Patent ID: 6923225

Claim:
Hydrocarbon transfer system ( 1 ) comprising a processing vessel ( 8 ) and a tanker vessel ( 7 ), having a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, the tanker vessel being moored to the processing vessel via a mooring device comprising a support structure ( 2 ) on one of the vessels, a substantially vertical first arm ( 4 , 4 ′) suspended from the support structure ( 2 ) and a substantially horizontal second arm ( 5 , 5 ′) with a coupling end part ( 25 ) which is connected to the other of the vessels via a mechanical connector ( 13 ) comprising an articulation joint allowing rotation of the second arm ( 5 , 5 ′) relative to the connector ( 13 ) around a longitudinal axis ( 27 ), a transverse axis ( 28 ) and a vertical axis ( 26 ), the second arm ( 5 , 5 ′) being with a restoring end part ( 15 , 15 ′) connected to a lower end part of the first arm ( 4 , 4 ′) in an articulation joint ( 16 , 16 ′) allowing rotation of the second arm around a transverse axis ( 18 ), the restoring end part of the second arm and/or the end part of the first arm comprising a counterweight ( 6 , 6 ′), characterized in that a fluid transfer line ( 35 , 36 , 39 , 40 ) is connected to and supported by the mooring device comprising a first transfer line part ( 35 , 36 ) extending along the first arm ( 4 , 4 ′) and a second transfer line part ( 39 , 40 ) extending along the second arm ( 5 , 5 ′), the second transfer line part ( 35 , 36 ) being connected to the second arm at or near the mechanical connector ( 13 ) and comprising a fluid connector ( 43 ), wherein the fluid transfer line is supported at or near the support structure ( 2 ) and at or near the mechanical connector ( 13 ), the fluid transfer line not being rigidly connected to the first and second arms ( 4 , 4 ′, 5 , 5 ′) at or near the lower end part and the restoring end part ( 15 , 15 ′) of said arms.