Patent ID: 8991325
Filing Date: 2015-03-31
Classification: B63B,E21B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A connection system comprising: a first latching element mountable to a first body; a second latching element mountable to a second body; and a buoyant winching system for drawing the first latching element and second latching element together to facilitate connection of the first body to the second body, which buoyant winching system comprises a winch comprising a frame and a buoyancy unit, the frame being mounted to the buoyancy unit such that the winch is adapted to be towed to an off-shore location by a towing vessel; a winch line attached at one end to the winch of the buoyant winching system and connectable at another end to a tether line to which the second latching element is adapted to be connected; a towing line connected between the first body and the towing vessel; and wherein the towing line is shorter than the winch line such that when a free end of the winch line is carried on the towing vessel, whilst the towing line is under tension, there is no tension in the winch line.