Patent ID: 7524143

Claim:
A protective system for protection of a loading system for transfer of hydrocarbons between an installation on the sea bed and a floating vessel in areas exposed to drifting ice, comprising: a submerged turret loading arrangement including a submerged loading/unloading buoy configured for introduction and releasable securement in a downwardly open receiving space in the vessel, a flexible riser extending from the sea bed installation to the buoy, and configured to be securely connected to a corresponding pipe on board the vessel, and a plurality of mooring lines connected to the buoy and extending outwards therefrom, the buoy and the mooring lines serving as an anchoring system allowing the vessel to weathervane, wherein the protective system further comprises: a flexible riser protection configured to protect the riser from impacts by yielding to the force imposed by the ice when the riser is in an extended, load transferring mode, the upper end of the riser protection being attached to the loading/unloading buoy and the riser protection surrounding the riser, and a protective structure of the installation located in or on the sea bed for protection of the riser when in a retracted position in a non-operative mode, wherein the protective structure contains means for storing the riser in a protected position when disconnected and retracted from the vessel.