Device and method for coupling a vessel to a stationary object

1. Device for making a walkway from a vessel to an object which is relatively stationary to said vessel, comprising a telescopingly extendable gangplank attached to said vessel and having a top surface and an underside, and in which near the end of said gangplank a coupling element is provided which is adapted for enclosing a pipe that is attached to the stationary object, said gangplank being provided with first drive means for rotating said gangplank relative to said vessel about a first pin and a second pin situated substantially perpendicular to said first pin, and being provided with second drive means for extending said gangplank in length, and with control means for controlling said device during coupling of said coupling element with the pipe, wherein said coupling element is arranged to enclose a substantially horizontal pipe, said coupling element is fitted below said top surface, and near said coupling element on the underside in the longitudinal direction of said gangplank said gangplank has a narrow supporting edge for supporting said gangplank on the pipe.

2. Device according to claim 1 , in which on either side of said supporting edge said underside of the gangplank lies above a V-shaped section.

3. Device according to claim 1 , in which said coupling element is rotatable about a third pin which is in a position substantially perpendicular to said top surface.

4. Device according to claim 3 , in which said coupling element has a supporting surface extending from said supporting edge to said top surface and lying between said third pin and said supporting edge.

5. Device according to claim 3 , in which said coupling element is provided with elastic means for taking said coupling element into a central position.

6. Device according to claim 1 , in which said coupling element has a clamp for enclosing the pipe in a coupled state.

7. Device according to claim 1 , in which said control means comprise a first sensor for detecting a presence of the pipe in said coupling element.

8. Device according to claim 6 , in which said control means comprise a second sensor for detecting a loading and/or overloading of said clamp.

9. Device according to claim 8 , in which said control means are capable of opening said clamp and/or switching on said first drive means after a detection of overloading of said clamp.

10. Device according to claim 1 , in which said coupling element and said gangplank are designed in such a way that a coupled pipe, measured parallel to said top surface, can form a maximum angle of thirty to forty-five degrees with a line perpendicular to said longitudinal direction of said gangplank.

11. Device according to claim 1 , in which said coupling element is designed in such a way that a coupled pipe can form a maximum angle of ten to twenty degrees with said top surface.

12. Device according to claim 1 , in which a support is provided above the pipe to limit movements of said gangplank in the horizontal direction.

13. Method for making a walkway from a vessel to an object which is relatively stationary to said vessel by providing a telescopingly extendable gangplank between said vessel and said object, said gangplank being attached to said vessel and being provided with first drive means for lifting and swiveling said gangplank, and with second drive means for changing the length of said gangplank, and an underside of said gangplank being provided with a coupling element which is adapted for coupling said gangplank to a pipe that is attached to said object, wherein, during the step of coupling, said gangplank is laid on a horizontal pipe that is attached to the stationary object, after which a step of adjusting the length of said gangplank is performed by said second drive means until said coupling element falls around said pipe.

14. Method according to claim 13 , in which a support is provided above said horizontal pipe and a step of pressing said gangplank against said support is performed before a step of laying said gangplank on said pipe is performed.