Method and apparatus for mooring floating vessels

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.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vessel intended to be floated in a body of water, said vessel comprising: a. a hull;   b. guide means carried by said hull and substantially completely encircling said hull along a line .[.between the top of said hull and.]. .Iadd.above .Iaddend.the Plimsoll line;   c. a plurality of attaching means moveably carried by said guide means for separately attaching a plurality of anchor lines to said hull and for controlling the length thereof; and   d. control means operably connectable to said attaching means for selectively moving said attaching means to selected points along said guide means to vary the position of the vessel, for holding said attaching means at said selected points and for operating said attaching means to control the length of said anchor lines.   
     
     
       2. A vessel of claim 1 wherein said control means includes a chain-like member which is mounted for movement adjacent said guide means and which is operably connectable to each of said attaching means in response to signals from said control means. 
     
     
       3. A vessel of claim 2 wherein said guide means is mounted just within said hull. 
     
     
       4. A vessel of claim 2 which includes at least four anchor lines. 
     
     
       5. A method .[.of.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.mooring a vessel in a body of water generally over a fixed location on the water bottom, said method comprising: a. attaching a plurality of anchor lines to the hull of said vessel at points which are located adjacent the perimeter of said hull along a line which is .[.between the top edge of said hull and.]. .Iadd.above .Iaddend.the Plimsoll line;   b. selectively moving the points of attachment of said anchor lines along a pre-determined guide path which is fixed adjacent the perimeter of the hull to in turn move the vessel to orient the vessel in a desired direction; and   c. holding the anchor lines at selected points along the guide path to hold the vessel oriented in said desired direction.   
     
     
       6. A method of claim 5 in which said anchor lines are each attached to a different carriage movably mounted on a track which extends around the perimeter of said hull for selective movement about said hull and including the step of adjusting the length of said anchor lines. .Iadd. 7. A structure intended to be floated in a body of water and to be moored while floating, comprising: a. buoyant means arranged to float at a characteristic waterline in use of the structure,   b. a substantially horizontal deck supported by the buoyant means above said waterline,   c. guide means carried by and substantially encircling the structure along a line above said waterline,   d. a plurality of attaching means movably carried by the guide means for separately attaching a plurality of anchor lines to the structure, and   e. control means operably connectible to the attaching means for selectively moving the attaching means to selected points along the guide means to vary either the moored position or the moored heading of the structure and for holding the attaching means at the selected points..Iaddend. .Iadd. 8. A method of mooring a floating structure in a body of water generally over a fixed location on the water bottom, the method comprising:   a. attaching a plurality of anchor lines to the structure at points which are located adjacent the perimeter of the structure above the load waterline of the structure,   b. selectively moving the points of attachment of the anchor lines along a predetermined guide path which is fixed adjacent the perimeter of the structure to in turn move the structure to orient the structure in a desired direction, and   c. holding the anchor lines at selected points along the guide path to hold the structure oriented in the desired direction..Iaddend.