Abstract: The invention relates to a suspension device for an oil conveying pipe or hose for loading or unloading of a vessel. The device is cardanic, and during unloading the oil is conducted towards the cardan center from one or both sides along a horizontal axis (A--A) through one or more pipe swivels (24) and possibly also bearings (10,10'). Thereafter, the oil flow is diverted and is conducted back towards the cardan center along the second cardan axis (B--B). After having passed the next pipe swivel (5) the oil flow is diverted to the third cardan axis (C--C), and in order to relieve this pipe swivel (5) bearings (3,3',4,6) may be arranged coaxially with the pipe swivel (5). The pipe bend (2) is in this case suspended in brackets (3,3') attached to a cylindrical load cell (4), which in turn pivots in a beam structure (6,8,8') which is an integral part of the pipe structure (9, 14, 13, 9'14',13') and which pivots about the first cardan axis (A-- A). The load cell (4) is able to register the hose tension.

Abstract: A turret device (12) which is anchored to the ocean floor, and a floating structure (1) which is supporting the turret device and can swing freely around it. The turret comprises a lower radial sliding bearing (4,5), with relatively small width and large diameter and an upper spherical axial bearing (2,3) with relatively small diameter. The rest of the turret can be disconnected from the upper spherical bearing (2,3) by a multiple thread, non-selflocking screw connection between a sleeve (35) and a hub (37), which in connected position are locked by a dog clutch (36). When disconnected, the turret will sink to a stable equilibrium a distance below the ocean surface. The turret device can be fitted forward of the bow of a ship (1), or between the bow and midship.

Abstract: A device for reducing tensile forces occurring in a mooring hawser (2) when a ship, particularly a tanker, is moored to a loading buoy having a rotatable top (11). The hawser is attached to a linkage (4, 5, 6, 7) which also is pivotably connected (13, 14) to the rotatable buoy top (11). One or more torsion bars (8, 9) has one of their ends non-rotatably attached to one or more of the links (4, 5, 6, 7) in the linkage, and the other end of the torsion bars (8, 9) is fixed against rotation.

Abstract: An anchor is stowed entirely within a recess in the bottom of a vessel, by means of a fairlead within the recess comprising a sheave supported in a bracket pivotable about a vertical axis in the center of the recess, along which axis the pull of the anchor winch occurs; the bracket has a hollow space for receiving the shank of the anchor, and a spring-based roller holds the anchor line against the sheave. The lower part of the bracket has guide edges extending completely around the pivot axis except for a side portion corresponding to the width of the sheave for automatically guiding the anchor line onto the sheave.

Abstract: In a method of hauling-in a rope and a chain interconnected by a coupling link, using a winch for the rope and a wildcat for the chain, the rope is hauled-in on the winch until the coupling link has moved past the wildcat, whereafter the chain is locked, and the winch is reversed to dump the chain on the wildcat and make it form a sling on the side leading to the chain box, whereafter the wildcat is started and the chain is unlocked.

Abstract: The invention relates to a linking member for connecting a rope and a chain to provide a combined line, e.g. for use as a mooring line for semi-submersible drilling rigs. The linking member comprises a shell, an intermediate member pivotably mounted within the shell, and a rope attachment sleeve pivotably mounted in the intermediate member, the rope extending from the sleeve out of one end of the shell. Moreover, the shell is constructed at its other end with a loop or bar for engagement with the first link of the chain.