US Patent 7543799 Method and apparatus for deploying articles in deep waters

Equipment and method for lowering equipment (10) to the seabed from a vessel (12) using man made fibre rope (16) and a winch (20) employing wire rope (24), the fibre rope being paid out (or when lifting, drawn in) in sections by repeated operation of the winch (20) and wire rope (24). This is preferably done by holding the fibre rope (16) with holding means (32), while the wire rope (24) is detached for connection to a next section. The holding means (32) may be arranged to engage an attachment point (18) between adjacent rope sections but distinct from that engaged by the hoist platform (22).