Method and apparatus for deep water deployment operations

aababbccA method of deploying an object onto the seabed in very deep water from a vessel having a heave compensated deck crane, comprises lowering the object a distance into the sea while being suspended in the crane wire.In an initial step, a first fibre rope section of a first length is connected to the object via a first connector on the object before the lowering is started and is freely run out supporting from a storage reel during the descent. Subsequently, the first rope section is the object via a second connector located at the upper end of the first rope section, the second connector being supported by a support mechanism on the vessel deck, followed by off-loading the crane wire and disconnecting it from the object and heaving it up said first length for connection to the second connector at the vessel deck and taking over the load of the object. Next, the object is lowered a second length into the water by the crane while a second rope section connected to the second connector is freely run out from a storage reel until a third connector located at the upper end of the second rope supports the load of the object in the support mechanism, whereupon the crane hook can be released and be brought up for re-connection to the third connector for the subsequent deployment, and any further deployment by addition to the string of ropes, thereby allowing the object to reach a depth of up to 3000 meter, or even more.