Mooring rope connection device and method for connecting mooring ropes

Abstract

To provide a mooring rope connection device and a mooring rope connection method that can easily and reliably moor a floating body with a larger diameter and more mooring rope configuration. [Solution] This mooring rope connection device 12 comprises a rotating frame 21 consisting of a floating-side track member 25 and an anchor-side track member 26 arranged perpendicular to each other, a water-movable workboat 20 that rotatably supports the rotating frame 21, a rotating means for rotating the rotating frame 21, a floating-side connector holding means 32 supported on the end face in the direction of movement of a floating-side movable body 31 that moves along the floating-side track member 25 and holds a floating-side connector 13, and an anchor-side connector holding means 32 supported on the side surface of the end in the direction of movement of an anchor-side movable body 38 that moves along the anchor-side track member 26 and holds an anchor-side connector 14.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention mainly relates to a mooring cable connecting device and a mooring cable connection method for connecting a mooring cable that connects a floating structure such as a floating offshore wind power generation device and an anchor underwater on the ocean.

Background Art

[0002] Compared with onshore areas, there is an environment where wind suitable for wind power generation is easily obtained, and it is suitable for the environment where wind power generation facilities are installed. Therefore, in recent years, the development and installation of offshore wind power generation devices have been promoted.

[0003] In particular, in waters deeper than 50 m, since it is sometimes far from land and has a large amount of wind and is suitable for securing power generation reserves, it is considered that the demand for floating offshore wind power generation devices will increase in the future.

[0004] A floating offshore wind power generation device includes a floating body floating in water and an upper structure in which a nacelle and blades are supported at the top of a support tower portion erected on the floating body, and forms a floating structure in which the upper structure is supported by the floating body.

[0005] This type of floating underwater structure is configured to be moored to a predetermined sea area by connecting the floating body and an anchor installed on the seabed via a mooring cable.

[0006] As a mooring method, catenary mooring, in which the mooring cable is moored by the restoring force associated with the geometric deformation of the catenary shape of the mooring cable based on its own weight, has been common. However, with the recent large-scale expansion of floating offshore wind power generation facilities and the shift of the installation sea area to the open sea, taut mooring and the like that secure the mooring force with the elastic restoring force of the fiber cable and reduce the seabed installation part of the mooring cable have come to be used.

[0007] Furthermore, as floating offshore wind power generation equipment has become larger and installed in deeper waters, the mooring ropes used are increasingly being made larger in diameter and more numerous. Therefore, hybrid mooring ropes that combine metal chains with fiber ropes have been developed to reduce the weight of the individual mooring ropes and ensure elastic restoring force.

[0008] In conventional mooring methods for floating structures, for example, a method is known in which the end of a large-diameter mooring rope temporarily placed on the seabed is lifted up with a winch on a workboat, and a mooring rope member of the required length is added to the lifted mooring rope on the boat. Then, the end of the mooring rope after the addition, which was temporarily placed on the seabed, is lifted again with a lifting machine such as a crane ship and secured to a mooring rope stopper on the floating structure to accommodate a large-diameter mooring rope (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0009] Furthermore, as a mooring method, a method has been proposed in which dedicated connectors are attached to the ends of the mooring ropes on the floating body side and the anchor mooring ropes, and the connectors are connected underwater using an ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2018-39475 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0011] However, with the conventional technology described above, as the installation area becomes deeper and the wind turbines become larger, the mooring specifications also become larger, that is, there is a tendency for mooring ropes to become larger in diameter and for there to be more mooring ropes. Accordingly, it becomes necessary to enlarge the winches and lifting machines used to wind up or lift the mooring ropes.

[0012] The operations of hoisting mooring lines onto the workboat and connecting them, and securing the mooring lines to the mooring line stoppers on the floating structure, are carried out in the offshore waters where the floating structure is installed. As such, the floating structure and workboat may be rocked by waves, etc., making the aforementioned operations difficult and unsafe under these conditions.

[0013] Furthermore, methods of connecting mooring lines underwater using ROVs require that the connection work be performed under conditions where a force of 100 to 500 tons is acting on the mooring line due to its own weight and the tension of the fiber rope. However, the thrust of an ROV is at most only a few tons, which presents a problem as it is insufficient to handle such underwater mooring line connection work.

[0014] Therefore, in view of these conventional problems, the present invention aims to provide a mooring rope connecting device and a mooring rope connecting method that can easily and reliably moor a floating body having a larger diameter and more mooring configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0015] The invention described in claim 1, which solves the conventional problems described above, is a mooring rope connecting device that connects a floating-side connector provided at the other end of a floating-side mooring rope member, one end of which is connected to a floating structure floating on the water, and an anchor-side connector provided at the other end of an anchor-side mooring rope member, one end of which is connected to an anchor installed on the seabed, and comprises a rotating frame consisting of a floating-side track member and an anchor-side track member arranged orthogonally to each other, a work vessel that can move on the water and rotatably supports the rotating frame, a rotating means for rotating the rotating frame between a position where the anchor-side track member is in front of the work vessel and a position where it is below the work vessel, a floating-side connector holding means supported on the end face in the direction of movement of a floating-side moving body that moves along the floating-side track member and holding the floating-side connector, and an anchor-side connector holding means supported on the side surface of the end in the direction of movement of an anchor-side moving body that moves along the anchor-side track member and holding the anchor-side connector.

[0016] The feature of the invention described in claim 2 is that, in addition to the configuration of claim 1, the floating track member is moved on the workboat, and the rotating frame is able to move between a position where it is housed on the workboat and a position where it rotates.

[0017] The feature of the invention described in claim 3 is that, in addition to the configuration of claim 1 or 2, the floating body side moving body and the anchor side moving body are each provided with a plurality of connector holding means in parallel.

[0018] The features of the invention described in claim 4 are a method for connecting a mooring rope that connects a floating-side connector provided at the other end of a floating-side mooring rope member, one end of which is connected to a floating structure floating on the water, and an anchor-side connector provided at the other end of an anchor-side mooring rope member, one end of which is connected to an anchor installed on the seabed, wherein a water-movable workboat is used that rotatably supports a rotating frame consisting of a floating-side track member and an anchor-side track member arranged perpendicular to each other, the workboat is moved to the water near the anchor, the rotating frame is positioned with the anchor-side track member in front of the workboat, the anchor-side connector is brought up to the water, and an anchor-side connector holding means is supported on the side surface of the end in the direction of movement of the anchor-side moving body that moves along the anchor-side track member. The process involves first holding the anchor-side connector in place, then rotating the rotating frame so that the anchor-side track member is positioned below the workboat, and then moving the floating-side moving body toward the anchor-side track member while the floating-side connector is held by the floating-side connector holding means supported at the end face in the direction of movement of the floating-side moving body that moves along the floating-side track member, thereby positioning the floating-side connector holding means that holds the floating-side connector in front of the anchor-side connector holding means that holds the anchor-side connector, and then moving the anchor-side moving body toward the floating-side track member along the anchor-side track member to bring the anchor-side connector holding means closer to the floating-side connector holding means and connect the floating-side connector and the anchor-side connector.

[0019] The feature of the invention according to claim 5 is that, in addition to the configuration of claim 4, a plurality of connector holding means are provided in parallel on each of the floating body side moving body and the anchor side moving body, and a plurality of mooring cables are connected simultaneously.

Advantages of the Invention

[0020] The mooring cable connection device according to the present invention, by comprising the configuration according to claim 1, is hardly affected by waves or the like, and a mooring cable on which its own weight and the elastic force of the fiber cable act can be easily connected by a simple mechanism installed on a work boat.

[0021] Further, in the present invention, by comprising the configuration according to claim 2, when the work is not being carried out, the rotating frame that may obstruct movement can be accommodated in a suitable position.

[0022] Furthermore, in the present invention, by comprising the configuration according to claim 3, a plurality of mooring cables can be connected simultaneously in one operation, and the construction period can be shortened.

[0023] The mooring cable connection method according to the present invention, by comprising the configuration according to claim 4, is hardly affected by waves or the like, and a mooring cable on which its own weight and the elastic force of the fiber cable act can be easily connected by a simple mechanism installed on a work boat.

[0024] Also, in the present invention, by comprising the configuration according to claim 5, a plurality of mooring cables can be connected simultaneously in one operation, and the construction period can be shortened.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] [Figure 1] It is a side view showing the state of the mooring work of a floating structure using the mooring cable connection device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a partially enlarged side view showing the mooring cable connection device as described above. [Figure 3] It is a partially enlarged plan view as described above. [Figure 4] It is a partially enlarged side view of the rotating frame as described above. [Figure 5] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This figure illustrates the procedure in an embodiment of the mooring rope connection method according to the present invention, and is a partially enlarged side view showing the state of the work vessel during movement. [Figure 7] A partially enlarged side view showing the state of the process of holding the anchor-side connector, as described above, in the connector holding means. [Figure 8] This is a partially enlarged side view showing the rotation operation state of the same rotating frame. [Figure 9] This is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the same rotating frame as above, with the anchor-side track member rotated to the area beneath the workboat. [Figure 10] A partially enlarged side view showing the state of the operation in which the floating-side connector shown above is held by the connector holding means. [Figure 11] This is a partially enlarged side view of the rotating frame showing the floating side moving body in a lowered position. [Figure 12] This is a partially enlarged side view of the rotating frame showing the state of the connection work of the same connector. [Figure 13] This is a partially enlarged side view showing the mooring rope released from the mooring rope connection device shown above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] Next, an embodiment of the mooring rope connection device according to the present invention will be described based on the example shown in Figures 1 to 5. In the figures, reference numeral 1 denotes the water surface, and reference numeral 2 denotes a floating structure.

[0027] This floating structure 2 is a structure that is installed floating in a predetermined body of water, such as a floating offshore wind power generation device, and the floating body 3 is moored to the predetermined body of water by mooring ropes 6, 6...

[0028] Furthermore, floating offshore wind power generation equipment is classified into pontoon (barge) type, semi-submersible type, TLP type, spar type, etc., depending on the type of floating structure 3. In this embodiment, a spar-type floating structure 2 is used as an example, but the present invention can be applied to all floating structures 2. Moreover, the floating structure 2 is not limited to the floating offshore wind power generation equipment described above, but can also be applied to other floating structures 2.

[0029] This floating structure 2 comprises a spar-shaped floating body 3 that stands upright in the water with its upper part protruding above the water surface, a tower-shaped tower section 4 supported by the floating body 3, and a power generation facility 5 consisting of a nacelle and rotor supported at the upper end of the tower section 4. The floating body 3 is connected to anchors 8 installed on the seabed 7 via mooring ropes 6, 6... and is moored in a predetermined body of water.

[0030] The mooring ropes 6,6... may be made of metal chains, or they may be a hybrid type combining metal chains and fiber ropes.

[0031] Furthermore, these mooring ropes 6, 6... are connected using a mooring rope connecting device 12, with a floating body-side mooring rope member 10 having one end connected to the floating body 3 and an anchor-side mooring rope member 11 having one end connected to the anchor 8, under the weight of the mooring ropes 6, 6... and under tension of the fiber ropes.

[0032] The floating body side mooring rope 10 and the anchor side mooring rope 11 are each equipped with a floating body side connector 13 and an anchor side connector 14 at their connecting ends, and the two mooring ropes 10 and 11 are connected by connecting the two connectors.

[0033] The floating body-side connector 13 and the anchor-side connector 14 each consist of, for example, a cylindrical female connector and a male connector having an insertion pin that is inserted into the female connector. By inserting the insertion pin into the female connector, an engaging claw provided inside the female connector engages with the insertion pin, resulting in a one-touch, firm connection.

[0034] Furthermore, the configuration of the connectors 13 and 14 is not limited to the embodiments described above, and may be connected by, for example, screws, pins, etc.

[0035] The mooring rope connection device 12 comprises a workboat 20 that can move on the water, a rotating frame 21 installed at the front of the workboat 20, and a rotating means for rotating the rotating frame 21. The operation of the rotating frame 21 connects the floating body side mooring rope 10 and the anchor side mooring rope 11 with a desired tension.

[0036] The workboat 20 is not particularly limited, but it can be towed or moved under its own power on the water, and is equipped with a work hole 20a (moonpool) opening in the bottom of the hull, so that the pull-in work wires 23, 23, which are extended from winches 22, 22 installed on the deck, can be connected to a predetermined position on the rotating frame 21 along the bottom surface of the hull through the work hole 20a. Reference numeral 24 in the figure indicates a work crane.

[0037] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the rotating frame 21 has an L-shape in side view, consisting of a floating-side track member 25 and an anchor-side track member 26 arranged perpendicular to each other. Rotating shaft members 27, 27 protruding from both sides of the floating-side track member 25 are pivotally supported by pivot members 28, 28 fixed to the front end of the ship, allowing the anchor-side track member 26 to rotate between a position in front of the workboat 20 and a position below the workboat 20.

[0038] The floating-side track member 25 and the anchor-side track member 26 each comprise a pair of steel members 29, 29 made of H-shaped steel or the like, arranged in parallel with a gap between them, and the two steel members 29, 29 are connected via connecting members 30, 30.

[0039] The floating-side track member 25 and the anchor-side track member 26 are fixed to each other at their ends by welding or the like, are perpendicular to each other, and are arranged so as to form an L-shape when viewed from the side of the entire rotating frame 21.

[0040] A floating body-side movable body 31 is movably supported on the floating body-side track member 25, and a connector holding means 32 for the floating body 3 is supported on its end face in the direction of movement.

[0041] The floating body side moving body 31, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, for example, comprises a sliding moving part 33 that moves along the flange portion 29a end of the steel material 29, 29 such as an H-shaped steel, and a base portion 34 installed between the moving parts of both steel materials 29, 29, and is capable of moving from a predetermined position to the front end of the floating body side track member 25 (the end on the anchor side track member 26) by a driving means.

[0042] The sliding section 33 includes, for example, wheels 35, 35 that are pivotally supported on the side plate and are positioned to contact both the front and back surfaces of the flange section 29a, respectively. The wheels 35, 35 movably grip the flange section 29a, and even when the rotating frame 21 rotates and the direction of movement is reversed between horizontal and vertical, the grip on the flange section 29a is maintained, preventing derailment.

[0043] The driving means is, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism consisting of a rack 36 laid along the axial (longitudinal) direction of the steel materials 29, 29 on the surface (the side opposite to the web) of the flange portion 29a constituting the steel materials 29, 29, and a pinion 3737 rotated by a motor mounted on the sliding movement portion 33. By controlling the rotation of the motor 37a with inverter control, the floating body side moving body 31 can be moved to a desired distance.

[0044] Furthermore, the driving means is not limited to the embodiments described above; it may be moved using a winch or other means, or driven by other means.

[0045] The base portion 34 is installed on the front end between adjacent sliding sections 33, 33, and the connector holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side, which holds the floating body side connector 13, is supported at its front end.

[0046] The connector holding means 32 is made up of a member that can firmly grip the floating body side connector 13, such as a hydraulic chuck, and is fixed to the front end of the base portion 34 in the direction of movement so that the axial direction of the floating body side connector 13 is held in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the floating body side movable body 31.

[0047] The anchor-side track member 26 supports the anchor-side movable body 38 so as to be movable, and the anchor 8-side connector holding means 32 is supported on the side surface of the end in the direction of movement.

[0048] The anchor-side movable body 38 is basically constructed similarly to the floating-side movable body 31, although it differs in length and mounting position. It comprises a sliding movable part 33 that moves along the flange portion 29a end of the steel material 29, 29 such as an H-shaped steel, and a base portion 34 installed between the movable parts of both steel materials 29, 29. It can be moved from a predetermined position to the front end of the anchor-side track member 26 (the end connected to the floating-side track member 25) by a driving means.

[0049] The sliding section 33 includes, for example, wheels 35, 35 that are pivotally supported on the side plate and are positioned to contact both the front and back surfaces of the flange section 29a, respectively. The wheels 35, 35 movably grip the flange section 29a, and even when the rotating frame 21 rotates and the direction of movement is reversed between vertical and horizontal, the grip on the flange section 29a is maintained, preventing derailment.

[0050] The driving mechanism consists of a rack and pinion mechanism comprising, for example, a rack 36 laid along the axial (longitudinal) direction of the steel members 29, 29 on the surface (the side opposite to the web) of the flange portion 29a constituting the steel members 29, 29, and a pinion 37 rotated by a motor mounted on the sliding movement portion 33. By controlling the rotation of the motor 37a with inverter control, the anchor-side moving body 38 can be moved to a desired distance. The motor 37a that rotates the pinion 37 is waterproof and can operate underwater.

[0051] Furthermore, the driving means is not limited to the embodiments described above; it may be moved using a winch or the like, or driven by other means.

[0052] The base portion 34 is installed on the front end between adjacent sliding sections 33, 33, and the anchor 8 side connector holding means 32, which holds the anchor side connector 14, is supported on the side of its front end (the side opposite to the sliding section 33).

[0053] The connector holding means 32 is composed of a member capable of firmly gripping the anchor-side connector 14, such as a hydraulic chuck, and is fixed to the front end of the base in the direction of movement so as to hold the anchor-side connector 14 with its axial direction parallel to the direction of movement of the anchor-side movable body 38.

[0054] The pivot members 28, 28 are formed in a sickle shape with their openings facing the deck, and the pivot shaft members 27, 27 can be detached only on the workboat 20 side by moving the floating body-side track member 25 on the workboat 20.

[0055] The rotating mechanism, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, for example, is extended from winches 22, 22 located aft of the rotating frame 21 in the hull direction, passes through the work hole 20a (moonpool) and relay pulleys 39, 40 installed within the work hole 20a, and is connected to one end of the rotating frame 21, i.e., the end of the anchor-side track member 26 opposite to the floating-side track member 25, and is extended from winch 41, also located aft of the rotating frame 21 in the hull direction, and is connected to the other end of the rotating frame 21, i.e., the anchor-side track member 2 of the floating-side track member 25. The system includes a lifting wire 42 connected to the end opposite to 6, and slide operation wires 45, 45 that are unfurled from winches 43, 43 located on the side of the rotating frame 21 on the deck of the workboat 20, and connected to the side of the rotating frame 21, i.e., the side of the floating body side track member 25, via stand rollers 44, 44 located on the forward side of the workboat 20. The unfurling and winding of each wire rotates the rotating frame 21 between a position where the anchor side track member 26 is in front of the workboat 20 and a position where it is below the workboat 20.

[0056] Furthermore, this rotation mechanism also serves as a sliding mechanism for moving the rotation frame 21 between a position where it is housed on the workboat 20 side and a position where it is engaged with the pivot members 28, 28 and rotates.

[0057] Next, a method for connecting mooring ropes using the mooring rope connection device 12 will be described based on the embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 13. Components similar to those in the above-described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Furthermore, this description of the method will also serve to explain the operation of the mooring rope connection device 12.

[0058] As a preliminary step, one end of the mooring cable 10 is connected to the side of the floating body 3 that constitutes the floating structure 2, and the other end is fitted with a floating body connector 13, with the end of the floating body connector 13 held in a position above the water.

[0059] Furthermore, an anchor 8 is connected to one end of the anchor-side mooring rope 11, the anchor 8 is lowered into the water at a predetermined position, and the anchor 8 is installed on the seabed 7. At the same time, an anchor-side connector 14 is attached to the other end of the anchor-side mooring rope 11, and the other end is held by a marker buoy 50 floating on the water surface.

[0060] Next, the workboat 20, equipped with the mooring rope connection device 12, is moved to the vicinity of the marker buoy 50 in the water area where the floating structure 2 will be installed. During the move, as shown in Figure 6, the rotating frame 21 is positioned with the floating structure-side track member 25 on the deck of the workboat 20 and the anchor-side track member 26 positioned on the front side of the workboat 20, and the rotating frame 21 is retracted and housed on the workboat 20 side.

[0061] Next, as shown in Figure 7, the pull-in wires 23, 23 are unwound from winches 22, 22 and the lift-up wire 42 is unwound from winch 41, while the slide operation wires 45, 45 are wound up with winches 43, 43, the rotating frame 21 is pulled out towards the bow on the workboat 20, and the rotating shaft members 27, 27 are fitted onto the support shaft members 28, 28.

[0062] Then, the tip of the anchor-side mooring rope 11, which is held by the marker buoy 50, is lifted out of the water using a crane 24 or the like, and the anchor-side connector 14 is gripped by the connector holding means 32 on the anchor 8 side.

[0063] In this configuration, the anchor-side movable body 38 is positioned at a certain distance from the anchor-side track member 26 to the floating-side track member 25, that is, at a predetermined height lower than the upper end of the anchor-side track member 26 oriented vertically, and exposed above the water surface, so that the anchor-side connector 14 can be gripped by the connector holding means 32 on the anchor 8 side while the device is above the water.

[0064] Next, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the lifting wire 42 is extended from winch 41 and the sliding wires 45, 45 are extended from winches 43, 43, respectively, while the pulling wires 23, 23 are wound up by winches 22, 22, causing the rotating frame 21 to rotate vertically around the pivot shaft members 27, 27.

[0065] Then, the pull-in wires 23, 23 are wound up, and the anchor-side track member 26 moves below the workboat 20, while the floating-side track member 25 rotates around the pivot shaft members 27, 27 until it is raised towards the front of the workboat 20.

[0066] During this rotational movement, the anchor-side connector 14, held by the connector holding means 32 on the anchor 8 side, moves towards the anchor 8 side, causing the anchor-side mooring rope 11 to become slack.

[0067] Next, as shown in Figure 10, the workboat 20 is moved to a position near the floating structure 2, specifically, to a position where the distance between the floating structure 2 and the connector holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side is shorter than the length of the mooring rope 10 on the floating body side, and the floating body side connector 13 is gripped by the connector holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side.

[0068] At that time, the floating body side movable body 31 is positioned at a certain distance from the anchor side track member 26 of the floating body side track member 25, that is, it is positioned in a state where it has been moved back to the opposite side of the original anchor side track member 26, and the connecting device holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side is positioned so that it is exposed above the water, and the operation of gripping the floating body side connector 13 with the connecting device holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side can be performed above the water while the floating body side mooring rope 10 is slack.

[0069] Once the operation of gripping the floating body-side connector 13 with the connector holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side is completed, as shown in Figure 11, the floating body-side movable body 31 is lowered along the floating body-side track member 25, so that the position of the floating body-side connector 13 held by the connector holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side is positioned on the movable axis of the anchor-side connector 14 held by the connector holding means 32 on the anchor 8 side.

[0070] At that time, as the floating body side movable body 31 descends, the floating body side connector 13 attached to the tip of the floating body side mooring rope 10 moves downward, so the tip of the floating body side mooring rope 10 is pulled down, and a certain tension force is applied to the floating body side mooring rope 10.

[0071] Next, as shown in Figure 12, the anchor-side movable body 38 is slid along the anchor-side track member 26, bringing the anchor-side connector 14 held by the connector holding means 32 on the anchor 8 side closer to the anchor-side connector 14 held by the connector holding means 32 on the floating body 3 side, and connecting them to each other.

[0072] At that time, as the anchor-side movable body 38 slides horizontally, the anchor-side connector 14 attached to the tip of the anchor-side mooring rope 11 moves towards the floating body 3, causing the tip of the anchor-side mooring rope 11 to be pulled up, and in the case of a large floating structure 2, the anchor-side mooring rope 11 and the floating body-side mooring rope 10 are connected with a force of approximately 100 to 500 tons acting on the mooring ropes 6, 6...

[0073] Furthermore, if the floating body-side connector 13 and the anchor-side connector 14 are equipped with a structure that allows them to engage with each other with a single touch, the two connectors 13 and 14 can be fitted together and firmly connected without the need for connection work by workers or ROVs underwater.

[0074] Furthermore, even if pinning or other operations are required to connect the floating body-side connector 13 and the anchor-side connector 14, since the floating body-side connector 13 and the anchor-side connector 14 are each held by the connector holding means 32, and the entire mooring rope 6,6… is held by the mooring rope connection device 12, it is possible to handle the connection work of the mooring rope 6,6… even with the thrust of an ROV of several tons, while forces of approximately 100 to 500 tons, such as its own weight and tensile force, are acting on it.

[0075] Next, once the connection between the floating body connector 13 and the anchor-side connector 14 is complete, the ROV or a diver will check the connection status of the floating body connector 13 and the anchor-side connector 14. If there are no problems, the floating body connector 13 and the anchor-side connector 14 will be released from the connector holding means 32 as shown in Figure 13.

[0076] Then, the series of mooring rope connection operations described above are repeated for the number of mooring ropes 6,6... required to moor the floating structure 2, and the floating structure 2 is moored by the mooring ropes 6,6... to a predetermined tension.

[0077] With the mooring rope connection device 12 configured in this way and the method of connecting the mooring ropes 6, 6... using it, the mooring ropes 6, 6... can be reliably connected even when the weight of the mooring ropes 6, 6... or the elastic restoring force of the fiber ropes acts on them during the mooring of a large floating structure 2.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the case in which one connector holding means 32 is provided on both the floating body side movable body 31 and the anchor side movable body 38 was described. However, as floating structures 2 such as offshore wind power generation equipment become larger, and the number of mooring ropes 6, 6... for mooring them increases, multiple connector holding means 32 may be provided in parallel on both the floating body side movable body 31 and the anchor side movable body 38 to connect multiple mooring ropes 6, 6... simultaneously. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1 water surface 2. Floating structures 3 Floating bodies 4. Tower section 5. Power generation equipment 6 Mooring line 7 Underwater 8 Anchors 10. Mooring ropes for the floating body 11 Anchor-side mooring cable 12. Mooring rope connection device 13. Floating body side connector 14 Anchor-side connector 15 20 Workboats 21 Rotating Frame 22 winches 23 Wire for pulling in work 24 Cranes 25 Floating body side track member 26 Anchor-side track member 27. Rotary shaft member 28 Axle support member 29 Steel materials 30 Connecting member 31. Floating body side moving part 32 Connector holding means 33 Slide movement part 34 Base 35 wheels 36 racks 37 pinion 38 Anchor-side movable body 39,40 Relay pulley 41 Winch 42 Wire for lifting operations 43 Winch 44 Stand Roller 45. Wire for slide operation 50 marker buoys

Claims

1. In a mooring rope connecting device that connects a floating-side connector provided at the other end of a floating-side mooring rope, one end of which is connected to a floating structure floating on the water, and an anchor-side connector provided at the other end of an anchor-side mooring rope, one end of which is connected to an anchor installed on the seabed, A rotating frame consisting of floating-side track members and anchor-side track members arranged to be perpendicular to each other, A water-movable work vessel that rotatably supports the rotating frame, The pivoting means rotates the pivoting frame between a position where the anchor-side track member is in front of the work vessel and a position where it is below the work vessel, A floating-side connector holding means is supported on the end face in the direction of movement of the floating-side moving body that moves along the floating-side track member, and holds the floating-side connector. A mooring rope connection device characterized by comprising an anchor-side connector holding means supported on the side surface of the end of the anchor-side moving body in the direction of movement, which moves along the anchor-side track member, and which holds the anchor-side connector.

2. The mooring rope connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the floating track member is moved on the work vessel, and the rotating frame is able to move between a position where it is housed on the work vessel and a position where it rotates.

3. The mooring rope connection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the floating body side movable body and the anchor side movable body are each provided with a plurality of connector holding means in parallel.

4. In a method for connecting a mooring rope, which connects a floating-side mooring rope member, one end of which is connected to a floating structure floating on the water, with a floating-side connector provided at the other end of the floating-side mooring rope member, and an anchor-side connector provided at the other end of an anchor-side mooring rope member, one end of which is connected to an anchor installed on the seabed, Using a water-movable work vessel that rotatably supports a rotating frame consisting of floating-side track members and anchor-side track members arranged perpendicular to each other, The workboat is moved to the water near the anchor, and the rotating frame is positioned so that the anchor-side track member is in front of the workboat. After the anchor-side connector is brought up into the water and the anchor-side connector is held by the anchor-side connector holding means supported on the side surface of the end of the anchor-side moving body in the direction of movement, The rotating frame is rotated so that the anchor-side track member is positioned below the workboat. Thereafter, with the floating-side moving body holding the floating-side connector supported on the end face of the floating-side moving body in the direction of movement, the floating-side moving body is moved toward the anchor-side moving body, and the floating-side connector holding means holding the floating-side connector is positioned in front of the anchor-side connector holding means holding the anchor-side connector in the direction of movement. A method for connecting a mooring rope, characterized by moving the anchor-side movable body along the anchor-side track member toward the floating-side track member, bringing the anchor-side connector holding means close to the floating-side connector holding means, and connecting the floating-side connector and the anchor-side connector.

5. The method for connecting mooring ropes according to claim 4, wherein the floating body side movable body and the anchor side movable body are each provided with a plurality of connector holding means in parallel, and a plurality of mooring ropes are connected simultaneously.

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