Method of securing and transferring a load between a vessel and an offshore installation and an apparatus therefor

Abstract

The offshore jack-up has a hull and a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor. The offshore jack-up is arranged to move the legs with respect to the hull to position the hull out of the water. The method comprises moving at least a portion of a vessel underneath the hull of the offshore jack-up or within a cut-out of the hull when the hull is positioned out of the water and the legs engage the seafloor. A stabilizing mechanism mounted on the jack-up is engaged against the vessel. The stabilizing mechanism is pushed down on the vessel to increase the buoyant force acting on the vessel.

1 . A method of supplying a load between a vessel and an offshore jack-up, the offshore jack-up having a hull, a plurality of moveable legs engageable with the seafloor, and a stabilizing mechanism mounted thereon, the hull having a first guide structure and a second guide structure, and the plurality of moveable legs configured to move with respect to the hull to position the hull out of water, the method comprising:
 positioning a portion of the vessel between the first guide structure and the second guide structure to laterally position the vessel underneath the hull or within a cut-out in the hull when the hull is positioned out of the water and the plurality of moveable legs engage the seafloor;   pushing the stabilizing mechanism down on the vessel to increase a buoyant force acting on the vessel, and to limit movement of the vessel with respect to the hull of the offshore jack-up; and   lifting a cargo carrying frame between a first position on the vessel and a second position clear of the vessel with a lifting mechanism mounted on the offshore jack-up.