 335, 336 which are parallel to the horizontal hinge axis 321. Also, not shown, one or more tilt actuators are provided between the cradle 330 and the connector beams. These tilt actuators are configured to tilt the pile end support structure about the left and right tilt axes 335, 336 between an operative position (as shown) for supporting the pile in the non-horizontal orientations of the pivotal structure 320 together with the pile and an inoperative position allowing for lowering of the upended pile to the seabed using the crane. In embodiments, the tilt actuators are configured to lock and thereby prevent this tilting. For example, after upending has been completed, the crane lifts the pile clear from the foot end support 160 so that the pile end support structure of the integrated device 300 can be tilted away from the operative position, e.g. to a horizontal non-operative position, and the crane then is used to controllably lower the pile towards the seabed, the pile then being guided by the ring and the pile engaging devices thereof. For example, the motion compensating support assembly is used to control position and / or inclination of the pile during the lowering, preferably also during the subsequent pile driving phase.

Claims

C L A I M S1 . An upending device (100) configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a deck (11) of a vessel (10) and for use in upending of a pile, e.g. a monopile (20, 30), in combination with a crane of the vessel, which pile is after upending to be removed from the upending device by means of the crane in order to be lowered to the seabed, e.g. the lowering to the seabed being guided by a pile holder of the vessel, wherein the upending device (100) comprises:- a support assembly (110) configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a deck of a vessel,- a pivotal structure (120), hinged to the support assembly about a horizontal hinge axis (121) and configured for supporting the pile with a central longitudinal pile axis (22,32) thereof on a central and vertical middle plane (122) of the pivotal structure, so that the upending device (100) enables the pivoting of the pivotal structure (120) together with the pile around the horizontal hinge axis (121) from a horizontal loading position (figs. 1-2, 7-9) into a vertical position (figs.3,4), in which the pile axis is respectively horizontal and vertical, through lifting an upper end (23,33) of the pile by means of a crane of the vessel, the upended pile being removed from the upending device by means of the crane, wherein the pivotal structure (120) comprises:- a cradle (130) providing at least forward (3) support of the pile by means of a central base support (134),- a pile foot end support structure (140) including at least one connector member (141,42) which extends from the cradle (130) towards a pile foot support member (143) for upwardly supporting the pile at its foot end in non-horizontal orientations of the pile, wherein the cradle (130) is provided with movable fender pads (151 ,152) at respective lateral sides, the fender pads (151 ,152) together with the base support (134) forming inward surfaces of the cradle defining an internal space inside the cradle (130) for the pile to which radial movement of the supported pile (20,30) is limited, and wherein each fender pad is controllably movable by one or more fender actuators (153,154) of the cradle (130) into slanted fending positions (figs.5a,c,6b-d), in which the fender pad slants towards the base support (134) at sharp angles (Oi02,©3) relative to the middle plane (122) when seen in a direction along the pile axis (22,32).

2. Device (100) according to claim 1 , wherein the fender pads (151 ,152) are both pivotable about a respective pivot axis (157,158) extending parallel to, and preferably forwards of, the pile axis (22,32), and wherein the respective fender actuators (153,154) are pivot actuators forcontrolled pivoting of the fender pads around the respective pivot axis into the fending positions thereof.

3. Device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the fender pivot actuators (153,154) are linear actuators which each have one end fixed to a section of the associated fender pad (151 ,152) remote, e.g. backwards, of the pivot axis (157,158), e.g. a backwards end (155,156), and another end of the linear actuator to a stationary outer part (131 , 132, 133) of the cradle.

4. Device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the pile foot end support structure (140) is rigid with the pile foot support member (143) so as to remain engaged with, and being non-releasable from, the pile foot end in at least the vertical position, preventing a downwards movement of the pile.

5. Device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a stationary part of the cradle (130) is U-shaped when seen in a longitudinal direction of the pile and has a base section (131) and left-hand and right-hand side sections (132,133) extending from the base section at a respective lateral side of the cradle and defining a receiving opening (139) between them, for example wherein the side section extend forwardly to beyond the pile axis and into ends (137,138) remote from the horizontal hinge axis, wherein the upending device (100) is configured so that, in the horizontal loading position of the pivotal structure, the receiving opening (139) of the cradle (130) is directed upwards for loading of a pile (20,30) in horizontal orientation (figs.1-2) from above into the cradle downwardly onto the central base support (134) and with the foot end (24,34) of the pile near or at the foot support member (143), wherein each of the movable fender pads (151 ,152) is connected to a respective one of the side sections (132,133) of the cradle (130) to extend inwardly from the respective side section (132,133).

6. Device (100) according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the fender pads (151 ,152) extend from proximate ends (155,156) backward of the pile axis (22,32) in the support position, to remote ends (137,138) thereof forward of the pile axis (22,32), both in the lateral and slanted fending position.

7. Device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein each fender pad (151 ,152) is furthermore movable by the fender actuators into a resting position (figs.5b, 6a), in which the fender pad extends parallel to the middle plane.

8. Device (100) according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the base support (134) comprises one or more, e.g. two or four, pile supporting devices (134) arranged and configured for engaging a backwardly directed laterally central circumferential portion (25,35) of the supported pile (20,30) by contact surfaces (135) thereof, against which pile support devices the pile (20,30) rests in the backward direction when loaded, and during upending.

9. Device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the pile support devices are multiple pile support devices on opposed lateral sides of the middle plane (122), each pivotable mounted to the cradle (130) about pivot axis parallel to the pile axis (22,32) for enabling making contact surfaces (135) thereof tangential to the circumference of supported piles (20,30) having different diameters (D2o,D3o), and thus different curvatures, by pivoting the pile support devices (134) around their pivot axes (137), wherein, for example, the pile support devices (134) are controllably pivotable around their pivot axis (137) by means of respective pile support device actuator (136), e.g. operative between the pile support devices (134) and the cradle, e.g. the base section (131).

10. Device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the pile foot end support structure (140) includes a left-hand and a right-hand connector member, both in the form of a connector beam (141 ,142), the connector beams extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the middle plane (122), wherein the lower ends of the connector beams (141 ,142) support the pile foot support member (143), the pile foot support member extending transversely between them, so as to enable the bottom end (24,34) of the pile (20,30) to be upwardly supported thereon in non-horizontal orientations of the pile.

11. Device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the pile foot end support structure (140) is adjustable to the length (l_2o,L3o) of the pile (20,30) by a translatability of the connector member(s) (141 ,142) relative to the cradle (130), and thus the pile foot support member (143) supported thereby, parallel to the pile axis in support position, wherein the connector members (141 ,142) are releasably attachable to the cradle (130) at multiple longitudinally spaced locations along the connector member(s) (141 ,142).

12. Device according to any one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one hinge actuator (123), operative between the support structure (110) and the pivotal structure (120), and configured for controlled pivoting of the pivotal structure (120) relative to the support structure (110) around the horizontal hinge axis (121), e.g. in view of returning the pivotal structure back to the horizontal loading position.

13. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the connector beams (141 , 142) of the pile end support structure (140) are a left and a right connector beam (141, 142), the left and right connector beams extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the centre plane (122) of the pivotal structure, wherein the left and right connector beams (141 ,142) are each hinged at an upper end thereof to the cradle (130) about, respectively, a left and a right connector hinge axis (146, 147) which are parallel to the centre plane (122), wherein the pile support beam (143) extends transversely between the lower ends of the left and right connector beams (141 , 142) so as to enable the bottom end of the pile (20,30) to be supported in non-horizontal orientations of the pivotal structure (120), wherein the pile support beam (143) is hinged at both ends thereof to the lower ends of the left and right connector beams (141 ,142) about a left and a right support hinge axis (144, 145) which are parallel to the left and right connector hinge axis (146, 147), wherein the connector hinge axes (146, 147) and the support hinge axes (144, 145) are horizontal when the pivotal structure (120) together with the pile (20,30) are in the vertical position.

14. Device according to claim 13, wherein the pile foot support structure (140) further comprises a foot support member (148) to support the bottom end of the pile (20,30) in non- horizontal orientations of the pile, wherein the foot support member is hinged to the centre of the pile support beam (143) around a hinge axis (149) parallel to left and right connector hinge axis (146, 147), such that the bottom end of the pile is during the upending of the pile always supported by the foot support member at two or more locations.

15. Method for upending a pile, e.g. a monopile (20,30), to be installed into the seabed, wherein use is made of a vessel provided with the upending device according to any one or more of claims 1-14.

16. Method for upending a pile, e.g. a monopile (20,30), to be installed into the seabed, wherein use is made of a vessel provided with the upending device according to any one or more of claims 1-14 and a crane, comprising:1) with the pivotal structure in the horizontal loading position thereof and the fender pads in a fending position, loading a pile into the pivotal structure,2) upending the pile by lifting the upper end thereof by means of the crane,3) with the pivotal structure and the pile in the vertical position, removing the upended pile from the pivotal structure by means of the crane.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein during step 1, the pile is loaded by lowering it from above through a receiving opening at the front of the cradle, and wherein the step 1 comprises controllably operating the fender actuators so that the fender pads at both lateral sides of the cradle engage the pile in a fending position thereof, e.g. so that the angle of the fender pad(s) with the middle plane decreases as the lowering progresses for guiding the backwards movement of the pile towards the base support (134), e.g. such that the angles of the fender pads with the middle plane at both lateral sides remain equal.

18. Method according to claim 16 or 17, comprising during steps 1, 2 or 3, controlled operation of one or more of the fender actuators to adjust the angle of the associated fender pads with the middle plane such as to counteract an undue movement of the pile with the pile axis away from the middle plane.

19. Method according to any one or more of claims 16-18, comprising cushioning an undue backwards movement of the pile from a position forwards from the base support, by controlled operation of the actuators of the fender pads at both lateral sides of the cradle such as to gradually decrease the angle of the fender pads with the middle plane as the backwards movement progresses, and exert a forwards force to decelerate the pile, wherein the cushioning is provided during step 2, or during step 3 wherein the removal of the pile is performed by a forward movement of the pile through a front receiving opening.

20. Method according to any one or more of claims 16 - 19, wherein during step 3, the removal of the pile is performed by a forward movement of the pile through a front receiving opening, and the method comprises during step 3 exerting a forwards pushing force by controllably operating the actuators of the fender pads at both lateral sides of the cradle such as to increase the angle of the fender pads with the middle plane as the forwards movement progresses, thereby guiding the forwards exiting movement of the pile, e.g. such that the angles of the fender pads at both lateral sides remain equal.

21. Vessel comprising the upending device according to any one or more of claims 1-14, wherein:- in the vertical position, the cradle of the pivotal structure, e.g. the whole pivotal structure, is outside the vessel contour, when seen in top view, and / or- in a storage position, the pivotal structure is in its horizontal loading position and the cradle, e.g. the whole pivotal structure, is inside the vessel contour when seen in top view, e.g.wherein the upending device is according to claim 11 and the connector member(s) is / are attached to the cradle at the position most proximate the pile foot support.

22. Upending device (100) configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a hull, e.g. deck (10), of a vessel (1) and for use in upending of a pile (20,30), e.g. a monopile, in combination with a crane of the vessel, which pile is after upending to be lowered to the seabed whilst being guided by a distinct pile holder device, e.g. the upended pile being removed from the upending device and transferred by the crane to the distinct pile holder device, wherein the upending device comprises:- a support assembly (110) configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a hull, e.g. deck, of a vessel,- a pivotal structure (120) which is hinged to the support assembly about a horizontal hinge axis (121) and is configured for supporting the pile (20,30) with a central longitudinal pile axis (201) thereof on a vertical centre plane (122) of the pivotal structure, so that the upending device enables the pivoting of the pivotal structure together with the pile around the horizontal hinge axis from a horizontal loading position into a vertical position through lifting an upper end of the pile by means of a crane of the vessel, wherein the pivotal structure comprises:- a cradle (130) which is hinged to the support assembly about the horizontal hinge axis (121),- a pile end support structure (140), wherein the pile end support structure comprises a left and a right connector beam (141 , 142), the left and right connector beams extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the centre plane (122), wherein the left and right connector beams are each hinged at an upper end thereof to the cradle (130) about, respectively, a left and a right connector hinge axis (146, 147) which are parallel to the centre plane of the pivotal structure, wherein the pile end support structure further comprises a pile support beam (143) which extends transversely between the lower ends of the left and right connector beams (141 , 142) so as to enable the bottom end of the pile (20,30) to be supported in non-horizontal orientations of the pivotal structure (120), wherein the pile support beam is hinged at both ends thereof to the lower ends of the left and right connector beams about a left and a right support hinge axis (144, 145) which are parallel to the left and right connector hinge axis (146, 147),wherein the connector hinge axes (146, 147) and the support hinge axes (144, 145) are horizontal when the pivotal structure (120) together with the pile (20,30) are in the vertical position.

23. Integrated upending and holding device (300) configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a hull, e.g. deck (11), of a vessel (10) and for use in upending of a pile (20,30), e.g. a monopile, in combination with a crane of the vessel, which pile is after upending lowered to the seabed whilst being guided by the integrated upending and holding device (300), wherein the device (300) comprises:- a support assembly (310) configured to be mounted, or mounted, on a hull, e.g. deck, of a vessel,- a pivotal structure (320) which is hinged to the support assembly about a horizontal hinge axis (321) and is configured for supporting the pile (20,30) with a central longitudinal pile axis (22) thereof on a vertical centre plane (322) of the pivotal structure, so that the device enables the pivoting of the pivotal structure together with the pile around the horizontal hinge axis from a horizontal loading position into a vertical position through lifting an upper end of the pile by means of a crane of the vessel, the upended pile being lowered to the seabed whilst being guided by the device (300), wherein the pivotal structure (320) comprises:- a ring including a cradle (330) hinged to the support assembly about the horizontal hinge axis (321), the ring further comprising one or more movable jaws (331 ,332), e.g. two semi-circular jaws, each jaw being movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the ring is provided with multiple pile engaging devices that are distributed about the circumference of the ring and are configured to guide the pile during lowering onto the seabed, e.g. each pile engaging device comprising one or more pile guiding rollers that are positionable radially relative to the ring,- a pile end support structure (140), wherein the pile end support structure comprises a left and a right connector beam (141 , 142), the left and right connector beams extending parallel to and laterally spaced from the centre plane, wherein the left and right connector beams are each hinged at an upper end thereof to the cradle (330) about respectively a left and a right first connector hinge axis (146, 147) which are parallel to the centre plane of the pivotal structure,wherein the pile end support structure comprises a pile support beam (143) which extends transversely between the lower ends of the left and right connector beams (141 , 142) so as to enable the bottom end of the pile (20,30) to be supported in non-horizontal orientations of the pivotal structure (320), wherein the pile support beam is hinged at both ends to the lower ends of the left and right connector beams about a left and a right support hinge axis (144, 145) which are parallel to the left and right connector hinge axis (146, 147), wherein the first connector hinge axes (146, 147) and the support hinge axes (144, 145) are horizontal when the pivotal structure (320) together with the pile are in the vertical position, and wherein, preferably, the left and right connector beams are each also hinged at the upper end thereof to the cradle (330) about respectively a left and a right tilt axis (335, 336) which are parallel to the horizontal hinge axis (321), and wherein one or more tilt actuators are provided between the cradle and the connector beams configured to tilt the pile end support structure about the a left and a right tilt axes between an operative position for supporting the pile in the non-horizontal orientations of the pivotal structure (320) together with the pile and an inoperative position allowing for lowering of the upended pile to the seabed using the crane.

24. Device according to claim 22 or 23, wherein the pile foot support structure (140) further comprises a foot support member (148) to support the bottom end of the pile (20,30) in non- horizontal orientations of the pile, wherein the foot support member is hinged to the centre of the pile support beam (143) around a hinge axis (149) parallel to left and right connector hinge axis (146, 147), such that the bottom end of the pile is during the upending of the pile always supported by the foot support member at two or more locations.

25. Device according to claim 24, wherein the foot support member comprises two pile clamps (160), preferably arranged near the two outers ends of the foot support member (148), said pile clamps being configured to clamp the wall at the bottom end of the pile, such that the bottom end of the pile is secured to the foot support member.

26. Device according to claim 25, wherein the pile clamps (160) are actuated pile clamps, e.g. hydraulically or electrically actuated pile clamps, which can be moved from an unactuated position to an actuated position where the clamps secure the bottom end of the pile.

27. Device according to any one or more of the claims 22-26, wherein a part of the cradle is U-shaped when seen in a longitudinal direction of the pile and has a base section (132) and left and right side sections (133, 134) extending from the base section at a respective lateral side ofthe cradle and defining a receiving opening between them, for example wherein the side sections extend to beyond the pile axis and into ends remote from the horizontal hinge axis (121), wherein the upending device is configured so that, in the horizontal loading position of the pivotal structure, the receiving opening of the cradle is directed upwards for loading of a pile in horizontal orientation from above into the cradle downwardly onto the base section and with the foot end of the pile near or at the pile support beam or the foot support member.

28. Device according to any one or more of the claims 22-27, wherein the base section (132) comprises one or more, e.g. two or four, pile supporting devices (134) arranged and configured for engaging circumferential portion of the supported pile (20,30) by contact surfaces (135) thereof, against which pile support devices the pile rests when loaded, and during upending.

29. Device according to claim 28, wherein the multiple pile support devices (134) are arranged on opposed lateral sides of the centre plane of the pivotal structure (122), each pivotable mounted to the cradle (130) about pivot axis parallel to the pile axis for enabling making contact surfaces thereof tangential to the circumference of supported piles having different diameters, and thus different curvatures, by pivoting the pile support devices around their pivot axes, wherein, for example, the pile support devices are controllably pivotable around their pivot axis by means of respective pile support device actuator, e.g. operative between the pile support devices and the cradle, e.g. the base section.

30. Device according to any one or more of the claims 22-29, further comprising at least one hinge actuator (123), operative between the support assembly and the pivotal structure, and configured for controlled pivoting of the pivotal structure relative to the support structure around the horizontal hinge axis (121), e.g. in view of returning the pivotal structure back to the horizontal loading position.

31. Vessel provided with the device according to one or more of the claims 22-30 and a crane.

32. Method for upending a pile, e.g. a monopile, to be installed into the seabed, wherein use is made of a vessel according to claim 31 .

33. Method according to claim 32, wherein use is made of a vessel according to at least claim 31 , which comprises the following steps:1) loading the pile, with the pivotal structure in the horizontal loading position,2) upending the pile by lifting the upper end thereof by means of the crane, 3) with the pivotal structure and the pile in the vertical position, removing the upended pile from the pivotal structure by means of the crane, followed by moving the suspended pile into a pile holding device of the vessel.

34. Method according to claim 32, wherein use is made of a device according to at least claim 23 on a vessel having a crane, which comprises the following steps:1) loading the pile, with the pivotal structure in the horizontal loading position and the pile end support structure in operative position thereof,2) upending the pile by lifting the upper end thereof by means of the crane,3) with the pivotal structure and the pile in the vertical position, tilting the pile end support structure into the inoperative position,4) lowering the pile to the seabed, whilst being vertically guided by the pile engaging devices of the ring of the integrated device.

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