Patent ID: 7997947

Claim:
System of a hydrocarbon transfer buoy ( 2 , 82 ) and a vessel ( 3 , 95 ), the buoy having a length (H 1 , H 2 , H 3 ) of at least 50 m and a length-to-width ratio of at least 10:1, and comprising a submerged buoyancy member ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 85 ) having a length of at least 30 m and being situated at a depth of at least 10 m below water level, an open support frame ( 10 , 96 ) being connected to the top of the buoyancy member ( 5 , 6 , 7 , 85 ) and projecting above water level, the support frame carrying a support deck ( 11 , 91 ) and a mooring buoy connector ( 36 , 99 , 102 ) for attaching to a mooring arm connector ( 21 , 100 ) of the vessel, which mooring arm connector ( 21 , 100 ) is situated on an arm ( 4 , 92 ) projecting outboard from the vessel's hull ( 8 , 95 ), the buoy being anchored to the sea bed via anchor lines ( 23 , 24 , 83 , 84 ) which extend at an angle to a vertical direction, at least one hydrocarbon riser ( 12 , 13 , 93 , 94 ) being attached to the buoy, the buoyancy member being connected to the sea bed via at least one substantially vertical taut tendon ( 31 , 32 , 33 , 86 , 87 ), the riser ( 12 , 13 , 93 , 94 ) having a length of at least 500 m, and comprising a steel riser part attached to the buoy, the riser extending up to the mooring buoy connector ( 36 , 99 , 102 ) and being closable by a valve ( 16 , 17 , 88 ), the riser at its end comprising a connecting member ( 50 , 51 , 115 , 116 , 117 ) for releasably attaching to a duct ( 55 , 56 , 126 , 127 , 128 ) on the mooring arm connector ( 21 , 100 ).