Patent ID: 7770532

Claim:
An offshore fluid transfer system which includes a floating unit, a connection buoy ( 16 ), or buoyant connector, that is connectable and disconnectable from the floating unit, a plurality of risers that each extends from the sea floor to the connection buoy, and a plurality of mooring line assemblies that each extends from the sea floor to the connection buoy, including: a plurality of mooring buoys ( 50 ) each lying closer to the sea surface than to the sea floor, each mooring line having a lower mooring line part ( 44 ) that extends up from the sea floor to one of said mooring buoys and an upper mooring line part ( 56 ) that extends primarily horizontally from the corresponding mooring line buoy to said connection buoy; a riser buoy ( 102 ) lying closer to the sea surface than the sea floor and that is buoyant in water for supporting a portion of each of said risers, said risers each having a riser lower part that extends from the sea floor to said riser buoy, and having a riser upper part that extends from the riser buoy to the connection buoy, said connection buoy being disconnectable from said floating unit and then supports the upper ends of said mooring lines and of said risers.