Patent ID: 7056177
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: B63B

Abstract:
1. Hydrocarbon mooring and transfer system ( 2 ) comprising a hydrocarbon transfer station ( 3 ) and a vessel ( 1 ) containing hydrocarbons, anchoring means comprising at least six spaced-apart anchoring members ( 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ) at least four of which are connected via a respective anchor line ( 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 27 ) to the vessel ( 1 ), a hydrocarbon transfer duct ( 6 ) extending between a coupling position ( 7 ) located between the bow ( 20 ) and the stern ( 24 ) and the hydrocarbon transfer station ( 3 ), characterised in that, the hydrocarbon transfer station ( 3 ) comprises a tower resting on the seabed, the hydrocarbon transfer duct ( 6 ) being movable with respect to the tower ( 3 ) between different angular positions on the tower ( 3 ), the anchoring members ( 12 – 19 ) being arranged with respect to the tower ( 3 ) in such a manner that the vessel is attachable in at least two mutually transverse orientations, the vessel in a first orientation being attached to a first group of at least four anchoring members ( 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ) and in the second orientation being attached to a second group at least four anchoring members ( 14 , 16 , 17 , 18 ; 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 ; 12 , 13 , 17 , 19 ), which second group is different from said first group, the transfer duct ( 6 ) in each orientation extending between the coupling position ( 7 ) and the tower ( 3 ).