Abstract: A coupling system for fluid transfer between a bow area of an elongated vessel and a hydrocarbon delivery installation at open sea. The system includes a support frame for suspending the system to the vessel and a fluid receiving tube segment fixed to the support frame comprising a coupling device arranged at a first end of the tube segment and that establishes a leakage free coupling with a hose valve. The system further includes a remotely controlled drive system that simultaneously exerts a transverse force generating pendulum movements of the coupling device in the transverse plane, a longitudinal force generating pendulum movements of the coupling device in a longitudinal plane, and a rotational force generating rotational movement of at least part of the coupling device iteratively adjusting the rotational position of the at least part of the coupling device by regulating the rotational force.

Abstract: A chain guide for a chain winch and a chain winch which includes such a chain guide. The chain guide is rotatable about a first rotational axis and adapted for support of a chain including chain links having at least two different sizes where a first chain portion includes a plurality of first chain links and a second chain portion includes a plurality of second chain links where the size of the second chain links is larger than the size of the first chain links. The chain guide includes at least one first chain support, which is adapted for support of at least the first chain links of the first chain portion, and at least one second chain support, which is adapted for support of at least the second chain links of the second chain portion.

Abstract: A coupling system for fluid transfer between a bow area of an elongated vessel and a hydrocarbon delivery installation at open sea. The system includes a support frame for suspending the system to the vessel and a fluid receiving tube segment fixed to the support frame comprising a coupling device arranged at a first end of the tube segment and that establishes a leakage free coupling with a hose valve. The system further includes a remotely controlled drive system that simultaneously exerts a transverse force generating pendulum movements of the coupling device in the transverse plane, a longitudinal force generating pendulum movements of the coupling device in a longitudinal plane, and a rotational force generating rotational movement of at least part of the coupling device iteratively adjusting the rotational position of the at least part of the coupling device by regulating the rotational force.

Abstract: A bend restrictor prevents an elongated member from reaching a bending radius less than an allowable bending radius of the elongated member. A connecting arrangement is positioned at an end portion of the bend restrictor and is provided to engage the elongated member in a fixed manner. The bend restrictor has an essentially open faced contact area including a longitudinal extent providing support for the elongated member in its longitudinal direction and a transverse extent providing support for the elongated member in its transverse direction. The bend restrictor has a retainer arranged for the bend restrictor to follow the longitudinal bending of the elongated member. The bend restrictor includes plural bend restrictor sections where two and two bend restrictor sections are connected in a hinged joint arranged for allowing angular displacement to occur within a preset range as a response to the longitudinal bending of the elongated member.

Abstract: A chain guide for a chain winch and a chain winch which includes such a chain guide. The chain guide is rotatable about a first rotational axis and adapted for support of a chain including chain links having at least two different sizes where a first chain portion includes a plurality of first chain links and a second chain portion includes a plurality of second chain links where the size of the second chain links is larger than the size of the first chain links. The chain guide includes at least one first chain support, which is adapted for support of at least the first chain links of the first chain portion, and at least one second chain support, which is adapted for support of at least the second chain links of the second chain portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for guiding multi-diameter cables onto a drum by means of a cable guide device. The cable guide device includes a guiding means translationally moveable along a linear actuator, and the guiding means has an opening with a minimum spacing in a direction along the orientation of the linear actuator that is larger than the maximum cross-section of a cable to be guided inside the opening of the guiding means. Further, a cable, during use, is, most of its operational time, contacting at least one of at least two barriers, and the barriers constitute at least part of a confinement of the opening in the orientation of the linear actuator. The cable guide ensures rapid contact recuperation after loss or near loss of cable contact on one or more of the at least two barriers.

Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a first coupling housing and a second coupling housing. The first coupling housing has a guiding element extending from the first coupling housing and having a free end at a distance (h) from the first coupling housing central axis (a-a). The second coupling housing has a receptacle for the guiding element and pull-in means for pulling the guiding element into the receptacle, said pull-in means being connected to the guiding element free end. The invention allows the first coupling housing to be pulled towards the receptacle at an angle which is not coincident with the central axis (a-a), and when the guiding element is in place inside the receptacle, the first coupling housing central axis (a-a) and the central axis (b-b) of the second coupling housing are aligned and coincident, and the two housings are rotationally aligned.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for guiding multi-diameter cables onto a drum by means of a cable guide device. The cable guide device includes a guiding means translationally moveable along a linear actuator, and the guiding means has an opening with a minimum spacing in a direction along the orientation of the linear actuator that is larger than the maximum cross-section of a cable to be guided inside the opening of the guiding means. Further, a cable, during use, is, most of its operational time, contacting at least one of at least two barriers, and the barriers constitute at least part of a confinement of the opening in the orientation of the linear actuator. The cable guide ensures rapid contact recuperation after loss or near loss of cable contact on one or more of the at least two barriers.

Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a first coupling housing (12) and a second coupling housing (20) is provided. The first coupling housing (12) comprises a guiding element (101; 201; 301a-e; 401b,c; 501b-d) extending from the first coupling housing (12) and having a free end (102; 202; P) at a distance (h) from the first coupling housing central axis (a-a). The second coupling housing (20) comprises a receptacle (123; 223; 323; 423; 523) for the guiding element and pull-in means (8) for pulling the guiding element into the receptacle, said pull-in means (8) being connected to the guiding element free end (102; 202; P). The invention allows the first coupling housing to be pulled towards the receptacle at an angle which is not coincident with the central axis (a-a), and when the guiding element is in place inside the receptacle, the first coupling housing central axis (a-a) and the central axis (b-b) of the second coupling housing are aligned and coincident, and the two housings are rotationally aligned.

Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a first coupling housing and a second coupling housing. The first coupling housing has a guiding element extending from the first coupling housing and having a free end at a distance (h) from the first coupling housing central axis (a-a). The second coupling housing has a receptacle for the guiding element and pull-in means for pulling the guiding element into the receptacle, said pull-in means being connected to the guiding element free end. The invention allows the first coupling housing to be pulled towards the receptacle at an angle which is not coincident with the central axis (a-a), and when the guiding element is in place inside the receptacle, the first coupling housing central axis (a-a) and the central axis (b-b) of the second coupling housing are aligned and coincident, and the two housings are rotationally aligned.

Abstract: A mooring arrangement for a semi-submersible offshore structure having an outer hull with a lower (2) and an upper (1) water line, comprises a mooring line (4) extending from a fixed point on the seabed to an attachment on the offshore structure, at least a portion of the mooring line closest to the attachment being a chain. The attachment comprises a hawse (10) and a chain stopper (22) located below the lower water line. The chain stopper (22) is located in a dry space inside the outer hull and is sealingly attached at one end to the hawse and at the opposite end to a chain pipe (9) which extends inside the hull to above the upper water line. The hawse extends outwards from the chain stopper and is sealed to an opening in the outer hull.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon loading hose (4) for connection between a GBS (1) and a shuttle hydrocarbon transport vessel (2), arranged in water (W) and at a distance apart, comprises buoyancy means (5) in its mid region and at least one buoyancy element (7a, b) in a free end region.

Abstract: A coupling device for connecting a first coupling housing (12) and a second coupling housing (20) is provided. The first coupling housing (12) comprises a guiding element (101; 201; 301a-e; 401b,c; 501b-d) extending from the first coupling housing (12) and having a free end (102; 202; P) at a distance (h) from the first coupling housing central axis (a-a). The second coupling housing (20) comprises a receptacle (123; 223; 323; 423; 523) for the guiding element and pull-in means (8) for pulling the guiding element into the receptacle, said pull-in means (8) being connected to the guiding element free end (102; 202; P). The invention allows the first coupling housing to be pulled towards the receptacle at an angle which is not coincident with the central axis (a-a), and when the guiding element is in place inside the receptacle, the first coupling housing central axis (a-a) and the central axis (b-b) of the second coupling housing are aligned and coincident, and the two housings are rotationally aligned.

Abstract: A mooring arrangement for a semi-submersible offshore structure having an outer hull with a lower (2) and an upper (1) water line, comprises a mooring line (4) extending from a fixed point on the seabed to an attachment on the off-shore structure, at least a portion of the mooring line closest to the attachment being a chain. The attachment comprises a hawse (10) and a chain stopper (22) located below the lower water line. The chain stopper (22) is located in a dry space inside the outer hull and is sealingly attached at one end to the hawse and at the opposite end to a chain pipe (9) which extends inside the hull to above the upper water line. The hawse extends outwards from the chain stopper and is sealed to an opening in the outer hull.

Abstract: A device for heaving in and paying out a chain by means of a hydraulic cylinder which by means of gripping devices engages the chain and lifts or lowers the chain a given distance while the locking device is deactivated. The structure comprises a frame provided with a lower locking device, a chain wheel guiding the chain, and an upper gripping device mounted in a bracket which is connected to the rod head of the hydraulic cylinder and the central axle of the chain wheel. The lower locking device is formed by two pawls which are pivotally mounted on separate pins. These pawls engage under a chain link and hold it securely. The upper gripping device is formed by at least one pawl which, together with a chain wheel having pockets for the chain, engages under a vertical chain link.

Abstract: A device for heaving in and paying out a chain by means of a hydraulic cylinder (5) which by means of gripping devices (2) engages the chain (11, 12) and lifts or lowers the chain a given distance while the locking device (10) is deactivated. The structure comprises a frame (8) provided with a lower locking device (10), a chain wheel (6) guiding the chain (11, 12), and an upper gripping device (2) mounted in a bracket (1) which is connected to the rod head of the hydraulic cylinder (5) and the central axle (7) of the chain wheel (6). The lower locking device is formed by two pawls (10) which are pivotally mounted on separate pins. These pawls (10) engage under a chain link (12) and hold it securely. The upper gripping device is formed by at least one pawl (2) which, together with a chain wheel (6) having pockets for the chain (11,12), engages under a vertical chain link (11) .