Device and method for lifting an object from a deck of a vessel subject to movements

1. Device for lifting an object from a deck of a vessel subject to movements in a heave direction, the device comprising:

a support surface for the object provided at a first height in the heave direction relative to the deck;

a lifting crane configured to take up the object from the support surface at a lifting point thereof at a lifting speed;

a detector, comprising a force sensor located in the support surface, configured to determine the instant in time at which the object is lifted from the surface;

an actuator system configured to lower the support surface relative to the deck at the instant in time the object is lifted from the surface to a second height in the heave direction at a lowering speed,

wherein the actuator system comprises distance-varying means provided between the support surface and a base surface,

wherein the distance-varying means is configured to vary the distance in the heave direction between the support surface and the base surface, and

wherein the distance-varying means each have a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of some distance-varying means extend in the heave direction, whereas the longitudinal axis of other distance-varying means extend at a non-zero acute angle with the heave direction.

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second height of the support surface is above deck.

3. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the lifting crane has a maximum lifting speed, and the actuator system is configured to lower the surface at a lowering speed larger than 10% of the maximum lifting speed, more preferably larger than 25% of the maximum lifting speed, and even more preferably larger than 50% of the maximum lifting speed.

4. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator system is configured to lower the surface at a lowering acceleration substantially equal to the gravitational acceleration.

5. Device according to claim 1 , wherein components of the actuator system are interlinked by a hydraulic system comprising a pump and/or accumulator.

6. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the base surface is provided by a part of the deck.

7. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the base surface is provided by a base platform structure configured to be moved across the deck of the vessel in at least one of the surge and sway directions.

8. Device according to claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to generate control signals for the actuator system in response to the detector output.

9. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the vessel is a floating vessel and the lifting crane is operated from a second distinct vessel, wherein the second vessel is a floating vessel, comprising a dynamic positioning (DP) or mooring system, or the second vessel is a jack-up platform.

10. Device according to claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a foundation element of a wind turbine.

11. Method for lifting an object from a deck of a vessel subject to movements in a heave direction, the method comprising:

positioning the object to be lifted on a support surface for the object provided at a first height in the heave direction relative to the deck;

taking up the object with a lifting crane from the support surface at a lifting point thereof at a lifting speed; and

activating an actuator system to lower the support surface relative to the deck

at an instant in time at which the object is lifted from the support surface to a second height in the heave direction at a lowering speed, the method further comprising:

determining the instant in time at which the object is lifted from the surface by a detector, wherein the detector comprises a force sensor located in the support surface,

wherein the actuator system comprises a distance-varying means provided between the support surface and a base surface,

wherein the distance-varying means is configured to vary a distance in the heave direction between the support surface and the base surface, and

wherein the distance-varying means each have a longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axis of some distance-varying means extend in the heave direction, whereas the longitudinal axis of other distance-varying means extend at a non-zero acute angle with the heave direction.

12. Method according to claim 11 , further comprising determining the instant in time at which the object is to be lifted by monitoring the periodic movements of the vessel in the vertical direction.

13. Device for lifting an object from a deck of a vessel subject to movements in a heave direction, the device comprising:

a support surface for the object provided at a first height in the heave direction relative to the deck;

a lifting crane configured to take up the object from the support surface at a lifting point thereof at a lifting speed;

a detector configured to determine the instant in time at which the object is lifted from the surface;

an actuator system configured to lower the support surface relative to the deck at the instant in time the object is lifted from the surface to a second height in the heave direction at a lowering speed,

wherein the actuator system comprises distance-varying means provided between the support surface and a base surface,

wherein the distance-varying means is configured to vary the distance in the heave direction between the support surface and the base surface,

wherein the base surface is provided by a base platform structure configured to be moved across the deck of the vessel in at least one of the surge and sway directions, and

wherein the deck supports a plurality of support surfaces and the base platform structure is configured to be moved across the deck of the vessel to a position underneath each support surface, the base platform structure optionally being provided with wheels to be moved across the deck on rails provided on the deck.