Abstract: Systems and methods for fluid transfer between a first vessel and a second vessel that are separated by a body of water. The systems and methods may include extending a deployed portion of a fluid conduit assembly between the first vessel and the second vessel. The fluid conduit assembly includes a fluid conduit and also may include a fluid conduit support; and, in the deployed portion, the fluid conduit may be suspended from and supported by the fluid conduit support. The systems and methods also may include the use of a conformation control assembly to automatically and/or dynamically adjust the length of the deployed portion to regulate a conformation of the deployed portion.

Abstract: Provided are butt welds and methods of making such butt welds using a combination of fusion root welding and friction stir welding to yield welds with decreased propensity for dropout during friction stir welding without the need for a back-up support plate. In one form of the present disclosure, the butt weld includes: two or more abutting structural steel components beveled on faying surfaces on one side of the components to form a suitably shaped fusion root weld groove and unbeveled on faying surfaces on the opposite side of the components and interconnected with a first fusion root weld on the beveled side of the components and a second friction stir weld on the unbeveled side of the components, wherein the first fusion root weld has a width ranging from 7 mm to 30 mm, a penetration depth ranging from 2 mm to 20 mm, and an overfill ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm, and wherein the stir zone of the second friction stir weld penetrates the first fusion root weld.

Abstract: Provided are butt welds and methods of making such butt welds using a combination of fusion root welding and friction stir welding to yield welds with decreased propensity for dropout during friction stir welding without the need for a back-up support plate. In one form of the present disclosure, the butt weld includes: two or more abutting structural steel components beveled on faying surfaces on one side of the components to form a suitably shaped fusion root weld groove and unbeveled on faying surfaces on the opposite side of the components and interconnected with a first fusion root weld on the beveled side of the components and a second friction stir weld on the unbeveled side of the components, wherein the first fusion root weld has a width ranging from 7 mm to 30 mm, a penetration depth ranging from 2 mm to 20 mm, and an overfill ranging from 2 mm to 5 mm, and wherein the stir zone of the second friction stir weld penetrates the first fusion root weld.