Patent ID: 6990917

Claim:
In a vessel-turret assembly including a moonpool ( 5 ) in a vessel hull structure ( 43 ) and a turret rotatably supported within said moonpool by an axial bearing structure that includes vertical wheels ( 12 ) between an upper circular rail ( 26 U) mounted on said turret and a lower circular rail ( 26 B) mounted on said vessel hull structure ( 43 ), wherein said lower rail ( 26 B) deflects due to vessel hull structure sagging in response to environmental forces, an improved turret ( 100 ) characterized by, a turret main deck ( 1 ) to which said upper circular rail is mounted, a chain table ( 3 ) separated vertically from said main deck ( 1 ) and arranged and designed for coupling with anchor legs which extend to the sea floor, and a connecting structure connected between said turret main deck ( 1 ) and said chain table ( 3 ), said turret arranged and designed to have a flexibility such that said upper circular rail ( 26 U) substantially conforms in deflection with said lower circular rail ( 26 B) when said vessel sags in response to vertical force acting on said turret.