Patent ID: 9587447
Date: 2017-03-07
CPC Classifications: B63B,E21B

Claim:
1. A drilling vessel comprising: a drilling tower having a firing line, along which a tubular string is passed into the sea during drilling activities, the firing line extending in a substantially vertical direction; and a tubular string support structure, the support structure comprising: two parallel rails, which rails are provided on opposite sides of an elongated opening, wherein the firing line passes through said elongated opening between the rails; and two carts, each cart having a hanger body capable of independently supporting the tubular string, which hanger body defines a vertical passage adapted to receive a tubular string supported in the firing line, and which hanger body defines a lateral passage, in communication with said vertical passage, allowing to place the tubular string in and remove the tubular string from said vertical passage, wherein the carts are each supported by the parallel rails such that each cart can be moved between a central support position, above the elongated opening with the firing line passing through the vertical passage, and a secondary position above the elongated opening with the firing line passing outside the vertical passage, and wherein, when both carts are located in their secondary position, the carts are located on opposite sides of the firing line, such that between the carts there is a passage for passing through large objects along the firing line.