Transfer apparatus for vessels

Abstract

A vessel ( 1 ) comprises a roller assembly ( 32 ), the assembly comprising at least one roller arranged to bear against a structure to be accessed, the assembly further comprising a damper to inhibit rotation of the roller such that the roller arranged to inhibit relative movement of the vessel to the structure and the vessel further comprising a gangway assembly ( 10 ) for a vessel comprising a gangway ( 12 ), a pivotably mounted base ( 20 ), a sensor arrangement to sense movement of the vessel, an end portion ( 14 ) of the gangway pivotably connected to the base and an actuator connected to the gangway responsive to signals from the sensor arrangement to control the vertical position of an opposite end portion ( 15 ) of the gangway so as to compensate for vertical movement of the vessel, and the base arranged to respond to and compensate for roll of the vessel.

1 . A vessel comprising a roller assembly, the assembly comprising at least one roller arranged to bear against a structure to be accessed, the assembly further comprising a damper to inhibit rotation of the roller such that the roller is arranged to inhibit relative movement of the vessel to the structure. 
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller is positioned at an outer margin of the vessel. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one roller is positioned at a forward-facing portion of the outer margin of the vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising two spaced-apart rollers. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller is substantially diabolo shape. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises a hydraulic damper. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises at least one of a mechanical friction brake and a frictionless electric brake. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the damper comprises an induce eddy current brake. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor to determine the rotational position of the at least one roller. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one roller is arranged to bear against an access arrangement of the structure. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 1 , wherein the roller assembly is arranged to provide a signal indicative of the relative vertical position between the structure and the vessel. 
     
     
         12 . A gangway assembly for a vessel comprising a gangway, a pivotably mounted base, a sensor arrangement to sense movement of the vessel, an end portion of the gangway pivotably connected to the base and an actuator connected to the gangway responsive to signals from the sensor arrangement to control the vertical position of an opposite end portion of the gangway so as to compensate for vertical movement of the vessel, and the base arranged to respond to and compensate for roll of the vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator is located at a distal end portion of the gangway. 
     
     
         14 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the gangway is pivotably mounted to the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises a gimballed base. 
     
     
         16 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises an upper support structure, a lower structure and a connecting structure which is pivotably connected to the upper structure and to the lower structure, and which supports the upper structure on the lower structure, and is arranged for movement relative to the lower structure by virtue of the connecting structure. 
     
     
         17 . The gangway assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising an actuator arranged to be capable of applying a force so as to control the position of the upper structure relative to the lower structure. 
     
     
         18 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator is arranged to adjust the gangway positioning to take account of vertical motion of the vessel resulting from the vessel pitching and heaving. 
     
     
         19 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the gangway comprises a free-end portion arranged to be unattached to a structure to be accessed. 
     
     
         20 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the gangway comprises a free-end portion arranged to locate within an access region of the structure. 
     
     
         21 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises a responsive roll actuator so as to adjust the gangway to take account of and compensate for rolling of the vessel. 
     
     
         22 . The gangway assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the base comprises a surge actuator arranged to adjust the gangway to take account of and compensate for longitudinal movement of the gangway relative to a structure to be accessed. 
     
     
         23 . A roller assembly comprising at least one roller arranged to bear against a structure to be accessed, the assembly further comprising a damper to inhibit rotation of the roller such that the roller is arranged to inhibit relative movement of a vessel to the structure.