Abstract: In the context of the handling of cryogenic materials, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG), in marine loading systems, coaxial ducting links various plant sites of the system to provide in the one link both liquid transfer ducting and a return ducting for vapor of the liquid. Return of this vapor in the outer ducting helps thermally insulate the liquid in the inner ducting from the surrounding. The ducting is made up of rigid coaxial pipes swivellably connected together by swivel joints having no rolling bearing parts.Two particular arrangements of system are shown in one of which satellite loading buoys are linked to a main storage tank; in the other a main storage tank is fed with liquefied gas from a well head tower and has tanker-loading equipment itself. Loading equipment for a tanker may be comprised in the circuit which includes the coaxial ducting.

Abstract: A mooring buoy for tanker ships is provided with vertical flow channels through which fluids may be passed from an undersea pipeline to a buoy-to-ship hose. Inlets to the flow channels are provided at their lower ends and outlets at their upper ends. To enable a ship moored to the buoy to swing around the buoy during loading, one or more flow channels are provided around a central flow channel, the outlets from each of these flow channels being rotatable about the axis of the central flow channel.