DELIVERY AND RECOVERY APPARATUS, METHOD, AND APPLICATIONS

摘要

Machinery and methods are described whereby a free flying, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) can safely capture and take on board lightly managed seismic sensor devices (payload) while they are in-transit via a surface vessel in a (deep) water column. ROV payload can be replenished without the need for the ROV to return to the surface vessel to receive additional payload and to do so without the need for heavy launch and recovery machinery. The reverse process of returning payload from the ROV to the surface vessel is also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method for deploying and manipulating a payload in an unstable environment, comprising:
deploying a plurality of unit payloads from a marine surface vessel, further comprising:
providing, on the marine surface vessel, the plurality of unit payloads each having a plurality of affixment devices connected thereto;detachably linking at least two of the plurality of unit payloads via respective ones of the affixment devices on the marine surface vessel to form a payload chain;detachably coupling the payload chain to a lift line that is controllably deployable from the marine surface vessel into/out of a water column; anddeploying the lift line and the coupled payload chain into the water column.