Abstract: A multiport swivel joint suitable for use in loading a tanker at an off-shore mooring terminal comprises a plurality of toroidal or doughnut-shaped conduits which are horizontally arranged and vertically spaced along a common vertical axis. Each toroidal conduit comprises an inner fixed section and an outer section which is arranged for rotation about the common axis, with a suitable rotary seal between the inner stationary and the outer rotatable sections of the toroidal conduit. Inlet connections are made for each fluid stream to a separate one of the inner stationary sections, while the corresponding outlet connections are made at the rotatable outer sections, each of which communicates with and rotates with the tanker about the mooring terminal.

Abstract: In combination, a tank and a support system located about a circular horizontal section of the tank, the support system comprising a plurality of essentially identical composite supporting units spaced around the circular horizontal section, with each said supporting unit being joined to the tank and to a base, each supporting unit having a vertical key with radial contact faces located between and in slidable contact with a pair of opposing vertical faces of a keyway, each supporting unit having a vertical coupling comprising a sleeve with a cylindrical element located therein, with either the sleeve or the cylindrical element being stationary and the other being rotatable about a vertical axis during assembly of the support system, the vertical key or the keyway being joined to whichever of the sleeve or the cylindrical element is rotatable during assembly and the other of the vertical key or keyway is joined to the base.