Abstract: In a three row, roller bearing assembly coupling a vessel to a turret, the bearing assembly having a support row assembly disposed between an inner ring connected to the turret and outer rings connected to the vessel, a method and arrangement for in situ remediation of a damaged support row assembly. Couplers are secured to existing inner ring stud bolts. A continuous bearing ring below the couplers is assembled and a support bearing arrangement is installed between the couplers and the bearing ring. Reaction plates are mounted to the vessel. Each reaction plate has a jack screw which is positioned directly below the bearing ring. The jack screws are turned to elevate the bearing ring and form a flat surface for support of the support bearing arrangement. The turret axial load is transferred from the damaged support row assembly to the support bearing arrangement.

Abstract: A system and method for mating equipment offshore to a spar buoy secured to a foundation without the use of a crane barge. The system comprises a floating vessel having a pair of forks defining a slot. A gimbal table, defining an opening, is positioned within the slot and connected to the vessel and a locking collar is mounted to the gimbal table. A mating member is attached to the spar buoy. The vessel is maneuvered to bring the spar buoy within the gimbal table opening. With the spar buoy positioned within the gimbal table opening, the locking collar is arranged and designed to releasably attach to the mating member of the spar buoy and restrict relative vertical motion between the spar buoy and the vessel while the gimbal table allows the floating vessel to roll and pitch without driving these motions into the spar buoy.

Abstract: In an offshore system having a floating vessel, a turret within a hull opening, and a bearing assembly including a support row assembly axially transferring the weight of the turret to the vessel and allowing the vessel to weather vane about the turret, a method and arrangement for in situ remediation of a damaged support row assembly. An outer upper ring is removed from an outer lower ring and a support ring is installed on the outer lower ring. A lower race and support rollers of a remedial support row assembly are installed on the support ring. A reaction ring is positioned above the support ring and connected to an inner ring secured to the turret. The inner ring is axially displaced relative to the outer lower ring and the turret axial loading is transferred to the remedial support row assembly between the support ring and the reaction ring.

Abstract: An arrangement for connecting a turret within a vessel opening such that the vessel is capable of rotation about a longitudinal axis of the turret. The arrangement including an inner ring assembly coupled to the turret and an outer ring assembly coupled to the vessel in concentric alignment with the inner ring assembly. A support row assembly connected between the inner and outer ring assemblies allows rotation of the outer ring assembly with respect to the inner ring assembly and axially transfers the weight of the turret to the vessel. A radial row assembly is coaxially disposed about the longitudinal axis between the inner and outer ring assemblies. A centralizer is disposed between the inner and outer ring assemblies. During normal operation the radial row assembly transfers any radial load from the vessel to the turret and the centralizer has a radial clearance with the outer ring assembly.

Abstract: A disconnectable rigid mooring system for attaching a ship to a tower structure includes a yoke releasably connected to a yoke head. The yoke head is pivotally attached to the tower structure and the yoke is arranged and designed to attach to the ship. The yoke and the yoke head each have a mating connector portion arranged and designed to connect the yoke to the yoke head. When the connector portions are engaged and locked, the yoke is securely attached to the yoke head, allowing a rigid interconnection between the ship and the tower structure. During normal operations and in normal sea states, the yoke remains connected to the yoke head pivotally attached to the tower structure. In the event of predicted abnormally high sea states, the yoke may be disconnected from the yoke head by the ship and be secured to the ship and removed prior to the abnormally high sea state event.

Abstract: A disconnectable rigid mooring system for attaching a ship to a tower structure includes a yoke releasably connected to a yoke head. The yoke head is pivotally attached to the tower structure and the yoke is arranged and designed to attach to the ship. The yoke and the yoke head each have a mating connector portion arranged and designed to connect the yoke to the yoke head. When the connector portions are engaged and locked, the yoke is securely attached to the yoke head, allowing a rigid interconnection between the ship and the tower structure. During normal operations and in normal sea states, the yoke remains connected to the yoke head pivotally attached to the tower structure. In the event of predicted abnormally high sea states, the yoke may be disconnected from the yoke head by the ship and be secured to the ship and removed prior to the abnormally high sea state event.

Abstract: A turret/vessel bearing arrangement and method for replacing bearings in situ without removing other bearings. The bearings are capable of being separated. A removable axial spacer secures the vessel and the turret into engagement with the upper and lower thrust bearings. Removal of the spacer allows increased separation between vessel and turret flanges that sandwich the thrust bearings. The mid radial bearing assembly includes one or more radially arranged bearing pads that allow for limited axial displacement of the turret with respect to the vessel during thrust bearing replacement while still bearing radial loads and allowing rotation. The addition of a temporary thrust bearing allows the vessel to weathervane about the turret while thrust bearing are replaced in situ.

Abstract: A turret/vessel bearing arrangement and method for replacing bearings in situ without removing other bearings. The bearings are capable of being separated. A removable axial spacer secures the vessel and the turret into engagement with the upper and lower thrust bearings. Removal of the spacer allows increased separation between vessel and turret flanges that sandwich the thrust bearings. The mid radial bearing assembly includes one or more radially arranged bearing pads that allow for limited axial displacement of the turret with respect to the vessel during thrust bearing replacement while still bearing radial loads and allowing rotation. The addition of a temporary thrust bearing allows the vessel to weathervane about the turret while thrust bearing are replaced in situ.

Abstract: A mooring system comprising a submerged buoy releasably connected to a vessel adjacent its keel by a structural connector. The structural connector consists of a cylindrical sleeve coaxially movable with respect to a cylindrical housing by circumferential actuators. The lower ends of the connector sleeve and connector housing capture a number of collet segments circumpositioned therebetween that radially pivot in and out as the connector sleeve is moved axially within the connector housing. The lower ends of the collet segments extend downward to a connector hub on the buoy and releasably engage a groove therein, dogging the bearing hub against the vessel. A combined bearing assembly that supports both axial and radial loading revolvably connects the buoy to a moored chain table.

Abstract: A chain support 11, hinged on two perpendicular axes 5, 6 which allows chain movement in two perpendicular planes. The chain support provides an improved arrangement to allow chain 4 to be pulled through the center of the apparatus to a desired length after which the chain is removably secured to the chain support.

Abstract: A chain support 11, hinged on two perpendicular axes 5, 6 which allows chain movement in two perpendicular planes. The chain support provides an improved arrangement to allow chain 4 to be pulled through the center of the apparatus to a desired length after which the chain is removably secured to the chain support.

Abstract: A mooring system comprising a submerged buoy releasably connectable to a vessel keel having a combined axial/radial bearing. A segmented ring, fastened to the buoy, forms the bearing outer ring. An inner bearing hub slidingly carried on the bearing outer ring is connectable to a vessel structural connector. In a first embodiment, the structural connector includes an inner cylindrical sleeve coaxially movable within an outer cylindrical housing by circumferential actuators. The lower ends of the connector sleeve and connector housing capture plural collet segments circumpositioned therebetween that radially move in and out as the connector sleeve is moved axially within the connector housing. The lower ends of the collet segments extend downward into the bearing hub and releasably engage an interior groove therein, thereby dogging the bearing hub against the vessel. In a second embodiment, the bearing hub is simply bolted directly to a cylindrical connector member of the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for mooring a vessel to the seabed comprising a turret that is connected to the vessel for rotation about a vertical axis defined thereby and axial/radial bearing structure that can absorb axial and radial forces. The turret is connected at its lower end to a chain table or buoy for attaching mooring lines. The turret is disposed inside the hull of the vessel within a fixed tube. An outer ring of the axial/radial bearing is mounted to a rigid ring, which in turn is fastened by a flexible tube to the lower end of the fixed tube at an elevation below the rigid ring. The fixed tube encloses the turret with clearance. Deformation of the hull due to wind and waves is inhibited to the bearing, because hull deformation is absorbed by the flexible tube that couples the rigid ring to the vessel hull.

Abstract: A mooring system for securing a floating vessel to the sea floor comprises a plurality of mooring legs, at least one of which includes separate first and second mooring lines. The first mooring line comprises a first end which is connected to the vessel and the second mooring line comprises a first end which is secured to the sea floor. The mooring system also comprises a connection and tensioning device which includes a body, a bore which extends through the body, a chain stopper for adjustably securing the first mooring line to the body, and a connector for connecting a second end of the second mooring line to the body. In use, a second end of the first mooring line is inserted into the bore and the first mooring line is pulled through the bore while the body is subject to an opposing pulling force. Once the first mooring line is pulled through the bore a desired distance, the chain stopper maintains the first mooring line in position relative to the body to thereby secure the vessel to the sea floor.

Abstract: A mooring system for securing a floating vessel to the sea floor comprises a plurality of mooring legs, at least one of which includes separate first and second mooring lines. The first mooring line comprises a first end which is connected to the vessel and the second mooring line comprises a first end which is secured to the sea floor. The mooring system also comprises a connection and tensioning device which includes a body, a bore which extends through the body, a chain stopper for adjustably securing the first mooring line to the body, and a connector for connecting a second end of the second mooring line to the body. In use, a second end of the first mooring line is inserted into the bore and the first mooring line is pulled through the bore while the body is subject to an opposing pulling force. Once the first mooring line is pulled through the bore a desired distance, the chain stopper maintains the first mooring line in position relative to the body to thereby secure the vessel to the sea floor.

Abstract: Apparatus for mooring a vessel to the seabed comprising a turret that is connected to the vessel for rotation about a vertical axis defined thereby and axial/radial bearing structure that can absorb axial and radial forces. The turret is connected at its lower end to a chain table or buoy for attaching mooring lines. The turret is disposed inside the hull of the vessel within a fixed tube. An outer ring of the axial/radial bearing is mounted to a rigid ring, which in turn is fastened by a flexible tube to the lower end of the fixed tube at an elevation below the rigid ring. The fixed tube encloses the turret with clearance. Deformation of the hull due to wind and waves is inhibited to the bearing, because hull deformation is absorbed by the flexible tube that couples the rigid ring to the vessel hull.

Abstract: A mooring system comprising a submerged buoy releasably connected to a vessel adjacent its keel by a structural connector. The structural connector consists of a cylindrical sleeve coaxially movable with respect to a cylindrical housing by circumferential actuators. The lower ends of the connector sleeve and connector housing capture a number of collet segments circumpositioned therebetween that radially pivot in and out as the connector sleeve is moved axially within the connector housing. The lower ends of the collet segments extend downward to a connector hub on the buoy and releasably engage a groove therein, dogging the bearing hub against the vessel. A combined bearing assembly that supports both axial and radial loading revolvably connects the buoy to a moored chain table.

Abstract: A turret mooring system for a vessel comprises a turret which is rotatably connected to the vessel and comprises a lower end, a buoy which is anchored to the sea floor and is releasably connectable to the lower end, and a bearing assembly which is positioned between the buoy and the vessel when the buoy is connected to the turret. In this manner, horizontal mooring loads acting on the buoy are transmitted through the bearing assembly to the vessel.

Abstract: A mooring system comprising a submerged buoy releasably connectable to a vessel keel having a combined axial/radial bearing. A segmented ring, fastened to the buoy, forms the bearing outer ring. An inner bearing hub slidingly carried on the bearing outer ring is connectable to a vessel structural connector. In a first embodiment, the structural connector includes an inner cylindrical sleeve coaxially movable within an outer cylindrical housing by circumferential actuators. The lower ends of the connector sleeve and connector housing capture plural collet segments circumpositioned therebetween that radially move in and out as the connector sleeve is moved axially within the connector housing. The lower ends of the collet segments extend downward into the bearing hub and releasably engage an interior groove therein, thereby dogging the bearing hub against the vessel. In a second embodiment, the bearing hub is simply bolted directly to a cylindrical connector member of the vessel.

Abstract: A turret mooring system for a vessel which includes a moon pool comprises a turret which is positioned in the moon pool, a buoy and anchor chain assembly for anchoring the turret to the sea floor, a bearing assembly for rotatably connecting the turret to the vessel, and a bearing support assembly which comprises an upper ring member to which the bearing assembly is connected, a lower ring member which is connected to the vessel in the moon pool, and a number of elongated support beams which are connected between the upper and lower ring members. In addition, the lower ring member is connected to the vessel near the vertical center of the vessel in order to minimize the deflections of the bearing assembly due to hogging and sagging of the vessel.