Patent ID: 7421967

Claim:
A mooring system for securing a floating vessel to a sea floor, the mooring system comprising: a plurality of mooring legs, at least one of which comprises separate first and second mooring lines; wherein one of the first and second mooring lines comprises a first end which is connected to the vessel and the other of the first and second mooring lines comprises a first end which is secured to the sea floor; a connection and tensioning device which includes: a body; a bore which extends through the body; means for adjustably securing the first mooring line to the body; and means for connecting a second end of the second mooring line to the body; wherein in use a second end of the first mooring line is inserted into the bore and the first mooring line is pulled through the bore while the body is subject to an opposing pulling force; wherein once the first mooring line is pulled through the bore a desired distance, the adjustable securing means maintains the first mooring line in position relative to the body to thereby secure the vessel to the sea floor; a first pull line which is connected to the second end of the first mooring line; a first pulling vessel to which the first pull line is connected; wherein the first mooring line is pulled through the bore by the first pulling vessel; means for generating the opposing pulling force; a second pull line which is connected to the body; and a second pulling vessel to which the second pull line is connected; wherein the opposing pulling force is exerted by the second pulling vessel.