Patent ID: 7107925

Claim:
Cryogenic fluid offloading system comprising: an offshore mooring structure ( 4 , 5 , 34 , 35 , 51 , 50 , 61 , 62 , 72 , 73 , 80 ), connected to the seabed, a connecting member ( 10 , 26 , 105 , 105 ′) that is attached to the mooring structure with a first end ( 23 , 115 , 115 ′) to be displaceable around a vertical axis ( 9 , 39 , 59 , 69 , 79 , 89 , 99 , 117 , 159 ), a tanker vessel ( 2 ) for loading cryogenic fluid at a first location, transporting it and off loading the cryogenic fluid at a second location, the tanker vessel being connected to the mooring structure via the connecting member, a first fluid duct ( 16 ) connected to the mooring structure, for supplying fluid away from the mooring structure, a second fluid duct ( 14 , 131 , 136 , 139 , 150 , 152 ), connected to the mooring structure, for transporting fluid coming from the tanker vessel ( 2 ), to the mooring structure, a processing unit ( 13 ) for receiving a cryogenic fluid in liquid phase from the tanker vessel ( 2 ) and for supplying a gaseous phase of the fluid to the first fluid duct ( 16 ), and fluid supply means ( 31 ) for controlling supply of cryogenic fluid from the tanker vessel ( 12 ) to the processing unit ( 13 ), characterised in that the connecting member ( 10 , 26 , 105 , 105 ′) is connected with a second end ( 22 , 113 ) to the tanker vessel ( 2 ), the vertical axis ( 9 , 39 , 59 , 69 , 79 , 89 , 99 , 117 , 159 ) being at least substantially in line with the tanker vessel ( 2 ) to allow displacement of the tanker vessel around the vertical axis, control means ( 30 , 36 , 37 ) being provided for opening and closing of the fluid supply means ( 31 ) on the basis of a predetermined supply of the gaseous phase through the first fluid duct ( 16 ).