Abstract: A disconnect/connect mooring system for a turret moored drillship is disclosed including an anchor, a first mooring line connected at one end to the anchor, including a length of wire rope and a mooring line chain, a submersible buoy connected to the mooring line chain and a second mooring line connected to the buoy chain and extending to the turret moored drillship.

Abstract: A variable bearing assembly (40) for a jack-up platform having a hull (12), at least one support leg (14) and jack means (16) to effect relative vertical movement between the hull and support leg wherein the variable bearing assembly (40) includes; a bearing pad or foot (42) surrounding the distal end of the support leg (14) and a lost motion assembly (62, 68) interconnecting the bearing pad and support leg such that the support leg may vertically penetrate the seabed to refusal while the bearing pad is essentially supported on the surface of the seabed.