Abstract: A mooring system for watercraft for use with an anchor, the mooring system having an elongated anchor line which is attachable to an anchor; a connection member which is connected to the elongated anchor line; one or more shore lines which are connected to the connection member; and a watercraft attachment line which is connected to the shore line. The watercraft attachment line is then attachable to watercraft, preferably small and/or personal watercraft such as a “jet-ski(R)” watercraft or the like to moor the watercraft in offshore water.

Abstract: A seabed flowline is connected to a substantially conventional tanker serving as a floating storage facility by a system comprising a three-leg mooring and a flexible riser. The mooring comprises anchors connected by anchor risers to a common node, and a mooring pendant extending from the node to the tanker. The flexible riser comprises a flexible rubber hose extending from the seabed to the tanker, and a single rotational coupling. The hose has a top section secured along part of the mooring pendant, and an intermediate section provided with buoyancy and restrained by a tether to maintain it clear of the anchor risers.

Abstract: A marine anchor having a shank connectible to an anchor rode at one end and having a double ploughshare fluke rigidly mounted at the other end thereof is described. The fluke consists of two symmetrically mounted part-cylindrical blades disposed on each side of a central ridge in the medial plane of the shank and extending from a forward apex to divergent trailing ends. A ballast weight is mounted under the convex surfaces of the blades and contained within the tangential plane to the convex surfaces. Each blade is also provided with a fin along the outer edge thereof, perpendicular to the central edge and located aft of the junction of the shank and the fluke.

Abstract: When mooring a production ship (10) above a submarine production well, minimum three (usually e.g. eight) anchor lines are used in the form of mooring chains (16b, 16a′, 16b′, 16c′) each extending from a stationary point at the seabed to a separate attachment point on the ship (10). At least one anchor line (16b, 16c) (of a minimum line number of three) has a fixed length and leads to an attachment hook (20) on-board the ship, while the or each of the remaining anchor lines (16a′, 16c′, 16d′), as known per se, has a changeable, shortenable length between the stationary seabed point and a point (34) on the ship (10), e.g. by means of a winch (30) for each of said longitudinally changeable anchor lines (16a′, 16c′, 16d′), simplifying the mooring arrangement constructively and the mooring operations functionally.

Abstract: In a system for mooring offshore drilling units, a first mooring assembles installed at a first drilling venue, after which the mobile offshore drilling unit is moored by connection to the mooring lines. A second mooring assembly is installed at a second drilling venue while drilling operations are carried out at the first drilling venue. In this manner the mobile offshore drilling unit can be relocated between successive drilling venues with minimum down time. Less than complete mooring assemblies can be used to temporarily secure the mobile offshore drilling unit.

Abstract: A buoyant substructure to float upright in water (e.g. for an offshore platform) and comprising at least three spaced apart columns [103] joined together in generally aligned relationship, in which at least one of the columns is adapted to be ballasted at its end [107] which is to float low down in the water, in which the columns are joined together by discrete cross members [111,113] which are widely spaced apart along the length of the columns, and in which the discrete cross members [111,113] have relatively small dimensions in the direction of alignment of the columns as compared with the total length of the columns.

Abstract: A vessel-turret assembly with an opening (3) in the hull of the vessel wherein a turret (4) is rotatably received. The axial bearings (8) between the hull structure and the turret have a number of circumferentially spaced bogies (12) running on raceways. Each of the bogies (12) is mounted on a displacement element such as an elastically deformable element. The bogie body may comprise a side plate with flange or shaft which in a hingepoint is hingedly attached to the hull structure. This point is located near or on the plane defined by the load bearing surfaces of the wheels. In this way a radial movement of the load bearing surfaces of the wheels. In this way a radial movement of the load bearing surfaces of the wheels due to the elastical deformable elements is prevented. Alternatively, each bogie may comprise one or more axial wheels for engaging the hull structure and/or the turret to prevent radial movement of the bogie structure at the position of the load bearing surface of the wheels.

Abstract: A deep ocean, mid-water farming apparatus, for propagating bi-valves, kelp and sea weed comprising a plurality of air-containing tanks arranged in a frame and including a lower frame element and an upper frame element, a device for anchoring the tanks in deep water and including connectors to connect the anchor to the lower frame element for holding the device in deep water, a plurality of upwardly directed elongated tubular substrates, on which to grow the bi-valves, the substrates arranged about a vertically-oriented center strut, each substrate defined by a first, lower terminal end, for connection to the upper frame element, and a second, upper terminal end, spaced-apart from the first end and, a top hat centered about the strut for connecting to the upper ends of the tubular substrates for holding them in a fixed configuration thereabout.

Abstract: System for mooring ships, in particular for operations in connection with oil and gas activity, whereby a ship is equipped with a mooring device at its bow portion. There is included an anchor device located at the seabed, as well as at least one anchoring line adapted to connect the anchor device to the mooring device on the ship. The anchor device is an essentially permanent anchor device, preferably in the form of a suction anchor, gravitation anchor or pile anchor. The anchor device is provided with a swivel device for the anchoring line. A buoyant body is attached to a middle portion of the anchoring line.

Abstract: A vessel includes at least two anchor lines connected respectively at a substantially fixed position near the bow and near the stern of the vessel. At least one of the anchor lines includes at least two branching anchor lines each connected with one end to the anchor line in a connection point and connected with the other end to the seabed. By means of this system, a stable anchoring arrangement is achieved in which the sides of the vessel are easily accessible by for instance a shuttle tanker. The system also allows for a weathervaning action through relatively small angles, for instance between 0 and 90°. In another embodiment, at least one of the anchor lines is connected to a substantially fixed position pulling system such as a winch system for lengthening or shortening the anchor lines. For providing a weathervaning action through a range of about O and 90°, the anchor lines are maintained in a tensioned state by the winch system and are varied in length.

Abstract: A mooring system for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO) employs a vessel mounted rotatable turret and a single point mooring arrangement. The mooring arrangement includes a single anchor chain that is removably attached at a top end to the vessel, and is attached at a submerged bottom end to three sealed anchored leg chains. The anchor chain is secured to the vessel by means of a chain stopper that is centrally located in the rotatable turret, and allows the vessel to rotate freely about the anchor chain's vertical axis. One or more submerged fluid carrying risers are detachably connected to a swivel stack positioned above the mooring table in line with the rotational axis of the anchor chain so that the risers and the anchor chain will not become entangled with one another during vessel rotation.

Abstract: The vessel including a hull and a cylindrical turret well, with a weathervane around a geostationary turret located in the turret well, and at least one swivel supported on the turret. The inner wall of the swivel is connected to rotation drive which allows the fall swivel weight to be transferred directly to the turret. The inner wall of at least one swivel is rotatably connected to a swivel support structure on the turret via a bearing. The rotation drive is adapted for rotating the inner walls in conjunction with the vessel so that relative displacements between the swivel and the turret are reduced such that the layout of the pipe lines connected to the swivel can be simplified by the omission of expansion loops. As the weight of the swivel is carried by the turret, the rotation and pipe support structure can be relatively small. The outer walls of the swivel stack may be fixedly connected to the turret so that a separate rotational drive for the outer walls can be avoided.

Abstract: A mooring system provides a bridle having a star-like shape that is useful for mooring a single vessel or for mooring two or more vessels relative to one another. In general, the mooring system provides a mooring bridle formed of a plurality of anchor connections spaced about a central mooring position. Each anchor connection includes an anchor having a passageway therethrough and an anchor line threaded through the passageway. An anchor buoy is connected to each end of the anchor line; and a bridle line connects the anchor buoys. Adjacent anchor connections share a common anchor buoy and are, thus, interconnected. The length of the bridle lines are less than the distance between the anchors so that the diameter of the circle formed by the bridle lines is less than that formed by the anchors. Vessel lines attached to the anchor buoys extend to the central mooring position for attachment of a tender vessel thereto.

Abstract: In a broad aspect, the invention relates to a new design for a fairlead that is capable of being remotely uninstalled from and then reinstalled on an offshore drilling and production vessel, while the vessel is in its moored position, in the event that the fairlead develops mechanical difficulties that require repair. Thus, the present invention discloses a fairlead that may be remotely uninstalled and reinstalled while the fairlead is underwater and without ballasting the vessel far enough to raise the fairlead above the water surface. The need for this invention primarily arises in connection with fairleads that are mounted to a vessel of the type where the ballasting process can be a very difficult, time-consuming, and expensive process.

Abstract: A passive anchor latching mechanism which allows its user to attach a moog line to an anchor without using a secondary mechanism such as a remotely operated vehicle to attach the cable or anchor wire to the anchor. The passive anchor latching mechanism comprises three elements: (1) a latch ring which may have a tether line removably coupled thereto; (2) an anchor post extending vertically upward from the top of the anchor; and (3) a crown line attached to the anchor and buoyed at the water's surface. The latch ring consist of a tail which attaches to the mooring line and a ring which slides downward along the crown line. The anchor post has an anchor collar coupled thereto which forms an annulus groove with the anchor post. The annulus grove latches the ring of the latch ring to the anchor post while the tail of the latch ring prevents the ring from detaching from the anchor post and riding backward up the anchor post once the latch ring is latched.

Abstract: A mooring system employs a vessel mounted turret in combination with a submerged chain table that also acts as a clump weight. The chain table is submerged fairly close to the sea surface at approximately the keel depth of the vessel, or a few meters below that depth. Three or more chains connect the vessel mounted turret and chain table to one another, preferably though corresponding U-joints. Several mooring lines are attached at first ends to the bottom of the chain table, and are secured at second ends to anchors or piles in the seabed. The weight of the chain table is chosen so that it helps reduce the stresses imparted by the vessel to the mooring lines, thereby reducing the maximum load requirement, and thus cost, of the mooring lines.

Abstract: A vessel comprising at least one anchor line (15). Disconnect elements are attached to the anchor line for releasing the vessel from the sea bed. A first part of the disconnect element (16) is directly attached to the vessel and a second part is attached to the anchor line (17). Upon detaching the anchor lines from the vessel, no cables will protrude from underneath the vessel after disconnecting. Thereby the risk of interference of the anchor lines with the vessel itself, with other vessels or with objects on the seabed in shallow waters is avoided. Furthermore, the disconnect elements can be directly controlled from the vessel. Inspection and maintenance can be easily performed. Preferably, the vessel comprises two or more anchor lines, each anchor line having a disconnect element which can be independently operated. Thereby a staged release of the anchor lines is possible which may be adapted to weather conditions or approaching objects such as icebergs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing an existing looped non-metallic mooring line (20) from a floating anchor handling vessel (10) anchored to the sea floor. The existing looped line (20) extends about a sheave (34) adjacent a subsea anchor means (24) and opposed ends (26) of the looped line (20) are connected to a mounting member (30) on the vessel (10) for securing the ends (26) of the existing mooring line (20). The new replacement line (20A) is attached to an end of the looped existing line (20) and the old existing line (20) is hauled in while the looped replacement line (20A) is payed out from the vessel (10) about the sheave (34) for return to the vessel. The looped replacement line (20A) is disconnected from the old line (20) and the ends of the new replacement line (20A) are secured to a mounting member (30) on the vessel.

Abstract: An anchor installation vessel transports anchors and mooring lines to an installation site and installs the anchors at diametrically opposed points in an anchor array. Following installation the mooring lines are directed to the vessel from opposite sides and are preloaded using winches mounted on the vessel.

Abstract: A mooring unit and method of retrofitting a mooring unit are provided. Certain existing combination mooring units, of the type having two wire rope drums and two wildcats, are experiencing increased winch drive train component stress levels during operation when used in water deeper than they were designed for. Existing units are modified by providing left and right twin drum traction winch assemblies and additional winches. The existing wire rope drums are discarded, or reused with the additional winches. The additional winches are preferably mounted below the mooring unit. The twin drum traction winch assemblies, which deliver a constant winch pull force, are vertically mounted within the support flanges where the removed wire rope drums were previously mounted, without any modification to the support flanges.

Abstract: A system comprising: a mooring bridle, wherein the mooring bridle is installed below the wave zone of the sea and wherein the bridle is attached to a first vessel; and vessel lines which attach a second vessel to the mooring bridle. A line comprising: an anchor which is attached to the sea floor; an anchor line comprising an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end is connected to the anchor; an anchor line buoy which is attached to the upper end of the anchor line; and a vessel line comprising an upper end and a lower end wherein the lower end attaches to the buoy and the upper end attaches to the vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus provided for producing measurement data capable of characterizing a burial trajectory (2) traced out in a sea-bed soil (3), and additionally to be capable of measuring a soils parameter such as the penetration resistance of the soil (3). In particular the apparatus checks for the anchorability of a particular sea-bed location and also provides a certain indication of the nature of the soil in stratae in the bed at this location. Specifically the apparatus achieves measurements via a point on a burying apparatus (5) as the burying apparatus moves in the trajectory. More especially the apparatus includes means (19, 29) located in a body (12) carried by the burying apparatus to sense the distance along the trajectory (2) separating two spaced points on the trajectory, and from that by additional means sense the position of a point in the soil at a particular instant thereby enabling the path of the trajectory (2) to be plotted.

Abstract: A mooring and riser system for use with hydrocarbon production vessels includes a turret mooring system in which the mooring lines are grouped such as to have open sectors therebetween. Included in the open sector is a riser system which includes a subsea buoyancy element. Steel catenary production risers from the wellheads on the sea floor rise to the subsea buoyancy element. At the subsea buoyancy element, the steel catenary production risers are connected to flexible tubular jumper members which are then connected to the turret of the hydrocarbon production vessel.

Abstract: A seabed flowline is connected to a substantially conventional tanker serving as a floating storage facility by a system comprising a three-leg mooring and a flexible riser. The mooring comprises anchors connected by anchor risers to a common node, and a mooring pendant extending from the node to the tanker. The flexible riser comprises a flexible rubber hose extending from the seabed to the tanker. The hose has a top section secured along part of the mooring pendant, and an intermediate section provided with buoyancy and restrained by a tether to maintain it clear of the anchor risers.

Abstract: A spread mooring arrangement is provided for use in deep water (greater than 200 meters) when it is advantageous to maximize the clearance between shuttle tankers used for product offloading and the anchor legs associated with a spread mooring of the permanently moored tanker. Mooring insert tubes are provided at the bow and stern of the vessel. Bow mooring lines extend from the sea floor, through an opening of the bottom of the hull of the vessel and via a bow mooring insert tube for securement on a chain pull-up deck. Stern mooring lines extend from the sea floor through an opening in the bottom of the hull of the vessel and via a stern mooring insert tube for securement on a chain pull-up deck.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning system using anchoring of the ship which allows it to move in order better to accommodate variations in the environment, avoiding fully parallel situations (in which the ship is fully head on to the weather) and the situation in which it is fully crosswise (arthwart to the weather), based on the distribution and setting-up of mooring lines which define differentiated degrees of rigidity (compliance) in the anchoring system.

Abstract: A turret mooring device includes a vessel carrying a turret, the turret being connected to the hull of the vessel by an upper and a lower bearing arrangement, the turret being provided with devices for fastening and guiding anchor lines and with at least one fluid line extending downwardly through the turret, the lower bearing arrangement being a slide bearing including a slide block having a sliding surface, and a slide plate, the slide block being connected to the outer wall of the turret and the slide plate being connected to the hull of the vessel, a clearance being provided between the slide block and the slide plate such that in case a bending moment exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the turret by the anchor lines relative to the upper bearing arrangement, the deflections of the turret are limited by contact of the slide block on the slide plate.

Abstract: A system for mooring a floating storage vessel (10) in the open sea for remaining on station at all times without any disconnection of the vessel (10) from the mooring system. The mooring system includes a plurality of anchor legs (26) connected to a turret (20) in the well (18) of the vessel (10) with at least one submerged support buoy (28) for each anchor leg (26). The submerged support buoy (28), by supporting a substantial portion of the weight of the associated anchor leg (26), reduces the vertical loads on the turret bearings (46, 48) and permits the turret (20) to be easily rotated from the torque exerted by the anchor legs (26) without any separate turret drive means. The system includes in FIG. 5 an embodiment in which a plurality of support buoys (28A) are provided for each anchor leg (26A). The system includes in FIG. 6 an embodiment in which the floating storage vessel (10B) is permanently moored to a mooring buoy (25B) secured by a plurality by anchor legs (26B) to the sea bed (16B).

Abstract: A new type of mooring arrangement is invented by providing conventional catenary spread mooring systems, taut leg spread mooring systems and tension leg platform mooring systems with additional branch lines (2-2; 3-3) and branch connections (2, 3). Branch lines and connections similar to (2-2) and (3-3) under this invention typically have ends connected to different legs (B-A) of mooring systems, as schematically depicted in FIG. 4. They can also have one end connected to leg (B-A) and the other end connected to other structural elements. Such connections can also join points of the same leg (B-A). The branch lines and connections can be used to modify technical characteristics of the invented mooring arrangement and to modify global and local loads in comparison with those in conventional systems. By novel, optimal arrangements of branch connections this invention allows to enhance the functionality of mooring systems and makes them more cost effective at increased water depths.

Abstract: Device aboard floating craft for tightening/slackening of an elongated flexible element (13) such as a mooring cable that extends from a body of water up to the device (11, 12) is rotatably mounted about the longitudinal axis of the flexible element (13) directed towards the device (11,12).

Abstract: A taut leg bow mooring system includes an anchor positionable on the floor of the sea. A riser line is normally secured to and extends upwardly from the anchor, and a submerged buoy is secured to the end of the riser line remote from the anchor. A line extends upwardly from the submerged buoy to a surface buoy. A mooring line is pivotally connected in the line extending from the submerged buoy to the surface buoy.

Abstract: An underwater self-aligning fairlead latch device is provided for guiding and securing an anchor chain between an offshore structure and an anchor. The fairlead device includes a latch housing pivotally mounted to a fairlead housing. The latch housing includes one or more latches for securing the anchor chain in place. The fairlead housing includes a bending shoe which guides the anchor chain from its orientation within the bending shoe up the platform column to the deck. The fairlead housing is pivotally mounted to the offshore structure.

Abstract: A mooring assembly for an offshore floater comprises a vertical shaft (4) in the floater (1), a rotating part (5) rotatably mounted in the vertical shaft about a vertical axis, a number of mooring cables (16) extending from the rotating part down to the seabed, and a device (17) aboard the floater (1) for tightening/slackening the mooring cables. Each mooring cable (15, 16) is secured, right below the rotating part (5), to a rigid body (13) having two ends, one end being connected by a universal swivel joint (12) to the rotating part (5) and the other end comprising a locking device (14) for locking the mooring line to the rigid body (13).

Abstract: An offshore system is described that minimizes mooring loads attributable to oscillating wave drift. A tension member (24, FIG. 1), such as a chain, has a lower end (32) fixed to the seafloor and has an upper end portion (40) coupled to the vessel (12), so wave drift that occurs in a storm and urges vessel drift away from a quiescent position, is resisted by tension in the tension member. To reduce the load on the tension member, the vessel is allowed to move while paying out the tension member so it elongates. However, a brake mechanism (70) is applied to the tension member being payed out to slowly pay it out and absorb energy, to thereby damp vessel movement and minimize the maximum mooring load on the tension member. Preferably, at least three tension members (24, 26, 28) extend in different headings from the vessel to fixed locations on the seafloor, so a tension member that is resisting vessel drift extends at a large angle (C) to the vertical.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling the length of anchor rode comprises a winch, a sensor assembly associated with the winch and a control circuit connected to the sensor and the winch. The winch is mounted on a vessel and has a rotatable element about which a length of anchor rode is at least partially wrapped. The sensor assembly is mounted adjacent the rotatable element for generating signals representative of the amount and direction of rotation of the rotatable element. The winch is controllable to rotate the rotatable element in a first direction, either in a powered fashion or through free fall, for letting out the anchor rode from the vessel to lower the anchor. The winch is also controllable to rotate the rotatable element in a second direction for pulling the anchor rode into the vessel to raise the anchor.

Abstract: A composite storage winch for use in the deployment and retrieval of anchor systems employed with motive offshore drilling platforms.

Abstract: This nautical buoy is used to monitor the surface projection of a deployed anchor by floating above the anchor. This is accomplished by a connecting tether-line (16) from the buoy to the trip-eye of an anchor (48) attached using a shackle (18). As the anchor is lowered using the vessel's normal ground tackle, the tether-line (16) is deployed by unreeling from the buoy until the anchor rests on the bottom. The tether-line (16) is then secured from further deployment using a tether-line restraining tab (19) and the buoy is tossed overboard so as to float above the deployed anchor. A steady or flashing, light can be affixed to the top of the buoy to identify its location in subdued-light conditions. The buoy can also assist in retrieving an anchor, while aboard the vessel, that has been fouled on bottom vegetation, rocks, and/or other debris. Retrieving the anchor is accomplished by pulling on the tether-line (16), thus applying tensional forces nearly opposite to the frictional forces fouling the anchor.

Abstract: A radial roller assembly for passively providing radial support to a cylindrical turret to resist horizontal forces. The turret is moored to the sea bottom for rotation of a vessel around the turret, where the vessel includes a circumturret passing through the vessel and surrounding the turret. The radial roller assembly comprises an outer housing, which is connected to the circumturret and an inner support carriage, which is located within the outer housing. The inner support carriage has a wheel support assembly for supporting a wheel which has its outer bearing surface in contact with a circular radial support rail attached to the turret. There is a bearing structure interposed between the outer housing and the inner support carriage for slidably connecting the inner support carriage and the outer housing. The radial roller assembly further comprises a guide shaft, which is connected to the circumturret so that the guide shaft can be tilted slightly.

Abstract: A mooring system comprises a length of hawser 3, a chafe chain 7, and a wire 5 to be wound onto a rotatable drum 1. Adjacent the drum 1 is positioned a stopper 2 adapted to receive and retain the chain 4, the chain 4 being disconnectable from the wire 5 in this circumstance.

Abstract: A taut leg bow mooring system (40) includes an anchor (42) positionable on the floor of the sea. A riser line (44) secured to and extending upwardly from the anchor, and a submerged buoy (46) secured to the end of the riser line from the anchor. The ratio of the net buoyancy of the surface buoy to the buoyancy of the submerged buoy is at least 2 to 1. A buoyant connector line (50) is secured to and extends upwardly from the submerged buoy. A surface buoy (52) is secured to the end of the connector line remote from the submerged buoy, and a hawser (56) is secured to and extends from the surface buoy.

Abstract: A ship comprising: approximately sinusoidal waterlines; and a surface extending from the transom stern at the design waterline plane to the base plane at about L/3 from the bow and defining an angle between the base plane and an oblique plane, the oblique plane being defined by: a line at the intersection of the transom stern and the design waterline plane and a point located on the surface at about 0.2 L from the transom stern; and a turret along the middle line plane.

Abstract: A method of mooring a storage vessel in the sea is provided. A turret is mounted in a well forward of the vertical center-line of the vessel. A plurality of anchor legs are disposed between the sea bed and the turret. Each anchor leg is fixedly secured to the turret. A mooring buoy is fixedly secured at a submerged position in each anchor leg. The position and buoyancy of the buoy is selected so that normal anchor leg catenary forces which are largely vertical at the connection to a turret have enhanced horizontal components due to the buoyancy of the buoy holding up the anchor leg at a submerged position in the sea. Such enhanced horizontal components enable sufficient torque to be developed between the vessel and the turret so that the vessel may weathervane due to environmental forces such as wind and current. Accordingly, the vessel may be maintained on station and achieve a heading toward environmental forces without the need for auxiliary thrusters or separate turret drives.

Abstract: A mooring system preferably for oil transport, production, and drilling vessels in the ocean, and a method of using the system. The mooring system combines a submerged buoyant element anchored to the seabed with a retrieval system aboard the vessel and a mechanism to secure the submerged mooring element to the hull of the vessel by reducing the hydrostatic pressure in a volume isolated from the sea by the mooring element and the hull of the vessel. The mooring element may by non-circular, to allow use with smaller vessels while still providing sufficient retaining forces. The mooring element can be configured so that the mooring element aligns with the hull of the vessel as it is hoisted by the vessel.

Abstract: An offshore terminal mooring buoy of the cantenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) type includes a buoy which is designed to dive at an angle downwardly through large swells during bad weather. The buoy has a wedge shaped side cross-section including an inwardly angled upper sidewall that not only causes the buoy to dive through large swells, but also reduces its drag coefficient so that undue stresses will not be placed on the buoy's anchor chains as it dives through the water. The bottom submerged portion of the buoy can also incorporate a wedged shape to decrease its drag coefficient further. Preferably, the buoy also has a hexagonal shaped top cross-section which further reduces the buoy's drag coefficient, and makes the buoy easy to fabricate.

Abstract: A mooring system for mooring a turreted vessel off-shore, which comprises: line pulling equipment mounted in the vessel turret; a block located in the water at a depth below expected wave action and at a distance from the vessel; a mooring line extending from the puling equipment, through a fairlead at the bottom of the vessel turret, through the block and back for releasable attachment to the vessel; and mooring tackle attached to the block and extending away from the vessel to an anchor. The mooring line and mooring tackle form a catenary between the vessel and the anchor which has a curve adapted to maintain the anchor securely attached to the sea bottom, and to maintain the block below the depth of expected wave action.

Abstract: A method of setting out long mooring lines that includes the use of both a traction, or drum, winch and a linear winch. An anchoring vessel is provided with supply drums that contain the mooring line, a traction winch, and a linear winch. When the mooring line is lowered or retrieved, the traction winch, is used to maintain tension on the line until a connector approaches the traction winch. The linear winch is then engaged to maintain tension on the line, with the traction winch under low tension, until the connector passes through the linear winch. The traction winch is then reengaged to maintain all the tension on the line and the linear winch is disengaged until the next connector approaches the traction winch.

Abstract: An anchor comprising a fluke means with upper surfaces having a center of area and a front end or penetration end and a rear end, and a shank means, being connected at a first end to the fluke means and, being provided at a second end with first means for attachment to an anchor or pulling line, said shank means being attached by means of at least one hinged joint to the fluke means at a location at a distance of the center of area, and being attached by means of a disconnectable connection to the fluke means in a location on the other side of the center of area with respect to the hinged joint, said hinged joint being located at a location towards the front at a distance of the center of area and operating means being present for effectuating the disconnection of the disconnectable connection by remote control.

Abstract: A system for the casting of anchors meant for the mooring of floating oil producing and/or drilling platforms, using an anchor laying craft. The general arrangement consists of a deck on the craft with wells for anchors a capstant for dealing with chains, an improved drums for wire rope, and lockers for stowing of chains built into the underside of the deck of the craft. Chains are led by a capstan from such lockers or back to them, along hawse pipes, and drums for winding cables, mounted on a bed. When a platform is being moored, an improved laying device is used which prevents any chain slipping or dropping after each platform chain has been fastened to the line laid beforehand whenever the chain has to be lowered to its place in the sag, and an improved line fisher.

Abstract: A turret that is rotatably mounted on a vessel and connected to risers extending down to sea floor wells, is constructed so the turret is of moderate diameter to enable the use of a moderate size bearing and moderate weight turret, while providing room around the terminations of the upper ends of the risers. The risers (46A, 46G, FIG. 3 ) extend through tubes (62, 70, 72) which are oriented at an angle to the turret axis (22), so the lower ends of the tubes lie on large diameter circles to be considerably spaced apart, while the upper ends of the tubes are closer together to fit within the inside of the moderate sized bearing (60). The upper ends of the risers may be terminated at a plurality of different levels (90, 92, 94) within the turret to provide room around each termination.

Abstract: A mooring system for mooring boats (20). The mooring system (10) includes buoys (12, 13), tautlines (16), a gridline (14), and anchor assemblies (18). The buoys (12, 13 ) float vertically at spaced-apart locations and are interconnected by the tautlines (16) and the gridline (14), the tautlines (16) being connected to the tops of the buoys(12, 13), and the gridline(14) being connected to the bottoms of the buoys (12, 13). The anchor assemblies (18) are attached to selected buoys (12) and urge the buoys (12, 13) apart and maintain the tautlines (16) and the gridline (14) in a taut condition. The tautlines (16) are positioned above and parallel to the water surface (22) so that boats (20) can tie up along the length of the tautlines (16).