Patent ID: 9689133
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: B63B,B63C,E02B

Claim:
1. A support structure suitable for use as a support structure to an offshore platform, the support structure comprising a main support strut having a lower end and anchorable, in use, to a seabed and an upper portion arranged, in use, to extend above sea level to a height substantially equal to, or greater than, the height of the platform, the support strut comprising a guide rail extending upwardly from a level above the sea level to a top of the support strut for cooperating with a raising framework slideably mountable to the guide rail, and further comprising drive means cooperating between the raising framework and the guide rail for elevating the raising framework relative to a support rail, the support structure being characterised by: the support strut and raising framework each comprising tracks arranged to substantially align end-to-end when the raising framework is elevated to the top of the support strut, the tracks, when so aligned, forming a substantially continuous track for laterally transferring a payload from the raising framework to the top of the strut.