Patent ID: 7438617

Claim:
Cryogenic transfer system ( 1 ) comprising: a cryogenic fluid storage ( 2 ), an off shore transfer structure ( 3 , 30 , 40 ) comprising a base ( 18 , 41 ) and a reel means ( 17 ) rotatable relative to said base around an axis ( 10 ), a transfer duct ( 13 , 14 ) extending from the fluid storage ( 2 ) to the transfer structure ( 3 , 30 , 40 ), a flexible hose ( 12 ) windable around the reel means ( 17 ), connectable with a first end ( 20 ) to the duct ( 13 , 14 ), and with a second end ( 23 ) connectable to a floating structure ( 6 ), wherein the transfer duct comprises a first and a second duct ( 13 , 14 ), each duct having an end part ( 22 , 22 ′) near the transfer structure ( 3 , 30 , 40 ), the flexible hose ( 12 ) being with the first end ( 20 ) connectable to the end part ( 22 ) of at least one of the first and the second duct, wherein in a cooling configuration, the flexible hose ( 12 ) is wound on the reel means ( 17 ), the reel means being situated above water level ( 24 ) and rotatable around a vertical axis ( 10 ), an interconnecting duct section ( 12 , 16 ) extending between the end parts ( 22 , 22 ′) of the first and second ducts ( 13 , 14 ), and wherein in a transfer configuration, the flexible hose ( 12 ) is at least partly unwound from the reel means ( 17 ) and is, with a second end ( 23 ), connectable to the floating structure ( 6 ), the transfer structure ( 3 , 30 , 40 ) comprising lifting means ( 36 , 43 , 58 , 59 ) for lowering the flexible hose ( 12 ) towards water level ( 24 ) in the transfer configuration and for raising the hose ( 12 ) away from water level for placing the flexible hose in the cooling configuration.