Offshore plant to ship transport - for men and material by flexible tunnel suspended from crane boom

摘要

Persons and supplies can be transported between an offshore plant e.g. a stationary or a floating platform, and a ship by attaching to the offshore plant a long flexible tunnel, e.g. 70m long, with entry and exit facilities on both ends. The tunnel is suspended from the boom of an outrigger crane and its far end is fitted with a rope so that it can be hauled on board of a supply ship and one end of the tunnel can be lowered and fixed. The tunnel have have circular or elliptical cross-section. It saves the use of helicopters which have a high accident rate and are an expensive medium for the transport of men and material. In an emergency the tunnel can be lowered to sea level as an escape chute for the personnel.