Abstract: A method and apparatus for tensioning anchor lines connecting a marine structure to the ocean floor. The apparatus includes a platform movable in relation to the structure, and suspended from the structure by a pulley system with a cable having a free end connected to a vessel. The cable is pulled either by moving the vessel along a rectilinear path passing essentially through the center of the structure, or by a pulling system on the vessel. Diametrically opposed pairs of anchor lines are hooked under the said movable platform, each line passing through the groove of a pulley and then through a stopper device fixed to the marine structure. The method and apparatus are particularly adapted for anchoring an emerging structure built on a jointed column.

Abstract: A hot water reservoir comprises buoys floating on the surface of a lake, and a flexible wall fastened to said buoys hanging down into the water. Weights are fastened to the lower edge of said wall. Cables extend from the buoys to the weights so as to reinforce said flexible wall. The buoys are fastened to anchoring wires extending toward the interior of the reservoir.

Abstract: A boat anchoring means includes, beside the conventional anchor, a number of sinker bodies attached to the hawser rope, adjacent to the anchor. In order that these sinkers shall not cause damage to the hull or equipment, and provide a good grip during hauling-in, each sinker is formed as a symmetrical body of rotation, is covered by a soft shell, and is maintained at the rope by a tubular wedge member adapted to be driven into a tapering, axial passage through the sinker.

Abstract: This dual anchor apparatus includes two anchors which are lowered on a single anchor line. The line extends from the vessel carrying it to a pulley and thence to one of the two anchors. That anchor is also releasably connected to the line at a point spaced above the pulley. During implantation, that anchor rides above the pulley and hence is called the upper anchor. Another line extends from the pulley support to the other anchor, which rides below the pulley and is the lower anchor. The method of implanting the two anchors in the bottom includes conventionally implanting the lower anchor, then paying out more line while the vessel proceeds, thereby lowering the upper anchor to the bottom at a calculated distance from the lower anchor, thereafter disconnecting the releasable connection and then tightening the line through the pulley to drag the upper anchor toward the lower anchor to implant it firmly, so that subsequent tension on the main line pulls the anchors toward each other.

Abstract: For mooring a vessel such as oil tanker, especially in deep water, a support located below the water contains a vertically slidable mooring post which can be lifted by an attached mooring hawser into engagement with a reception chamber formed in the bottom of the vessel. The support may rest on the sea bed in such a way as to be universally swingable but its upper end is restrained by anchor chains. The support cam take the form of an oil reservoir and the mooring post can be a tube through which the oil is transferred to the tanker. The hauling in of the mooring hawser through the reception chamber positions the vessel over the mooring post and the head of the latter is engaged by a resilient gripping ring which can act as an oil seal.

Abstract: A mooring system is disclosed for maintaining a ship shape drilling vessel within alignment limits and for warping it into the sea while drilling a well from the vessel in the sub-surface ground below it. The mooring system absorbs all of the forces on the vessel, such as wind, current, wave, swell, roll, pitch, heave, surge and sway. These forces are measured by sensing load on a motor, electric, hydraulic, and the like, driving the anchor chain wildcat while hauling it in, by sensing load on the brake bands for the windlass wildcats, and by sensing load on the chain stopper, which sensed loads are transmitted to a display device which provides sufficient information to maintain the drilling vessel within the alignment limits and to warp it into the sea to minimize forces and motions of the vessel and to avoid beam sea forces.

Abstract: A releasable and retrievable mooring system for vessels is disclosed which includes anchors and anchor chains each having an explosive link arranged to separate the anchor upon detonation, a transponder operable from the vessel to send acoustic signals and receivers secured to the links to detonate them, a marker buoy having a line to either or both the anchor or anchor chain downstream but adjacent to the link, and a stopper upstream but adjacent to the link to prevent the link end of the anchor chain from falling into its locker when reeled in. The marker buoys either float on the water's surface or are submerged and releasable to the surface. Each includes retrieving lines extending to the anchor chain adjacent but downstream of the link or to the link. When using floating buoys, the retrieving lines are attached to strippers slidable on the anchor chains which includes stripper stoppers to limit travel of the strippers.

Abstract: This invention consists of a weight loaded rope for attachment to an anchor for the purpose of increasing the weight of the anchor without increasing its size. It consists of providing a flexible strand or strands of a heavy metal to be included with the other strands which make up the said rope, whether it is a stranded or braided rope. The additional weight strand provided to the rope may also consist of heavy metal beads which are strung together to form the weight strand; or it may consist of a flexible tubular container which is filled with such metal beads.

Abstract: A connecting structure for interconnecting a floating structure and a submerged anchor station is disclosed. This structure comprises an anchor cap which is adapted to be fixed to the anchor station and an arm which is pivotably connected to the floating structure. The pivotal connection to the anchor cap is by a ball and socket joint with the socket extending around more than half the lateral area of the ball. The cap is adapted to be pressed down to the enclosure by hydrostatic pressure.

Abstract: A mooring line or cable system is provided for a drillship including a hull adapted to float in water at a water-line, the mooring line being in the general form of a catenary chain line. The mooring line includes a drillship portion secured to a winch on the drillship and entraining a sheave, and a first spar buoy and an anchor portion including an anchor chain and an anchor and a second spar buoy. A two-part, remote controlled quick disconnect element is provided, one part being connected to the drillship portion and another part being connected to the anchor portion, the two parts being adapted to connect the first spar buoy and the second spar buoy together, to provide an anchored mooring line.

Abstract: An at-sea buoy and anchor retrieval apparatus utilizes a vessel having a catamaran hull with a buoy catcher apparatus disposed between the hulls of the vessel. The buoy catcher is vertically movable so that it can be placed at the appropriate water depth to capture the buoys when the vessel is underway. A lift is provided to elevate the buoy catcher containing the buoy to the vicinity of an opening in the deck so that access to the buoy may be had from the deck.

Abstract: An anchor-deploying structure and method particularly adapted for anchoring an offshore drilling platform employs the use of an anchor, anchor chain and wire rope combination. Separate reeling and storage means are supplied for the wire rope and anchor chain, the wire rope being carried on and deployed from a winch-driven drum and the chain being carried in a chain locker and deployed from and returned to the chain locker by a chain hoist. At the end of the wire rope is a connector which carries a short length of leader chain which may include a swivel. A work station is so located that workmen thereon have access to both the leader chain and a length of lead chain from the chain locker, either of which may be connected to the anchor chain through the use of a special three-way chain link and a pair of removable links.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mooring floating vessels (e.g. ships) generally over a fixed location on the water bottom. The vessels are provided with guide means (e.g. a track) which encircle the hull of the vessel along a line which is spaced at or above the Plimsoll line and at or below the top edge of the hull. A plurality of movable carriages are carried by the guide means for separately attaching a plurality of anchor lines to the hull and for controlling the length thereof. Means are provided for selectively positioning the carriages at desired points along the track.