Patent ID: 9387911
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: B63B,B63C,B63G,B66D

Claim Text:
1. A method of lifting a payload from a seabed location, comprising: flying a latch unit through the water to the payload, the latch unit being attached to a taut lift line supported by a heave-compensating winch on a surface vessel to carry the lift line toward the payload; wherein flying the latch unit comprises moving the latch unit on x- and y-axes horizontally to align the latch unit above the payload before attachment of the latch unit to the payload, while controlling a z-axis position of the latch unit using the heave-compensating winch; attaching the latch unit to the payload; progressively increasing tension applied through the lift line via the latch unit to detach the payload from a seabed location; and lifting the payload using the tension applied through the lift line via the latch unit.