Plant for manufacturing long tension members and method for constructing such a plant

Abstract

To provide a factory to manufacture a long tensile member.SOLUTION: A factory 2 comprises at least one of a feeding device, a processing device, and an end joint device, for manufacturing a long tensile member. The feeding device is arranged to provide charge materials, and the charge materials include at least one load-bearing yarn, and / or at least one load-bearing wire, and / or load-bearing fibers. The processing device is arranged to wind up, and / or to twist, and / or to bundle the charge materials supplied by the feeding device. The end joint device is arranged to provide a proximal end joint and a distal end joint to the long tensile member. Moreover, the factory comprises a floating body 4 arranged to support at least one device for manufacturing the long tensile member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a factory for manufacturing elongated tension members according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for constructing such a factory according to the preamble of claim 16.

[0002] Long tension members are used to withstand loads, particularly tensile loads. Long tension members may be used in a variety of industries, including, but not limited to, offshore, mining, heavy lift, and construction. In the offshore industry, such tension members may be used as mooring lines for ships and structures such as floating oil exploration / production equipment or floating wind turbines. A further example of a floating structure is a tension moored platform, where long tension members are used as tension legs. In mining and heavy lift, long tension members may be used as pendants for cranes. In construction, long tension members may be used in bridges or roofs.

[0003] An apparatus for producing elongated tension members is known from WO 2017 / 099589 A1, which discloses producing a tension member by positioning two thimbles at a predetermined distance from each other and winding at least one thread around the thimbles until both thimbles are provided with a predetermined number of layers of thread turns.

[0004] Long tensile members are typically over 100 meters long, and can reach lengths of up to 250 meters or even longer. Due to their considerable length, transporting them to their deployment site, for example, at an offshore wind farm, is a complex and costly operation. This necessitates the local manufacturing of tensile members. However, this requires the construction of factories. For example, factories for wind turbine components are typically located in coastal areas near future wind farms. This requires the use of large amounts of land, which is not always available. Furthermore, once the construction of the wind farm is complete, the factories are no longer used, which is a waste of land. Authorities may also require the demolition of factories after construction is complete, resulting in significant costs.

[0005] The present invention aims to solve these problems or at least to provide an alternative, in particular to provide a factory for the local production of long tensile members, which avoids the waste of land and / or the costs of forced demolition or demolition of the factory.

[0006] This object is achieved by a factory as claimed in claim 1. The factory comprises at least one apparatus for manufacturing elongated tension members. The at least one apparatus comprises a feeding device, a processing device, and at least one end fitting device. The feeding device is arranged to provide input material. The input material includes at least one load-bearing yarn and / or at least one load-bearing wire and / or load-bearing fiber. The processing device is arranged to wind and / or twist and / or bundle the input material provided by the feeding device. The at least one end fitting device is arranged to provide proximal and distal end fittings to the elongated tension members. The factory further comprises a buoyant body arranged to support the at least one apparatus for manufacturing elongated tension members.

[0007] The factory according to the invention allows for the on-site production of long tensile members. A buoyant body allows the factory to be transported on water and the long tensile members to be manufactured near the construction site, for example an offshore wind farm, without the need for an on-site land-based building site. The buoyant body may, for example, comprise a ship, a vessel, or a floating platform. The factory may include propulsion means, for example an engine and / or a propeller, but preferably the factory is non-powered, i.e., does not have an engine and / or a propeller, in which case the factory can be towed. After construction at the construction site is completed, the factory can be relocated to another deployment site.

[0008] The elongated tension members may be called cables or tendons. Input materials include, for example, metal and / or synthetic materials and / or fibers, such as carbon fibers, basalt fibers, polyamide fibers, polyester fibers, polypropylene fibers, polyethylene fibers, aramid fibers, para-aramid fibers, HMPE fibers, LCAP fibers or PBO fibers.

[0009] Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims and the following paragraphs. In one embodiment, the input material comprises at least one thread. The processing device is arranged to wrap the at least one thread around two thimbles on opposite ends of the elongate tension member, from a first of the two thimbles to a second of the two thimbles and back to the first of the two thimbles, repeating the process until sufficient wraps extend between the two thimbles. The proximal and distal end couplings of the elongate tension member comprise two thimbles. The at least one end coupling device comprises a first thimble retainer and a second thimble retainer spaced apart from each other. Each thimble retainer is designed to retain one of the two thimbles.

[0010] In the context of this specification, a yarn is defined as a bundle of untwisted / twisted fibers or one or more filaments. Preferably, the yarn comprises a bundle of untwisted fibers.

[0011] In this embodiment, at least one device produces elongated tension members by a process called endless winding, which exhibits increased strength and long life compared to, for example, steel wire rope or ropes made from twisted and / or braided plastic fibers.

[0012] Preferably, the processing device includes an elongated guide and a carriage, and the feed device is connected to the carriage. The elongated guide and the carriage are movably connected to each other so that the carriage can move relative to the elongated guide in the longitudinal direction of the elongated guide. The feed device includes at least one spool holder for holding a spool having at least one length of yarn, and an output guide for guiding the at least one length of yarn onto the elongated tension member during winding. The output guide and the first thimble holder and the output guide and the second thimble holder are movable relative to each other at least in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated guide, and guide the at least one length of yarn to make a half turn around each of the first thimble of the two thimbles and the second thimble of the two thimbles during winding.

[0013] As an alternative to an endless winding, the elongated tension member comprises a rope, e.g., a wire rope or a plastic rope, and the input material comprises a metal wire (e.g., steel wire) or fiber (e.g., plastic fiber, basalt fiber, or carbon fiber). In this alternative embodiment, the processing device is configured to twist or braid the metal wire or fiber.

[0014] In one embodiment, the buoyant body is a watercraft comprising a hull and an upper deck. In a further embodiment, the at least one device is located within the hull of the vessel, below the upper deck. By locating the at least one device within the hull, the at least one device is protected from saltwater that would otherwise cause corrosion of components of the device. Additionally, the hull may be climate controlled, for example, by a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, which may be beneficial to personnel operating the at least one device.

[0015] In a further embodiment, a reel is provided on the upper deck of the vessel for winding one or more elongated tension members onto the reel, and the upper deck includes a hatch for supplying elongated tension members manufactured by at least one device within the vessel to the reel on the upper deck. In this manner, the tension members can be stored on the upper deck and transported from there to a nearby deployment site. Preferably, the elongated tension members are corrosion-resistant and can be stored on the upper deck without being affected by salt water. For example, the input material for the tension members is corrosion-resistant (e.g., synthetic fiber) and / or the tension members include a protective cover (e.g., synthetic material).

[0016] In one embodiment, the vessel's hull has a double hull at least partially filled with ballast, including a flowable solid material and / or freshwater. Traditionally, seawater is used as ballast, but this has the disadvantage of causing corrosion to the hull. The inventors recognized that the floating factory of the present invention can be permanently ballasted because the load carried by the vessel does not change significantly over time, as compared to, for example, a container ship or an oil tanker. Therefore, the vessel can be ballasted with freshwater, which is less corrosive than seawater, thereby extending the life of the vessel. In one embodiment, the vessel is ballasted with a flowable solid material. The flowable solid material may include one or more of sand, concrete, and stone. For example, the flowable solid material may include gravel or crushed / angular stones. An additional advantage of sand is that it has a lower thermal conductivity than water, thereby providing insulation for the vessel and reducing energy consumption in climate-controlling the vessel.

[0017] In one embodiment, the vessel is a converted power vessel, and the engine of the power vessel is removed from the engine room of the vessel, preferably reusing the engine room as a storage room for storing input materials. Preferably, the vessel is towed to the desired location.

[0018] In one embodiment, the vessel is a converted oil tanker, such as a very large crude oil carrier (VLCC), the hull of the vessel comprising a tank structure to which at least one internal deck is attached to provide a plurality of production compartments, and at least one apparatus is provided in one of the production compartments. The inventors have found that the tank structure of an oil tanker is particularly suitable for the attachment of one or more internal decks, for example to form a plurality of production floors within the vessel.

[0019] In particular, the tank structure typically comprises stringers. In one embodiment, at least one interior deck is attached to the stringers. An interior deck attached to a stringer may be referred to as a "stringer deck." Preferably, multiple stringer decks are provided within the hull of the ship.

[0020] In one embodiment, at least one interior deck is provided in a buoyant body (e.g., a ship's hull). In one example, multiple interior decks are provided. One or more interior decks each include multiple devices for manufacturing elongated tension members. The multiple devices are arranged parallel to each interior deck, forming parallel production lanes. Preferably, at least one interior deck further includes a braiding machine for braiding protective covers around the elongated tension members. The braiding machine is movable between at least two production lanes. For example, the braiding machine includes wheels and / or guide rails so that the braiding machine can be moved between the production lanes. Braiding may also be referred to as "weaving," and the braiding machine may also be referred to as "loom."

[0021] In an alternative embodiment, a buoyant body (eg, a vessel) is provided with multiple interior decks, each equipped with an apparatus for manufacturing elongated tension members. In one embodiment, the buoyant body (e.g., a ship) is equipped with solar panels and / or wind turbines, preferably vertical axis wind turbines. Preferably, the solar panels and / or wind turbines are provided on the upper surface of the buoyant body (e.g., the upper deck of the ship). Optionally, the buoyant body (e.g., a ship) is equipped with batteries. Preferably, the factory further comprises a hydrogen production facility and / or a hydrogen storage facility and / or a hydrogen fuel cell. In this way, the entire factory may be operated using renewable energy. If the factory is equipped with a hydrogen production facility, a hydrogen fuel cell is used to generate electricity for operating the factory.

[0022] The present invention further relates to a method for constructing a factory for manufacturing elongated tensile members as set out in claim 16. Such a method provides the same technical effects as those described above for the factory of the invention. Furthermore, the preferred and / or optional features defined above for the apparatus are likewise preferred and / or optional features for the method.

[0023] The method includes providing at least one apparatus for manufacturing an elongate tension member. The at least one apparatus includes a feeding device, a processing device, and at least one end fitting device. The feeding device is configured to provide an input material. The input material includes at least one load-bearing yarn and / or at least one load-bearing wire and / or load-bearing fiber. The processing device is configured to wind and / or twist and / or bundle the input material provided by the feeding device. The at least one end fitting device is configured to provide a proximal end fitting and a distal end fitting to the elongate tension member. The method further includes providing a buoyant body and installing at least one device in or on the buoyant body.

[0024] This method results in a plant with the same or similar technical effects as those described above. In one embodiment, providing the buoyancy body comprises modifying a vessel comprising a hull and an upper deck, preferably the vessel is an oil tanker.

[0025] In one embodiment, converting the vessel includes removing the vessel's engine from the engine bay and preferably reusing the engine bay as a storage room for storing input materials.

[0026] In one embodiment, converting the vessel comprises at least partially filling a double hull of the vessel with ballast material comprising a flowable solid material and / or fresh water, the flowable solid material preferably comprising at least one of sand, concrete, and stone.

[0027] In one embodiment, modifying the marine vessel includes attaching at least one interior deck to the marine vessel for supporting at least one device, preferably the at least one interior deck being attached to a stringer of a tank structure of the marine vessel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0028] The invention, its effects and advantages will be explained in more detail on the basis of schematic drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a factory according to an embodiment of the present invention, which consists of a converted oil tanker equipped with an endless reel. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the factory of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the factory of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a top view of the factory of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] The front V of FIG. 3 is shown in detail. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a web frame portion of the oil tanker of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a corrugated bulkhead of the oil tanker of FIG. 1. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the bow of the oil tanker of FIG. 1. [Figure 9A] 1 is a schematic perspective view of an endless winding apparatus for producing elongated tension members. FIG. [Figure 9B] 9B is a schematic side view of the endless winding device of FIG. 9A. FIG. [Figure 10] 9C shows one end of an elongated tension member produced by the endless winding apparatus of FIGS. 9A and 9B. [Figure 11] A top view of part of the tank structure of an oil tanker before it was converted into a workshop. [Figure 12] 12 illustrates a top view of the tank structure of FIG. 11 after being retrofitted to a factory in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] The tank structure in Figure 11 (before modification) is shown in bottom view. [Figure 14] The tank structure (after modification) is shown in Figure 13 in a bottom view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] 1 to 4 show a factory according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprising a vessel generally designated by the reference numeral 2. In this example, the vessel 2 is a converted oil tanker 2, more particularly a converted very large crude carrier (VLCC).

[0030] The vessel 2 comprises a hull 4 and an upper deck 6. The upper deck 6 is provided with a reel 8 for storing long tension members fabricated in the vessel's hull 4 (described in more detail below). In this example, two cranes 10 are provided on the upper deck 6 for unloading the fabricated tension members from the vessel 2. The reel 8 and the crane 10 are located at the bow of the vessel 2 and form part of a loading / unloading area 11 of the vessel 2. The reach of the crane is indicated by the reference numeral 13 in Figure 4. In this example, the crane 10 can carry 40 tonnes and has a reach of 40 meters.

[0031] In this example, the upper deck 6 further comprises solar panels 12 and a vertical axis wind turbine 14 for producing electrical energy to run the vessel 2. The vessel may also optionally comprise batteries (not shown) for storing electrical energy.

[0032] The vessel 2 is moored via mooring lines 16 to a single point mooring system 18 . Personnel can enter the vessel 2 via a ramp 20 connected to a dock 22. In this example, the vessel 2 further comprises an optional helicopter platform 24.

[0033] The cross-sectional view of Figure 3 shows the engine room 26 from which the engine has been removed during the conversion of an oil tanker into a factory for manufacturing long tensile members. In this example, the engine room 26 is reused as a storage room for storing input materials for manufacturing long tensile members. The propeller of the vessel 2, located at 28, was also removed during the conversion of the vessel 2. This reduces the hull resistance when the vessel 2 is towed. Preferably, the shaft connecting the propeller to the engine is also removed. In this case, the stern tube 30, which previously held the propeller shaft, is sealed off.

[0034] In the illustrated example, the exhaust gas stack has also been removed from the vessel 2 during the conversion. The stack was previously located in the area designated by the reference numeral 31. Removing the stack provides additional space on the upper deck 6. In this example, this additional space is used to accommodate a crew compartment.

[0035] 3 further illustrates multiple interior decks 32, 34, 36 constructed during the conversion of the vessel 2. In this example, three interior decks 32, 34, 36 are provided. The interior decks 32, 34, 36, together with a tank top 37 of the vessel 2, provide four floors within the vessel 2. Stairs 38 are provided to allow personnel access to each manufacturing floor.

[0036] The bow section V (Figure 3) is shown in detail in Figure 5. The upper deck 6 is provided with a hatch 40 for winding tension members manufactured inside the hull 4 of the vessel 2 onto reels 8. The tension members are designated by the reference numeral 42. At the bow section V, the interior decks 32, 34, 36 are provided with openings 44 for feeding the manufactured tension members 42 onto the reels 8 on the upper deck 6. In this example, the reels 8 can accommodate tension members of up to 1000 meters in length, for example four tension members of up to 250 meters each. In this example, the diameter of the reels 8 is 4 meters.

[0037] 6 to 8 are cross-sectional views of the aft, middle, and forward sections of the ship 2, respectively. The aft, middle, and forward sections are also referred to as the web frame section, the corrugated bulkhead section, and the bow section, respectively. A plurality of endless reeling devices 46, 48, and 50 for manufacturing long tensile members are provided on each floor of the ship 2. In this example, a total of 44 endless reeling devices are shown. The devices 46, 48, and 50 have different lengths but are otherwise identical in this embodiment.

[0038] An example of an endless winding device 50 is shown in FIGS. 9A-9B. This device corresponds to the endless winding device described in WO 2017 / 099589 A1, although other types of endless winding devices can be used in accordance with the present invention. The device 50 is designed to produce the endlessly wound cable 42 (FIG. 9B) by simultaneously winding at least one thread, and in this embodiment, up to ten threads, around two thimbles 52, 54 located at opposite ends of the cable 42. The device 50 includes an elongated guide 56, a carriage 58, a yarn feeder 60, a first thimble holder 62, and a second thimble holder 64. In this embodiment, the elongated guide 56 includes two elongated I-profiles 57. The elongated guide 56 is suspended from the upper wall of each compartment of the ship 2, for example, from the underside of the upper deck 6 or the lower walls of the interior decks 32, 34, and 36.

[0039] The yarn feeder 60, in this embodiment, includes ten spool holders, each designed to hold a spool 70. Each of the ten spools 70 holds a yarn. The yarn feeder 60 further includes an output guide 72 for guiding all ten yarns onto the cable 42 during winding. The output guide 72 in this embodiment includes rollers for guiding the ten yarns and is in a fixed position relative to the yarn feeder 60. This fixed position is offset from the center of the yarn feeder 60.

[0040] In this embodiment, the yarn feeder 60 is connected to the carriage 58 via a pivot 74, which is located at the center of the yarn feeder 60. This allows the yarn feeder 60 to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the carriage 58. As a result of this rotation, the output guide 72 moves along an arc, in this case a semicircle, relative to the elongated guide 56, and thus the first thimble holder 62 and the second thimble holder 64. This semicircle includes movement in a direction perpendicular to the length of the elongated guide 56, and during winding, when the output guide 72 just passes over each of the two thimbles 52, 54, the output guide 72 72 can guide the thread so that it makes a half turn around each of the first thimble 52 of the first thimble holding portion 62 and the second thimble 54 of the second thimble holding portion 64.

[0041] The devices 46, 48, 50 extend over the majority of the length of the vessel 2. In this example, the devices extend over more than 50% of the length of the vessel 2. In this example, the vessel 2 is 340 meters long, 60 meters wide, and 31 meters deep. The devices 46, 48, 50 have lengths of 190 to 250 meters, and in particular the long guide 56 has a length of 190 to 250 meters. In the illustrated example, the device 50 in the center portion of the vessel 2 (e.g., 250 meters) is longer than the devices 46, 48 on the left and right sides of the vessel 2 (e.g., 190 to 235 meters).

[0042] 6 and 7, each of the devices 46, 48, 50 includes a vertically extending framework 51 for positioning the yarn feeding device 60 at a height of 1.5 to 2.5 meters to allow easy reach by an operator. In the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7, the yarn feeding device 60 is connected to the carriage via the vertically extending framework 51.

[0043] The tension member 42 is provided with a protective cover using a braiding machine 76 (FIG. 8) located at the bow of the vessel. In this example, one braiding machine 76 is provided on each floor, which is movable laterally (across the hull) of the vessel 2. In this manner, one braiding machine 76 can be used for all the endless winding devices 46, 48, 50 on the same floor. Each endless winding device 46, 48, 50 forms a production lane, and the braiding machine 76 is movable between the production lanes. Because the braiding process typically takes less time than the endless winding process, using one braiding machine for multiple endless winding devices does not increase production time. For example, the braiding machine 76 can be equipped with guide rails and / or wheels to enable movement between production lanes. Optionally, the braiding machine can also be moved longitudinally of the vessel.

[0044] FIG. 10 illustrates one end of an elongated tension member, in this embodiment an endlessly wound cable 42 having a thimble 52, produced by one of endless winding devices 46, 48, 50 and a braiding machine 76.

[0045] Referring again to the cross-sectional views of Figures 6-8, the vessel 2 has a double hull (also called a double-walled hull). The double hull provides a space 78 between its two walls for ballast material. In this example, the ballast consists of sand.

[0046] As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the ship 2 has a structure with a longitudinal bulkhead 80 that divides the hull into three tank compartments: a port tank P, a center tank C, and a starboard tank S. The ship structure further includes a transverse bulkhead 82, as shown in Figure 5.

[0047] Figure 11 shows, in a top view, part of the tank structure of an oil tanker 2 before conversion. In particular, the structure of the center tank C is illustrated. Figure 11 shows a longitudinal bulkhead 80 and a transverse bulkhead 82. In this embodiment, the transverse bulkhead 82 is a corrugated bulkhead. The longitudinal bulkhead 80 has horizontal reinforcing ribs 84 and web frames 86 extending vertically.

[0048] Before the conversion, the longitudinal bulkheads 80 are provided with stringers 88 that extend horizontally along the longitudinal bulkheads 80 and connect the longitudinal bulkheads 80 to each other. The stringers are provided at regular intervals in height. In this embodiment, the height between the stringers 88 is 4 meters.

[0049] Figure 12 shows the tank structure of Figure 11 after modification. An inner deck 90 is attached to the longerons 88. Furthermore, openings 92 are formed in the longitudinal bulkhead 80, particularly in the lower part, to allow personnel to move between the port, center, and starboard sections of the tank structure, thereby providing access to all production lanes on the same floor (see also Figure 6, which shows openings 92).

[0050] Figure 13 shows a bottom view of the tank structure of an oil tanker before modification, and Figure 14 shows the state after modification. In particular, Figure 14 shows that during modification, openings 94 are formed in the transverse bulkhead 82. Figure 14 shows one such opening 94, and Figure 5 shows multiple openings 94. Reinforcing members 96 are provided along the edges of the openings 94 to ensure sufficient rigidity of the tank structure.

[0051] Variations of the illustrated embodiments of the device and method are fully possible within the scope of the appended claims. One or more features of one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of another embodiment. Features of the above embodiments may be replaced by any other features within the scope of the appended claims, such as the features described in the following paragraphs.

[0052] In the illustrated example, the vessel is shown to accommodate 44 machines for manufacturing long tensile members. However, any suitable number, particularly a smaller number, of machines may be provided. In a currently preferred embodiment, 3-5 machines are provided per floor. It is not necessary to provide such machines on every floor, and some floors may be used for other purposes. In an alternative embodiment, at least one machine is provided on the upper deck.

[0053] In one embodiment, the factory comprises 12 machines for manufacturing long tension members. For example, the factory may consist of a ship with four floors, with three machines on each floor.

[0054] In this example, the vessel hull is shown with three interior decks to provide four manufacturing floors, but any suitable number of interior decks may be provided. For example, an existing vessel may have one or two interior decks, or an oil tanker may be equipped with them to form two or three floors.

[0055] There may be one or more braiding machines per floor. The figures show infinitely wound devices of different lengths. Alternatively, devices having the same length can be provided.

[0056] In one embodiment, the one or more reels for holding the finished tension member are greater than 4 meters in diameter, for example, 5 or 6 meters. In one embodiment, the thimble holder of the reeling device is connected to the long guide of the device. In another embodiment, the thimble holder of the reeling device is connected to the interior deck of the buoyant body (e.g., a vessel).

[0057] In one embodiment, a battery for storing electrical energy (eg, produced by solar panels and / or wind turbines) is placed in the empty engine bay.

[0058] In one embodiment, the hydrogen production facility, hydrogen storage, and / or hydrogen fuel cells are located in an empty engine room. In an alternative embodiment, the hydrogen storage is provided in existing tank spaces of the (converted) vessel, such as fuel or diesel tanks or ballast tanks.

[0059] Preferably, at least one of the devices for producing elongated tension members is adapted to produce tension members of different lengths, for example, in the case of the endless winding machine described above, the distance between the two thimble holders may be adjustable to set the desired length for the tension member.

Claims

1. A factory (2) for manufacturing elongated tension members (42), said factory comprising: At least one apparatus (46, 48, 50) for manufacturing the elongated tension member (42), the at least one apparatus (46, 48, 50) comprising: A feeder (60) arranged to provide an input material, said input material comprising: at least one load-bearing thread, and / or at least one load-bearing wire, and / or Load-bearing fibers, including a supply device (60); a processing device (56, 58) arranged to wind and / or twist and / or bundle the input material provided by the supply device (60) into the elongated tensile member (42); at least one end coupling device (62, 64) arranged to provide a proximal end coupling (52) and a distal end coupling (54) for the elongate tension member; at least one device (46, 48, 50); a buoyant body (4) arranged to support said at least one device (46, 48, 50) for manufacturing said elongated tension member (42); A factory (2) equipped with:

2. Factory (2) according to claim 1, the input material comprises at least one thread; the processing device is arranged to wind the at least one thread around two thimbles (52, 54) on opposite ends of the elongated tension member (42), from a first one of the two thimbles (52), to a second one of the two thimbles (54), and back to the first one of the two thimbles (52, 54), the winding being repeated until a sufficient number of windings extend between the two thimbles (52, 54); the proximal and distal end joints of the elongate tension member comprise the two thimbles (52, 54); The at least one end coupling device includes a first thimble holder (62) and a second thimble holder (64) spaced apart from each other and each designed to hold one of the two thimbles (52, 54).

3. Factory (2) according to claim 2, The processing device includes a long guide (56) and a carriage (58), The feeding device (60) is connected to the carriage (58); the elongated guide (56) and the carriage (58) are movably connected to each other such that the carriage (58) can move relative to the elongated guide (56) in the longitudinal direction of the elongated guide (56); the feeder (60) comprising at least one spool holder for holding a spool (70) having the at least one length of thread, and an output guide (72) for guiding the at least one length of thread onto the elongate tension member (42) during winding; the output guide (72) and the first thimble holder (62), and the output guide (72) and the second thimble holder (64) are movable relative to each other at least in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the elongated guide (56), and guide the at least one thread to make a half turn around each of the first thimble (52) of the two thimbles and the second thimble (54) of the two thimbles during winding; Factory (2).

4. Factory (2) according to claim 1, The plant (2), wherein the elongated tension member (42) comprises a rope, the input material comprises fibers or metal wire, and the processing device is arranged to twist or braid the fibers or metal wire.

5. Factory (2) according to claim 1, The buoyant body is a ship having a hull (4) and an upper deck (6), the factory (2).

6. Factory (2) according to claim 5, The at least one device (46, 48, 50) is located within the hull (4) below the upper deck (6).

7. 7. The factory according to claim 6, a reel (8) provided on the upper deck (6) for winding one or more long tension members (42) onto the reel (8), the upper deck (6) having a hatch (40) for supplying the long tension members (42) manufactured by the at least one device (46, 48, 50) inside the hull (4) to the reel (8) on the upper deck (6).

8. Factory (2) according to claim 5, The hull (4) comprises a double hull at least partially filled with ballast comprising flowable solid material and / or fresh water.

9. Factory (2) according to claim 8, The ballast comprises a flowable solid material selected from the group consisting of sand, concrete, and stone.

10. Factory (2) according to claim 5, The vessel is a converted power vessel, the engine of the power vessel is removed from the engine room (26) of the vessel, and the engine room (26) is reused at the factory (2).

11. Factory (2) according to claim 5, The ship is a converted oil tanker, the hull (4) having a tank structure to which at least one interior deck (90) is attached providing a plurality of production compartments, and the at least one device (46, 48, 50) is provided in one of the production compartments.

12. Factory (2) according to claim 11, The tank structure comprises a stringer (88), and the at least one interior deck (90) is attached to the stringer (88).

13. Factory (2) according to claim 1, At least one internal deck (90) is provided on the buoyant body, the at least one internal deck (90) having a plurality of devices (46, 48, 50) for manufacturing elongated tension members (42), the plurality of devices (46, 48, 50) being arranged parallel to one another to form parallel manufacturing lanes.

14. A factory (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, The buoyant body comprises a solar panel and / or a wind turbine.

15. Factory (2) according to claim 14, Further comprising a hydrogen production facility and / or a hydrogen storage facility and / or a hydrogen fuel cell; Factory (2).

16. A method for constructing a factory (2) for manufacturing elongated tension members (42), said method comprising: providing at least one apparatus (46, 48, 50) for manufacturing the elongated tension member (42), the at least one apparatus (46, 48, 50) comprising: A feeder (60) arranged to provide an input material, said input material comprising: at least one load-bearing thread, and / or at least one load-bearing wire, and / or Load-bearing fibers, including a supply device (60); a processing device (56, 58) arranged to wind and / or twist and / or bundle the input material provided by the supply device (60) into the elongated tensile member (42); at least one end coupling device (62, 64) arranged to provide a proximal end coupling (52) and a distal end coupling (54) for the elongate tension member; Providing at least one device (46, 48, 50); Providing a buoyant body (4); placing said at least one device (46, 48, 50) in or on said buoyant body (4); A method comprising:

17. 17. The method of claim 16, The method, wherein providing the buoyant body (4) comprises modifying a vessel comprising a hull (4) and an upper deck (6).

18. 18. The method of claim 17, The method, wherein converting the vessel includes removing an engine of the vessel from an engine room (26) and reusing the engine room.

19. 18. The method of claim 17, The method, wherein converting the vessel comprises at least partially filling a double hull of the vessel with ballast material, the ballast material comprising flowable solid material and / or fresh water.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, The method, wherein modifying the vessel includes attaching at least one interior deck (90) to the vessel for supporting the at least one device (46, 48, 50).

21. Factory (2) according to claim 1, The processing device includes a long guide (56) and a carriage (58), The elongated guide (56) comprises two elongated I-profiles (57) parallel to each other, The two long I-shaped profiles (57) each have a substantially I-shaped cross section, The carriage (58) is configured to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the two long I-shaped profiles (57) so as to fit into the U-shaped portions of each of the two long I-shaped profiles (57) and fit between the two long I-shaped profiles (57), while sliding along the two long I-shaped profiles (57), in a factory (2).

22. A factory (2) according to claim 13, The at least one interior deck (90) further comprises a braiding machine (76) for braiding a protective cover around the elongated tension members (42), the braiding machine (76) being movable between at least two production lanes.

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