Logistical support of offshore drilling facilities

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A system for logistical support of an offshore drilling facility from a shore-based supply location includes a plurality of modular work deck units a self-propelled, vessel, and a plurality of one dock facilities at the supply location. The vessel releasably mates with and supports any one of the work deck units and cargo carried thereby. The vessel is ballastable fox increasing and decreasing the draft of the vessel when the vessel is mated with a work deck unit sufficiently that the vessel can ballast down from a separately supported work deck unit and move out from thereunder. The dock facilities are defined for movement thereinto of the vessel with a work deck unit thereon. The dock …