Abstract: The invention relates to a floating lowering and lifting device having a floating structure and a lifting unit lowerable from the floating structure towards the sea bed, the lifting unit having a chamber with at least one gas-inlet opening in its wall and an equalization opening in its wall, a gas supply mechanism being connected to the gas inlet opening, the device having a controller connected to the gas supply mechanism for controlling a gas supply rate to the chamber. The chamber has a releasable coupling member for releasably attaching to a load and is connected via a lifting cable to a take up device on the floating structure for lengthening and shortening the lifting cable.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating lowering and lifting device having a floating structure and a lifting unit lowerable from the floating structure towards the sea bed, the lifting unit having a chamber with at least one gas-inlet opening in its wall and an equalization opening in its wall, a gas supply means being connected to the gas inlet opening, the device having a controller connected to the gas supply means for controlling a gas supply rate to the chamber. The chamber has a releasable coupling member for releasably attaching to a load and is connected via a lifting cable to a take up device on the floating structure for lengthening and shortening the lifting cable.

Abstract: A system of the type wherein LNG from a tanker (30) is offloaded to a moored vessel (16), which has a regas unit (36) which heats the LNG to transform it into gaseous hydrocarbons, and which has a pump unit (38) that pumps the gaseous hydrocarbons to a consumer (46) such as an onshore gas distribution facility. The system is constructed to enable more rapid tanker unloading so the tanker is released earlier to sail back to a pickup location. The moored vessel has a thermally insulated LNG storage facility such as LNG tanks (100), with a capacity to store all LNG not regassed during offloading of the tanker. The regas unit has sufficient capacity to regas all LNG received in one tanker load, before the tanker returns with another load of LNG.

Abstract: A system for offloading LNG (liquified natural gas) from a tanker (26) in shallow waters, for regasing, or heating the offloaded LNG to produce gaseous hydrocarbons, or gas, for pressurizing the gas, and for flowing the gas to an onshore station (56), includes a structure that is fixed to the sea floor and projects above the sea surface and aids in mooring the tanker. In one system, the structure that is fixed to the sea floor is a largely cylindrical tower (12) with a mooring yoke (20) rotatably mounted on its upper end. A floating structure (14) such as a barge that weathervanes, has a bow end pivotally connected to a distal end of the yoke, so the barge is held close to the tower but can drift around the tower with changing winds, waves and currents. The tanker is moored to the barge so the barge and tanker form a combination that weathervanes as a combination.

Abstract: A system is described for offloading LNG (liquified natural gas) from a tanker for eventual delivery to an onshore gas distribution station. The system includes a floating structure that floats at the sea surface and that is connected to the tanker so they weathervane together. The floating structure carries a regas unit that heats the LNG to produce gas, and delivers the gas through a riser to an underground cavern that stores the gas. Gas from the cavern is delivered through a seafloor pipeline to an onshore gas distribution station. The regas unit includes water pumps and other equipment that is powered by electricity. The electricity can be obtained from an electric generator on the floating structure, with surplus electricity delivered through a sea floor electric power line that extends along the sea floor to an onshore electricity distribution facility.