Anchor line installation method and connector for use in said method

Abstract

The invention relates to an anchor line installation method comprising the steps of: connecting the anchor line ( 2 ) to the seabed with an anchoring device ( 4 ), providing an anchor line part ( 7 ) on the floating structure ( 3 ), picking up the free end of the anchor line ( 2 ) with an installation vessel ( 1 ), providing a first connector element ( 10 ) on the free end of one of the anchor line ( 2 ) and the floating structure anchor line part ( 7 ), either prior or after picking up said free end, providing a second connector element ( 12 ) on the other of the anchor line ( 2 ) and the floating structure anchor line part ( 7 ), extending a pulling line ( 8 ) between the second connector element ( 12 ) and the installation vessel, the pulling line being engaged on the installation vessel (I) with the first connector element ( 10 ), lowering the first and second connector elements ( 10, 12 ) in the water, from the installation vessel (I), and hauling in the pulling line ( 8 ) with a pulling device ( 13 ) on the installation vessel (I), thereby connecting the first and second connector elements ( 10, 12 ) below water 20 level, in the upper half of the total water depth. The installation method allows attachment of pre-installed anchor liner, to floating constructions without the use of complex fairleads, chainstoppers and winches on board of the floating construction. Installation can be carried out below water level at increased levels of safety.

1 . Method of connecting an anchor line ( 2 ) to a floating structure ( 3 ), comprising the steps of: 
 connecting the anchor line ( 2 ) to the seabed with an anchoring device ( 4 ),    providing an anchor line part ( 7 ) on the floating structure ( 3 ),    picking up the free end of the anchor line ( 2 ) with an installation vessel ( 1 ),    providing a first connector element ( 10 ) on the free end of one of the anchor line ( 2 ) and the floating structure anchor line part ( 7 ), either prior to or after picking up said free end,    providing a second connector element ( 12 ) on the other of the anchor line ( 2 ) and the floating structure anchor line part ( 7 ),    extending a pulling line ( 8 ) between the second connector element ( 12 ) and the installation vessel, the pulling line being engaged on the installation vessel ( 1 ) with the first connector element ( 10 ),    lowering the first and second connector elements ( 10 ,  12 ) in the water from the installation vessel ( 1 ), and    hauling in the pulling line ( 8 ) with a pulling device ( 13 ) on the installation vessel ( 1 ), thereby connecting the first and second connector elements ( 10 ,  12 ) below water level, preferably in the upper half of the total water depth.    
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , the first connector element ( 10 ) comprising a housing ( 17 ) with a receiving opening ( 19 ), an attachment member ( 31 ) for connecting to the anchor line ( 2 ), an outlet opening ( 25 ,  30 ) in a side wall, and a deflecting member ( 16 ) for deflecting the pulling line ( 8 ) entering the first connector element ( 10 ) via the inlet opening ( 19 ) from an axial direction to a transverse direction to the outlet opening ( 25 ,  30 ).  
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 2 , the first connector element ( 10 ) comprising a blocking member ( 29 ) for allowing movement of the second connector element ( 7 ′) within the housing ( 17 ) in the direction of the pulling force (T) on the pulling line ( 8 ), and blocking movement of the second connector element ( 7 ′) in a direction opposite to the pulling force (T) on the pulling line  
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , the second connector element comprising a chain section ( 7 ′).  
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 2 , the first connector element ( 10 ) comprising a resilient locking pawl ( 18 ,  18 ′,  27 ) movable in the transverse direction, or a recess in the inner housing wall, the second connector element ( 12 ) comprising a plug member with a recess ( 20 ) on its circumference for engaging with the locking pawl ( 18 ,  18 ′,  27 ) of the first connector element ( 10 ), or a resilient locking pawl for engaging with the recess of the first connector element.  
     
     
         6 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first connector element ( 10 ) is attached to the anchor line ( 2 ), the second connector element being on one side attached to the anchor line ( 7 ) of the floating structure and on the other side to a rope or wire pulling line ( 8 ).  
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 1 , the anchor line ( 2 ) comprising a rope or wire anchor line, the anchor line ( 7 ) of the floating structure comprising a chain.  
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein the anchor line ( 2 ) has not been pre-tensioned, a predetermined pulling force being exerted on the pulling line ( 8 ) for causing an elongation of the anchor line ( 2 ).  
     
     
         9 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor line part ( 7 ) is connected to the floating structure ( 3 ) without a fairlead.  
     
     
         10 . Method according to  claim 1 , a wherein the anchor line part ( 7 ) is connected to the floating structure ( 3 ) without a being connected to a winch on the floating structure.  
     
     
         11 . Connector ( 10 ,  12 ) for use in the method according to  claim 1  having a housing ( 17 ) with on a front side a receiving opening ( 19 ), on a rear side an an attachment member ( 31 ) for connecting to an anchor line, axially aligned with the inlet opening, an outlet opening ( 25 ,  30 ) in a side wall, a guide wheel ( 16 ) placed in the outlet opening ( 25 ,  30 ) and having an axis ( 26 ) transverse to the axial direction, for deflecting a pulling line ( 8 ) or anchor line ( 7 ′) entering the connector housing ( 17 ) via the inlet opening ( 19 ) from an axial direction to a transverse direction to the outlet opening ( 25 ,  30 ).  
     
     
         12 . Connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the guide wheel ( 16 ) is rotatable around the axis ( 26 ).  
     
     
         13 . Connector according to  claim 11 , wherein the guide wheel ( 16 ) comprises a chain wheel, a resilient pawl ( 29 ) being pivotably mounted on a transverse axis ( 32 ) between a blocking position engaging with a chain link upon pulling a chain ( 7 ′) in the housing ( 17 ) in a direction from the outlet opening ( 30 ) to the inlet opening ( 19 ), and abutting against a blocking member ( 33 ) for preventing movement of the pawl ( 29 ) and the chain ( 7 ′) toward the inlet opening ( 19 ), and a release position by pivoting towards the outlet opening ( 30 ) to be substantially spaced away from the chain ( 7 ′) in the connector housing ( 17 ).  
     
     
         14 . Connector according to  claim 12 , wherein the guide wheel ( 16 ) comprises a chain wheel, a resilient pawl ( 29 ) being pivotably mounted on a transverse axis ( 32 ) between a blocking position engaging with a chain link upon pulling a chain ( 7 ′) in the housing ( 17 ) in a direction from the outlet opening ( 30 ) to the inlet opening ( 19 ), and abutting against a blocking member ( 33 ) for preventing movement of the pawl ( 29 ) and the chain ( 7 ′) toward the inlet opening ( 19 ), and a release position by pivoting towards the outlet opening ( 30 ) to be substantially spaced away from the chain ( 7 ′) in the connector housing ( 17 ).