Disconnectable buoy

Abstract

The invention relates to floating mooring construction ( 1 ) comprising a vessel ( 2 ) having a hull ( 35 ) with a cavity ( 9 ) for receiving a mooring buoy ( 8 ) carrying at least one flowline ( 13 ), and a pulling device ( 22, 24 ) connected to the mooring buoy for pulling the buoy towards the vessel. A flexible element ( 27 ) is comprised between a wall of the recess ( 9 ) and the buoy. The invention is characterised in that the vessel comprises a turret ( 5 ) around which the vessel can weathervane, the recess ( 9 ) being provided in the lower part of the turret ( 5 ), wherein the buoy ( 8 ) comprises near its lower end an annular groove ( 26 ) in which the flexible element ( 27 ) is seated, the outer surface of the flexible element including a sharp angle (α) with a center line ( 21 ) of the buoy. The buoy is attachable to the turret by the pulling device ( 22, 24 ) pulling the buoy into the cavity ( 9 ) and compressing the flexible element ( 27 ) against the wall of the cavity ( 9 ). The present invention provides a semi-permanent system, which is able to transmit relatively large mooring forces to the turret.

1 . Floating mooring construction ( 1 ) comprising a vessel ( 2 ) having a hull ( 35 ) and having a cavity ( 9 ) for receiving a mooring buoy ( 8 ), the mooring buoy ( 8 ) carrying at least one flowline ( 13 ) and anchor lines ( 4 ,  4 ′, connected to the buoy via chain guides ( 10 ), and a pulling device ( 22 ,  24 ) connected to the mooring buoy for pulling the buoy towards the vessel, a flexible element ( 27 ) being comprised between a wall of the recess ( 9 ) and the buoy, characterised in that, the vessel comprises a turret ( 5 ) around which the vessel can weathervane, the recess ( 9 ) being provided in the lower part of the turret ( 5 ), wherein the buoy ( 8 ) or the recess ( 9 ) comprises near its lower end the flexible element ( 27 ), the outer surface of which includes a sharp angle (α) with a centre line ( 21 ) of the buoy, the buoy being attachable to the turret by the pulling device ( 22 ,  24 ) pulling the buoy into the cavity ( 9 ) and compressing the flexible element ( 27 ) against the wall of the recess ( 9 ), the lower end of the buoy being located at or in the proximity of the lower end of the recess ( 9 ) and the anchor lines ( 4 ,  4 ′) being with their upper ends fixed to the buoy ( 8 ).  
     
     
         2 . Floating mooring constructive ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible element ( 27 ) is seated in a an annular groove ( 26 ) on the recess ( 9 ) or on the buoy ( 8 ).  
     
     
         3 . Floating mooring construction according to any of the preceding clams, wherein the diameter of the recess ( 9 ) and of the buoy ( 8 ) near their lower ends is larger than the diameter of a upper part ( 43 ) of the turret.  
     
     
         4 . Floating mooring construction ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , characterised in that, the turret wall comprises a receiving surface ( 29 ) for engaging the flexible element ( 27 ), the receiving surface ( 29 ) making a sharp angle with the centre line ( 21 ) of the turret, a first radial bearing surface ( 32 ) being connected to the receiving surface for engaging with a second radial bearing surface ( 33 ) on the hull ( 35 ) of the vessel.  
     
     
         5 . Floating mooring construction ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  4 , wherein the buoy ( 8 ) comprises at least one passage ( 14 ), the flowline ( 13 ) extending trough the passage ( 14 ) and having a fluid connector ( 15 ) at its end which is connectable to a fluid connector on the vessel.  
     
     
         6 . Floating mooring device according to  claim 5 , wherein the buoy ( 18 ) or the recess ( 9 ) comprises near its upper end a seal ( 40 ) which can sealingly close the upper perimeter of the buoy against the wall of the recess ( 9 ) to seal off a chamber ( 41 ) around the fluid connectors ( 15 ) which can be drained to form a dry space.  
     
     
         7 . Floating mooring construction ( 1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the buoy ( 8 ) comprises a ballastable buoyant body ( 36 ) located below a lower draft level ( 17 ) of the vessel when the buoy is coupled to the vessel.  
     
     
         8 . Floating mooring construction ( 1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the flowline ( 13 ), at least at the position of the buoy ( 8 ), is flexible.