Key information

Title
Barge, floating support structure and a method for assembling the floating support structure using the barge
Application number
20230739
Case type
National
Status
15.09.2025 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
30.06.2023
Effective date
30.06.2023
Publicly available
31.12.2024
Next annual fee due
30.06.2026
Applicant
Ocean Ventus AS (NO)
Owner
Ocean Ventus AS (NO)
Inventor
Reidar Alquist Tønnessen (NO) et al.
Agent
ACAPO ONSAGERS AS (NO)
Granted
15.09.2025
Patent number
349087
Expiry date
30.06.2043

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
The invention describes a barge for assembly of a floating support structure (1) comprising a lower buoyancy section (2) with a lower buoyancy volume VL and a working deck (3) comprising support elements (4) for receiving parts of the floating support structure to be assembled. The barge further comprises a ballasting system (7) for lowering and elevating the barge (1). The barge is characterized by a divisional section (6) holding the lower buoyancy section (2) and the working deck (3) in a vertical distance from each other and having a divisional buoyancy volume VD considerably smaller than lower buoyancy volume VL, such that the ballasting system, by pumping a quantity of water equal to VD in or out, is able to move the barge between a lower position with a bottom side of the working deck in the waterline, and an upper position with the top side of the lower buoyancy section in the waterline.

Publications

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Documents

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Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 02.11.2026 14-01 Saksbehandling 20230739(349087) UT PT Påminnelse om ikke betalt årsavgift (3329) (PT20230739) ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 22.09.2025 13-01 Saksbehandling 20230739(349087) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20230739)
18.06.2025 12-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 UT PT Meddelelse om patent ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 18.06.2025 11-05 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00_Letter_to_NIPO ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 18.06.2025 11-04 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Norske krav ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 18.06.2025 11-03 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Amended claims 2025.06.17 marked ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 18.06.2025 11-02 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Amended claims 2025.06.17 clean ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 18.06.2025 11-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 13.06.2025 10-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 UT Realitet patent ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.03.2025 09-04 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Specification with amended claims wc ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.03.2025 09-03 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Specification with amended claims cc ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.03.2025 09-02 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Besvarelse ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.03.2025 09-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 08.01.2025 08-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 UT Realitet patent ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.07.2024 07-04 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Spesification ready for publication marked 1179952 ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.07.2024 07-03 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Spesification ready for publication clean 1179949 ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.07.2024 07-02 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Brev til NIPO ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 24.07.2024 07-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 29.04.2024 06-02 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 29.04.2024 06-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN PDF_612914986 ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
 31.01.2024 05-02 Saksbehandling 20230739 UT PT report 02:39:45
31.01.2024 05-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 UT 20230739_1808403_PT 08 ONSAGERS AS
 16.08.2023 04-02 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Patent 20230739 Ocean Ventus erklæring ONSAGERS AS
 16.08.2023 04-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ONSAGERS AS
 03.07.2023 03-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 UT Formalia 1 ONSAGERS AS
 03.07.2023 02-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 UT Infobrev til oppfinner ONSAGERS AS
 30.06.2023 01-04 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Specification ONSAGERS AS
 30.06.2023 01-03 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN P29130NO00 Drawings ONSAGERS AS
 30.06.2023 01-02 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Ocean Ventus AS GPOA Norge 1079021 ONSAGERS AS
 30.06.2023 01-01 Saksbehandling 20230739 INN Søknadsskjema Patent ONSAGERS AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
BackgroundFloating support structures for offshore wind turbines are known in the art and several methods for assembly of the wind turbine and the substructure have been described.A common disadvantage for many of the known floating support structures are the issues arising from the assembly process. Issues that may arise are excessive space requirement on shore, low assembly rate, and limited depth at assembly location. As the size, and thereof the weight, of the wind turbines have increased, the size of equipment for assembly have also increased and the depth of typical support structure for a 15 MW wind turbine is a lot more that 10 meters when the tower and nacelle is mounted. A harbor with a depth deeper than 10 meters are hard to find and/or expensive to build. Ideally, the assembly site should also be close to the final destination, i.e. the wind park, because towing of the wind turbine is expensive and time consuming. One partial solution is to assemble the floating support structure on shore and mount the tower and nacelle at sea, but this puts high demands on a crane big enough to rise a tower at sea.WO 2021/25990 A1 describes a floating support structure preferably a semisubmersible support structure, suitable for supporting a windmill system comprising a windmill tower, a windmill nacelle and windmill blades. The floating support structure is particularly suitable for transport as modules on heavy-lift vessels over large distances and assembly of these modules in sea.US 2012/0118215 A1 describes a catamaran-type boat suitable for handling, assembling, and/or transporting off-shore wind turbines, the boat having two side floats constituting a U-shaped floating structure, the open space between the two branches of the U-shape constituted by the two side floats being suitable for receiving a base, the floats being fitted with grippers suitable for gripping the base between the two side floats, and the grippers being suitable for gripping the base and at least two grip levels of different heights.WO 2019195909 A2 describes an offshore structure includes an adjustably buoyant hull including a plurality of vertical columns and a plurality of horizontal pontoons. Each pontoon extends between a pair of the columns. The adjustably buoyant hull is configured to receive a topside. Each column has a central axis, an upper end, and a lower end. Each pontoon has a longitudinal axis, a first end coupled to one of the columns, and a second end coupled to another one of the columns. The offshore structure also includes a foundation assembly attached to a lower end of the hull. The foundation assembly includes a column skirt extending downward from the lower end of each column and a pontoon skirt extending downward from a bottom surface of each pontoon.In view of the above, it is an object of the invention to provide a process that mitigates several of the problems related to use of prior art solutions.An object of the invention is to find a way to assemble a large floating support structure at a quay side with limited depth.Another object of the invention is to reduce the assembly area needed near the quay side.Another object of the invention is to reduce the time consumed when assembling a floating support structure and wind turbine.Another object is to reduce the time and energy consumption during launching the completed floater/turbine assembly from the barge.Summary of the inventionIn a first aspect of the invention it is described a barge for assembly of a floating support structure. The barge comprises a lower buoyancy section with a lower buoyancy volume VL, a working deck comprising support elements for receiving parts of the floating support structure to be assembled and a ballasting system for lowering and elevating the barge. The barge further comprises a divisional section holding the lower buoyancy section and the working deck in a vertical distance from each other and having a divisional buoyancy volume VD considerably smaller than lower buoyancy volume VL, such that the ballasting system, by pumping a quantity of water equal to VD in or out, is able to move the barge between a lower position with a bottom side of the working deck in the waterline, and an upper position with the top side of the lower buoyancy section in the waterline when the barge is unaffected by external buoyancy volumes from structures resting on the barge.In an embodiment of the barge a major part of the divisional buoyancy volume VD resides in buoyancy structures extending in the entire height of the divisional section and being positioned in an area at least comprising each corner of the barge to provide stability when the lower buoyancy section is totally submerged.In an embodiment of the barge the divisional section comprises stabilizing pillars at each corner of the barge extending between the lower buoyancy section and the working deck for stabilizing the barge when the lower buoyancy section is submerged. In yet an embodiment of the barge the working deck comprises a safety buoyancy volume VW.In yet an embodiment of the barge the divisional section comprises support beams extending between the lower buoyancy section and the working deck.In a second aspect of the invention it is described a floating support structure to be assembled on a barge as described above. The floating support structure comprises a horizontal transverse part having a first and second vertical transverse buoyancy unit at each end respectively and a horizontal aft part connected to a midpoint of the transverse part and having a vertical aft buoyancy unit at the aft end thus providing an open space underneath the horizontal transverse and aft parts for accommodating the barge and a connecting flange for connecting a windmill tower.In an embodiment of the floating support structure it is manufactured in a set of subparts wherein each subpart comprises at least a horizontal section for resting on a support structure on the barge 1 and wherein the vertical first and second transverse buoyancy parts and aft buoyancy part are attached to respective horizontal sections. In other words, the set of subparts may include subparts consisting of only one horizontal section, but no subpart will consist of only a vertical buoyancy sectionIn yet an embodiment of the floating support structure the set of subparts comprises an aft subpart comprising the vertical aft buoyancy unit and the horizontal aft part and a first transverse subpart comprising the first vertical transverse buoyancy unit, a major section of the horizontal transverse part including a connector for connecting the horizontal aft part to the midpoint of the horizontal transverse part . The set of subparts further comprises a second transverse subpart comprising the second vertical transverse buoyancy unit and a minor section of the horizontal transverse part.In yet an embodiment of the floating support structure the vertical first and second transverse buoyancy unit and aft buoyancy unit, the horizontal transverse part and the horizontal aft part have a tubular shape.In yet an embodiment of the floating support structure each subpart of the set of subparts have suspension connectors positioned such that the horizontal sections of the subpart are horizontal when lifting lines are connected to the suspension connectors and suspended from the lifting device.In a third aspect of the invention it is described a method for assembly of a floating support structure as described above by means of the described barge and a lifting device for lifting a set of subparts that constitutes the floating support structure when assembled. The method comprises the following steps:a. providing the set of subparts that constitutes the floating support structure,b. lifting a subpart onto the barge using the lifting device letting the subpart rest on the support elements and, if needed for stability, also letting the subpart remain suspended from the lifting device while the subpart is connected to a previously positioned subpart if the lifted subpart is not the first to be lifted onto the barge,c. when the assembly is completed, lowering the barge by means of the ballasting system until the floating support structure is free of all obstacles on the barge andd. removing the barge from underneath the floating support structure.In an embodiment of the method the set of subparts comprises an aft subpart comprising the vertical aft buoyancy unit and the horizontal aft part and a first transverse subpart comprising the first vertical transverse buoyancy unit, a major section of the horizontal transverse part including a connector for connecting the horizontal aft part to the midpoint of the horizontal transverse part . The set of subparts further comprises a second transverse subpart comprising the second vertical transverse buoyancy unit and a minor section of the horizontal transverse part. When provided with such a set of subparts step b comprises the following substeps:1. Lifting the first transverse subpart onto the barge,2. Lifting the second transverse subpart onto the barge and holding the second transverse subpart in position with the lifting device until it is connected to the first transverse subpart, and3. Lifting the aft subpart onto the barge and connecting the aft horizontal part to the connector of the first transverse subpart.In an embodiment of the method step c comprises moving the barge to deeper water before lowering the barge.In an embodiment of the method lifting device is positioned at a quay side.Short description of the drawingsThe following drawings are appended to facilitate the understanding of the invention. The drawings show embodiments of the invention, which will now be described by way of example only. Same numerals in different drawings refer to the same feature.Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the barge in a perspective view. Fig. 2 shows the embodiment from fig. 1 in a top view.Fig. 3 shows the same embodiment from the side exposing the divisional section. Fig. 4 a-c shows three stages of the assembly of the floating support structure.Fig 4d shows a typical configuration of barge and lifting device by a quay side. Fig 5a-c shows three stages of the lowering of the barge.Fig. 6a and b shows transportation on a vessel of an embodiment of a set of subparts.Fig. 7 shows a complete wind turbine mounted on a floating support structure. The arrow shows preferred towing direction.Detailed descriptionA barge for assembly of a floating support structure as seen in fig. 1 - 3 is described below. The floating support structure will in most cases be a floating support structure for supporting an offshore wind turbine. The assembly process will be carried out with the parts to be assembled resting in support structures 4 or cribs 4 on a working deck of the barge. For the assembly of the floating support structure 8 to function the floating support structure is provided with an obstacle free volume underneath the floating support structure in order to allow the barge to be lowered and then moved from its position underneath the floating support structure 8. In most practical cases this will mean that the floating support structure 8 do not have any support structures, bracings or other obstacles between surfaces of the floating support structure resting on the barge and the maximum depth of the barge when fully ballasted in an area occupied by the barge below the floating support structure. A floating support structure suitable for assembly using the barge according to the invention is described in NO20200726. Suitable floating support structures will be described in more detail later.The barge 1 comprises a lower buoyancy section 2 having a lower buoyancy volume VL. In an embodiment the lower buoyancy section 2 has the shape of an ordinary barge typically with a flat bottom allowing passage in shallow waters. The barge 1 further comprises a working deck 3, positioned above the lower buoyancy section 2, comprising support elements 4 for receiving parts of the floating support structure to be assembled. In a preferred embodiment the support element comprises a crib 4 matching the shape of the parts of the floating support structure to be assembled as seen in fig. 1 - 4. To further support and stabilize the parts to be assembled during assembly, the barge may be provided with side supports 5 preferably protruding from the side of the working deck 3 as seen in fig. 1 - 4. The side supports 5 are preferably retractable to ease removal of the barge after assembly of the floating support structure. Advantageously the working deck comprises working habitats 27 and a barge crane 26 as shown in fig. 2Further the barge 1 comprises a divisional section 6 for keeping the lower buoyancy section 2 and the working deck 3 at a distance from each other. The divisional buoyancy volume VD of the divisional section 6 is considerably smaller than the lower buoyancy volume VL of the lower buoyancy section 2. Preferably, the divisional section comprises buoyancy volumes at each corner of the barge extending from the lower buoyancy section to the working deck thus providing stability when the lower buoyancy section 2 is submerged. In an embodiment the divisional buoyancy volume VD comprises a stabilizing pillar 12 having a cylindrical buoyancy volume at each corner of the barge as seen in fig. 1 and 3. The mentioned distance between the working deck 3 and the lower buoyancy unit 2 is preferably of the same magnitude as the depth of the fully mounted wind turbine and floating support structure. If the floating support structure is mounted on the barge while partly submerged the mentioned distance should at least be the depth of the fully mounted wind turbine minus the partly submersion.In a preferred embodiment the working deck 3 also comprises a buoyancy volume VW. The working deck buoyancy volume VW is of a precautionary nature configured to keep the barge floating if a fault or damage occurs.The barge 1 further comprises a ballasting system 7 for ballasting and deballasting the barge as indicated in fig. 3. Several ballasting systems are on the market and will not be described in great detail. By pumping in or out a volume of water equal to the buoyancy volume VD of the divisional section the barge will be able to be lowered and elevated between a lower position with the lower side of the working deck at the waterline and an upper position with the upper side of the lower buoyancy section 2 at the waterline. Here we assume the barge is unaffected by external buoyancy volumes or forces. The size of the divisional buoyancy volume VD should be as small as possible to reduce the quantity of water pumped during ballasting, but still large enough to maintain stability during lowering and elevation of the barge in positions where the lower buoyancy section 2 is submerged and therefore do not contribute to stability.The effect of the divisional section 6 having a much smaller buoyancy volume VD than the lower buoyancy volume VL is that the barge can be lowered and elevated between the lower and upper position by pumping a lot less water thus saving time and energy.The process of lowering the barge can be seen in fig. 5a – 5c. In fig. 5a the barge is holding the load of the floating support structure and tower 9 included nacelle 10 and turbine blades 11. The tower, nacelle and blades are shown in fig. 7. The buoyancy volumes of the barge must be adapted to match the combined weight of the floating support structure, tower 9, nacelle10 and turbine blades 11. This combined weight, minus an adjustment for any parts of the floating support structure 8 that is submerged when the floating support structure is resting on the barge, must be supported by the lower buoyancy section 2 of the barge 1. The effect of this is that the barge and wind turbine with floating support structure can float by a quay side with ordinary depth.The total weight of water that must be taken in by the ballasting system is equal to or larger than the mentioned total weight of the wind turbine and support structure (minus an adjustment if parts of the floating support structure is immersed in water when resting on the barge). In addition a further volume must be allowed into the ballasting tanks to be able to lower the barge 1 further down after the floating support structure 8 is floating by itself in order to allow the barge being extracted from below the floating support structure without any obstacles on the barge 1 interfering with the floating support structure 8. Roughly speaking, the ballasting system of the barge should be able to fill the ballasting system 7 with water equal to the weight of the combined floating support structure and wind turbine plus at least 10 %.During assembly of the floating support structure 8 the barge will remain in the upper position and the lower buoyancy unit 2 will take the load of the combined weight of the floating support structure and the wind turbine as seen in fig. 5a . The floating support structure 8 will remain resting in the support elements 4 on the work deck 3 until the assembly is complete including mounting of tower 9, nacelle 10 and turbine blades 11. When the assembly is completed and the wind turbine is ready to be towed to its final destination, the barge is moved to deeper water, where the barge 1 may be lowered to a level shown in fig. 5c where the support elements 4 and all structures on the work deck 3 are below the horizontal parts of the floating support structure.With the current size of wind turbines of 15 MW the barge and wind turbine with floating support structure will be able to float on 6 meters of depth by the quay side and when removing the barge from underneath the floating support structure a depth of about 20 meters is needed. Thus, most ordinary quays along the coastline will be able to receive the barge and perform an assembly of a floating support structure according to the invention. However, the barge can be built to match all sizes of floating support structures.The floating support structure 8 to be assembled must be able to rest on the barge as described above. A natural choice would be a floating support structure with a large horizontal section, where the horizontal section is positioned above the sea surface and different parts of the horizontal section are configured to rest on the barge before assembly and wherein a vertical first and second buoyancy units 17a, 17b and aft buoyancy units 19 each are attached to one of the horizontal parts. At the lower end of the vertical buoyancy units a damping device 22 is attached. The damping device is a plate extending horizontally outside the perimeters of the buoyancy units as seen in 4a-c and fig. 5a – c. In order to enable transport of the floating support structure 8 the floating support structure may be manufactured in a set of smaller subparts 20 where each subpart 20 comprises at least a horizontal section for resting on the barge and where at least some of the subparts 20 have a vertical first, second or aft buoyancy unit 17a, 17b, 19 attached to at least one end. The subparts 20 having a vertical buoyancy unit attached may also, in addition to resting on the barge, be supported by side supports 5 and / or the lifting device 14 until it is firmly connected to the rest of the floating support structure . When assembled on the barge the subparts 20 constitutes the entire floating support structure.In an embodiment shown in fig. 4c and fig 5 a-c the floating support structure 8 comprises a horizontal transverse part 16 having a first and second vertical transverse buoyancy unit 17a, 17b at each end respectively and a horizontal aft part 18 having a vertical aft buoyancy unit 19 at the aft end thus providing an open space underneath the horizontal parts 16, 19 for accommodating the barge 1. The floating support structure also comprises a connecting flange 15 for connecting a windmill tower 9 to the floating support structure as shown in fig. 5a.In a preferred embodiment, seen in fig. 6a and b, the floating support structure described above is manufactured and transported in a vessel in a set of three subparts 20a, b and c. The set of subparts 20 comprises an aft subpart 20a comprising the vertical aft buoyancy unit 19 and the horizontal aft part 18. The set of subparts further comprises a first transverse subpart 20b comprising the first vertical transverse buoyancy unit 17a, a major section of the horizontal transverse part 16 including a connector 23 for connecting the horizontal aft part to the horizontal transverse part 16, and a second transverse subpart 20c comprising the second vertical transverse buoyancy unit 17b and a minor section of the horizontal transverse part 16.In an embodiment the subparts 20 each have suspension connectors 21 for attaching a suspension line to be hooked onto the lifting device 14. The suspension connectors 21 are positioned to allow the horizontal part of the subparts 20 to be suspended in a horizontal position when suspended from the lifting device 14. This will ease the task of placing the subparts 20 on the barge 1.Preferably, the horizontal transverse part 16 and the horizontal aft part 18 and also the buoyancy units have a tubular shape. A circular cross-section provides a good strength to weight ratio.A method for assembly and transportation of a floating support structure 8 is described. The assembly is done by means of a barge 1 as described and a lifting device 14 for lifting a set of subparts 20 that constitutes the floating support structure 8 when assembled, the method comprising the steps:a. providing a set of subparts 20 that constitutes the floating support structure,b. lifting a subpart 20 onto the barge using the lifting device 14 for resting on at least one support element 4 and, if needed to obtain stability, being suspended from the lifting device while the subpart is connected to a previously positioned subpart if the lifted subpart is not the first to be lifted onto the barge 1,c. when the assembly of the floating support structure is completed, mounting tower 9, nacelle 10 and turbine blades 11,d. lowering the barge by means of the ballasting system 7 until the floating support structure is free of all obstacles on the barge (1) ande. removing the barge from underneath the floating support structure f. towing the floating support structure and wind turbine to a final destination.In an embodiment of the method where the set of subparts is constituted by a first and second transverse subpart 20b, 20c and an aft subpart 20a as described previously, step b comprises the following substeps, which is shown in fig. 4a, 4b and 4c:1. lifting the first transverse subpart 20b onto the barge2. lifting the second transverse subpart 20c onto the barge and holding the second transverse subpart 20c in position with the lifting device 14 until it is connected to the first transverse subpart 213. lifting the aft subpart 20a onto the barge and connecting the aft horizontal part to the connector 23.It is possible to do the three substeps in any order as long as the first transverse subpart is lifted on to the barge before the second transverse part .Preferably, the side supports 5 are retractable and are retracted during step d of the method.In a preferred embodiment the barge 1 comprises thrusters (not shown) to be able to retract the barge 1 from underneath the floating support structure 8 without using a towing boat. Furthermore, the thrusters on the barge can advantageously be connected to a positioning system, such as a GPS-system, that also is linked to the positioning of the floating support structure in a suitable manner to avoid impact between barge and floating support structure during step e of the method. If assembly of the floating support structure is done in shallow water, step c comprises moving the barge to deeper water before lowering the barge. This is mostly the case if the lifting device 14 and barge 1 is positioned at a quay side.References1 Barge2 Lower buoyancy section3 Working deck4 Support element / Crib5 Side supports6 Divisional section7 Ballasting system8 Floating Support structure9 Tower10 Nacelle11 Turbine blades12 Stabilizing pillars13 Support beams14 Lifting device15 Connecting flange16 Horizontal transverse part17 a, b First and second vertical transverse buoyancy part18 Horizontal aft part19 Vertical aft buoyancy unit20 Set of subparts of the floating support structure / subparts20a Aft subpart20b First transverse subpart20c Second transverse part21 Suspension connectors22 Damping structures23 Connector26 Barge crane27 Working habitat
Claims
CLAIMS1. Barge for assembly of a floating support structure (1) comprising:a lower buoyancy section (2) with a lower buoyancy volume VL,a working deck (3) comprising support elements (4) for receiving parts of the floating support structure to be assembled,a ballasting system (7) for lowering and elevating the barge (1), characterized by a divisional section (6) holding the lower buoyancy section (2) and the working deck (3) in a vertical distance from each other and having a divisional buoyancy volume VD smaller than the lower buoyancy volume VL, such that the ballasting system (7), by pumping a quantity of water equal to VD in or out, is able to move the barge (1) between a lower position with a bottom side of the working deck (3) in the waterline, and an upper position with the top side of the lower buoyancy section (2) in the waterline when the barge is unaffected by external buoyancy volumes.2. The barge according to claim 1, wherein a major part of the divisional buoyancy volume VD resides in buoyancy structures (12) extending in the entire height of the divisional section (6) and being positioned in an area at least comprising each corner of the barge to provide stability when the lower buoyancy section is totally submerged.3. The barge according to claim 2, wherein the divisional section (6) comprises stabilizing pillars (12) at each corner of the barge (1) extending between the lower buoyancy section (2) and the working deck (3) for stabilizing the barge when the lower buoyancy section is submerged (6).4. The barge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the working deck (3) comprises a safety buoyancy volume VW.5. The barge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the divisional section (6) comprises support beams (13) extending between the lower buoyancy section (2) and the working deck (3).6. A floating support structure (1) to be assembled on a barge according to claim 1-5, the floating support structure comprising:a horizontal transverse part (16) having a first and second vertical transverse buoyancy unit (17a, 17b) at each end respectively anda horizontal aft part (18) connected to a midpoint of the transverse part (16) and having a vertical aft buoyancy unit (19) at the aft end thus providing an open space underneath the horizontal transverse and aft parts (16, 19) for accommodating the barge (1) anda connecting flange (15) for connecting a windmill tower (9).7. The floating support structure according to claim 6 wherein the floating support structure is manufactured in a set of subparts (20) wherein each subpart (20) comprises at least a horizontal section for resting on a support structure (4) on the barge 1 and wherein the vertical first and second transverse buoyancy parts (17a, 17b) and aft buoyancy part (19) are attached to respective horizontal sections.8. The floating support structure according to claim 7 wherein the set of subparts (20) comprises:an aft subpart (20a) comprising the vertical aft buoyancy unit (19) and the horizontal aft part (18),a first transverse subpart (20b) comprising the first vertical transverse buoyancy unit (17a), a major section of the horizontal transverse part including a connector (23) for connecting the horizontal aft part to the midpoint of the horizontal transverse part and, anda second transverse subpart (20c) comprising the second vertical transverse buoyancy unit (17b) and a minor section of the horizontal transverse part,9. The floating support structure according to any of the claims 6 - 8 wherein the vertical first and second transverse buoyancy unit (17a, 17b) and aft buoyancy unit (19), the horizontal transverse part (16) and the horizontal aft part (18) have a tubular shape.10. The floating support structure according to any of claims 7 – 9 wherein each subpart of the set of subparts (20) have suspension connectors (21) positioned such that the horizontal sections of the subpart are horizontal when lifting lines are connected to the suspension connectors (21) and suspended from the lifting device (14).11. Method for assembly of a floating support structure (8) according to claim 7 by means of a barge according to claim 1-5 and a lifting device (14) for lifting a set of subparts (20) that constitutes the floating support structure (8) when assembled, the method comprising the steps:a. providing the set of subparts (20) that constitutes the floating support structure (8),b. lifting a subpart onto the barge (1) using the lifting device (14) letting the subpart (20) rest on the support elements (4) and, if needed for stability, also letting the subpart remain suspended from the lifting device while the subpart is connected to a previously positioned subpart if the lifted subpart is not the first to be lifted onto the barge,c. when the assembly is completed, lowering the barge by means of the ballasting system (7) until the floating support structure is free of all obstacles on the barge (1) andd. removing the barge from underneath the floating support structure.12. Method according to claim 11, when also dependent on claim 8wherein step b comprises the following substeps:1. Lifting the first transverse subpart (20b) onto the barge,2. Lifting the second transverse subpart (20c) onto the barge and holding the second transverse subpart (20c) in position with the lifting device until it is connected to the first transverse subpart (21), and3. Lifting the aft subpart (20a) onto the barge and connecting the aft horizontal part to the connector (23) of the first transverse subpart (20b).13. Method according to claim 11 or 12 wherein step c comprises moving the barge to deeper water before lowering the barge.14. Method according to any of claim 11 – 13 wherein the lifting device (14) is positioned at a quay side.PATENTKRAV1. Lekter for montering av en flytende støttestruktur (1) omfattende:en nedre oppdriftsseksjon (2) med et nedre oppdriftsvolum VL,et arbeidsdekk (3) omfattende støtteelementer (4) for å motta deler av den flytende støttestrukturen som skal monteres,et ballastsystem (7) for å senke og heve lekteren (1),karakterisert ved en delingsseksjon (6) som holder den nedre oppdriftsseksjonen (2) og arbeidsdekket (3) i en vertikal avstand fra hverandre og har et delingsoppdriftsvolum VD betydelig mindre enn det nedre oppdriftsvolumet VL, slik at ballastsystemet (7), ved å pumpe en mengde vann lik VD inn eller ut, er i stand til å bevege lekteren (1) mellom en nedre posisjon med en underside av arbeidsdekket (3) i vannlinjen, og en øvre posisjon med oversiden av den nedre oppdriftsseksjonen (2) i vannlinjen når lekteren ikke påvirkes av eksterne oppdriftsvolumer.2. Lekteren ifølge krav 1, hvor en hoveddel av det delte oppdriftsvolumet VD befinner seg i oppdriftskonstruksjoner (12) som strekker seg i hele høyden av den delte seksjonen (6) og er plassert i et område som minst omfatter hvert hjørne av lekteren for å gi stabilitet når den nedre oppdriftsseksjonen er fullstendig nedsenket.3. Lekteren ifølge krav 2, hvor delingsseksjonen (6) omfatter stabiliseringssøyler (12) i hvert hjørne av lekteren (1) som strekker seg mellom den nedre oppdriftsseksjonen (2) og arbeidsdekket (3) for å stabilisere lekteren når den nedre oppdriftsseksjonen er nedsenket (6).4. Lekteren ifølge et hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvor arbeidsdekket (3) omfatter et sikkerhetsoppdriftsvolum VW.5. Lekteren ifølge et hvilket som helst av de foregående kravene, hvor delingsseksjonen (6) omfatter støttebjelker (13) som strekker seg mellom den nedre oppdriftsseksjonen (2) og arbeidsdekket (3).6. En flytende støttestruktur (1) som skal monteres på en lekter ifølge krav 1-5, hvor den flytende støttestrukturen omfatter:en horisontal tverrgående del (16) med en første og en andre vertikal tverrgående oppdriftsenhet (17a, 17b) i hver ende, ogen horisontal akterdel (18) koblet til et midtpunkt på den tverrgående delen (16) og med en vertikal aktre oppdriftsenhet (19) i den aktre enden, slik at det dannes et åpent rom under den horisontale tverrgående og den aktre delen (16, 19) for å romme lekteren (1) ogen forbindelsesflens (15) for å koble til et vindmølletårn (9).7. Den flytende støttestrukturen ifølge krav 6, hvor den flytende støttestrukturen er produsert i et sett med underdeler (20), hvor hver underdel (20) omfatter minst en horisontal seksjon for hvile på en støttestruktur (4) på lekteren 1, og hvor den vertikale første og andre tverrgående oppdriftsdelen (17a, 17b) og den aktre oppdriftsdelen (19) er festet til respektive horisontale seksjoner.8. Den flytende støttestrukturen ifølge krav 7, hvor settet med underdeler (20) omfatter:en aktre underdel (20a) som omfatter den vertikale aktre oppdriftsenheten (19) og den horisontale akterdelen (18),en første tverrgående underdel (20b) som omfatter den første vertikale tverrgående oppdriftsenheten (17a), en hoveddel av den horisontale tverrgående delen som inkluderer en forbindelse (23) for å forbinde den horisontale akterdelen med midtpunktet til den horisontale tverrgående delen, ogen andre tverrgående underdel (20c) som omfatter den andre vertikale tverrgående oppdriftsenheten (17b) og en mindre del av den horisontale tverrgående delen,9. Den flytende støttestrukturen ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 6-8, hvor den vertikale første og andre tverrgående oppdriftsenheten (17a, 17b) og aktre oppdriftsenheten (19), den horisontale tverrgående delen (16) og den horisontale akterdelen (18) har en rørformet form.10. Den flytende støttestrukturen ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 7–9, hvor hver del av settet med underdeler (20) har opphengningskoblinger (21) plassert slik at de horisontale seksjonene av underdelen er horisontale når løfteliner er koblet til opphengningskoblingene (21) og opphengt fra en løfteanordning (14).11. Fremgangsmåte for montering av en flytende støttestruktur (8) ifølge krav 7 ved hjelp av en lekter ifølge krav1-5 og en løfteanordning (14) for å løfte et sett med underdeler (20) som utgjør den flytende støttestrukturen (8) når den er montert, hvor fremgangsmåten omfatter trinnene:a. å fremskaffe settet med underdelene (20) som utgjør den flytende støttestrukturen (8),b. å løfte en underdel opp på lekteren (1) ved hjelp av løfteanordningen (14), la underdelen (20) hvile på støtteelementene (4) og, om nødvendig for stabilitet, la underdelen også forbli opphengt fra løfteanordningen mens underdelen er koblet til en tidligere plassert underdel hvis den løftede underdelen ikke er den første som løftes opp på lekteren,c. når monteringen er fullført, å senke lekteren ved hjelp av ballastsystemet (7) til den flytende støttestrukturen er fri for alle hindringer på lekteren (1) ogd. å fjerne lekteren fra undersiden av den flytende støttestrukturen.12. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 11, når den også er avhengig av krav 8 hvor trinn b omfatter følgende undertrinn:1. Løfting av den første tverrgående underdelen (20b) opp på lekteren,2. Løfting av den andre tverrgående underdelen (20c) opp på lekteren og holding av den andre tverrgående underdelen (20c) i posisjon med løfteanordningen til den er koblet til den første tverrgående underdelen (21), og3. Løfting av den aktre underdelen (20a) opp på lekteren og kobling av den aktre horisontale delen til koblingen (23) på den første tverrgående underdelen (20b).13. Fremgangsmåte ifølge krav 11 eller 12, hvor trinn c omfatter flytting av lekteren til dypere vann før senking av lekteren.14. Fremgangsmåte ifølge hvilket som helst av kravene 11–13, hvor løfteanordningen (14) er plassert ved en kaiside.
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Patent classes

IPC classesB63B 35/44B63B 35/00B63B 35/28F03D 13/25CPC classesB63B 35/44B63B 35/003B63B 2035/446B63B 35/28F05B 2230/6102F03D 13/25Y02E 10/727

Citations

WO 2021/254990 A1 (A1)US 2012/0118215 A1 (A1)WO 2019/195909 A2 (A2)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
Ocean Ventus AS
J. M. Uglands vei 14 4878 GRIMSTAD NO (GRIMSTAD Municipality, Agder county)Org. number: 829193302Inventors
Reidar Alquist Tønnessen
Fjæreveien 116 4878 GRIMSTAD NO (GRIMSTAD Municipality, Agder county)
Ingvar Apeland
Odderhei Terrasse 28 4639 KRISTIANSAND S NO (KRISTIANSAND Municipality, Agder county)

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ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
ACAPO ONSAGERS AS

Org. number: 932214636

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Edvard Griegs vei 1 5059 BERGEN NO (BERGEN Municipality, Vestland county)
Org. number: 932214636
Reference: P29130NO00

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