Patents Assigned to Bluewater Energy Services BV
  • Patent number: 7426897
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for mooring a floating vessel in open sea, using a semi submersible floating dock. The apparatus is particularly suitable for tankers carrying liquid natural gas in cryogenic form which can be a dangerous substance to handle and hence offshore terminals are preferred. The apparatus comprises a semi-submersible floating dock (1) for receiving a vessel (10) and a single point mooring system (5), with a rigid arm (3) between the two. The dock (1) is pivotally connected to the arm (3). The single point mooring system (5) comprises a mooring buoy (17) secured to the seabed by a compliant anchoring system such as a number of catenary anchor legs (15). This allows vertical movement of the mooring buoy (17) but constrains the movement to a relatively small column of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Bluewater Energy Services BV
    Inventor: Jacob De Baan
  • Patent number: 7322308
    Abstract: A mooring apparatus for mooring first and second vessels, (1, 7) together in a heavy seaway ofFshore is described. The apparatus is for tandem mooring using soft yoke technology. The apparatus consists of a rigid arm (2) with a longitudinal axis and first and second ends. The arm is mountable to a first vessel (1) so that its longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to that of the vessel (1) and is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis (3) which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is located between the first and second ends. A tension member (4) is pivotally mounted to the second end of the arm (2) and can be connected to the second vessel (7). A ballast weight (8) is moveably mounted on the arm (2) and can be moved longitudinally along the arm by a drive means (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bluewater Energy Services BV
    Inventor: Jacob De Baan
  • Patent number: 7182660
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring fluid between first and second floating vessels is described, comprising a submerged rigid transfer arm defining a fluid conduit for receiving fluid from a first vessel, a first end of the arm attached to the first floating vessel so as to allow the arm to pivot about at least two axes, and loading apparatus located at the second end of the arm and attachable to the second floating vessel for transferring fluid from the fluid conduit to the floating vessel. The apparatus is provided with draught regulating means operable to increase and decrease the draught of at least a part of the apparatus, and a support structure, such as an outrigger arm with a fender system projecting from the rigid arm and adapted to brace the apparatus against the second floating vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Bluewater Energy Services BV
    Inventor: Jacob De Baan
  • Patent number: 7179144
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring cryogenic fluid from a first vessel (5) to a second vessel in an offshore environment. The apparatus includes a semi-submersible floating dock with variable buoyancy structure (14, 15) operable to alter the draught of the dock, enabling it to be lowered in the water and raised again to engage the dock with the second vessel. A single point mooring system (3) is attached to the dock. At least one rigid cryogenic pipeline is attached between the first vessel and the dock via flexible connections. A structure (12) for transferring cryogenic fluid from the dock to the second vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Bluewater Energy Services BV
    Inventor: Jacob De Baan
  • Patent number: 6915753
    Abstract: Apparatus is described for mooring a floating vessel (10) particularly suited to a tanker transporting liquid natural gas which needs to be moored in an offshore environment. The apparatus comprises a semi-submersible floating dock (1) a single point mooring system (5) and at least one rigid arm (3). The arm (3) is pivotally attached to one of the dock (1) and the single point mooring system (5). The arm (3) is suspended from the other of the dock (1) and the single point mooring system (5) by at least one tension member (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Bluewater Energy Services BV
    Inventor: Jacob De Baan
  • Patent number: 6854408
    Abstract: An apparatus as described for mooring to floating vessels (10, 12) side-by-side. The first vessel (10) is moored to the seabed by a single point mooring system (14). The apparatus comprises an arm (20) with proximal and distal ends. The arm (20) is mountable on the first vessel (10) for rotation about a vertical axis and the distal end projects outwardly from the first vessel (10) in use. A substantially inelastic mooring line (24) is attached to the distal end of the arm (20) and is securable to the second vessel (12). The resilient means (26, 28) is operable to allow limited rotation of the arm (20) about the axis in the first direction in response to tension in the mooring line (24) which exceeds a pre-determined value. The resilient means automatically restores the arm (20) to its former position upon reduction of the tension below the predetermined value. The arm (20) is freely rotatable about the axis in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Bluewater Energy Services BV
    Inventor: Jacob De Baan
  • Publication number: 20040115005
    Abstract: Apparatus is described for transferring cryogenic fluid from a first vessel (5) to a second vessel in an offshore environment. The apparatus comprises a partly submerged floating dock (1) with variable buoyancy means (14, 15) operable to alter the draught of the dock (1), enabling it to be lowered in the water and raised again to engage the dock (1) with the second vessel. A single point mooring system (3) is attached to the dock (1) via flexible connections means (11,19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: BLUEWATER ENERGY SERVICES BV
    Inventor: Jacob De Baan