Patent ID: 7182660

Claim:
Apparatus for transferring fluid between first and second floating vessels, comprising a submerged rigid transfer arm defining a fluid conduit for receiving fluid from the first vessel, means to attach a first end of the arm to the first vessel so as to allow the arm to pivot about at least two axes, loading means located at the second end of the arm and attachable to the second floating vessel for transferring fluid from the fluid conduit to the second floating vessel, wherein the apparatus is provided with draught regulating means operable to increase and decrease the draught of at least a part of the apparatus, and a support structure projecting from the rigid arm and adapted to brace the apparatus against the second vessel, and wherein the draught regulating means is adapted to decrease the draught to such extent that the support structure is brought into contact with the second vessel due to a relative buoyancy difference between the support structure and the second vessel, such that said buoyancy difference acts with sufficient force to suppress relative vertical motion between the arm and the second vessel.