A control device for controlling the movement of a coupling located on the movable end of a fluid transfer line of a marine loading system includes at least three actuators which each control movement of the coupling in a corresponding degree of freedom, a device positioned on or adjacent the coupling and/or a target duct for providing information on the positioning of the coupling, and a calculating device for (a) calculating the positioning of the coupling relative to the target duct on the basis of the positioning information, (b) calculating control instructions for each of the actuators which will result in movement of the coupling toward the target duct, (c) applying the control instructions to the actuators to bring the coupling toward the target duct, and (d) repeating steps (a)-(c) as necessary until the coupling is located in a position for connection to the target duct.

A loading arm includes a stand pipe, a coupler configured to be connected to a tank to deliver a product, and a pipe assembly having a first pipe end pivotally coupled to the stand pipe and a second pipe end pivotally connected to the coupler. The pipe assembly includes a pivot joint disposed between the first pipe end and the second pipe end such that the pipe assembly is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A linkage assembly has a first portion connected to the pivot joint and a second portion connected to the stand pipe. The linkage assembly is operable to allow for the positioning of the coupler at any of a plurality of points corresponding to the pipe assembly being positioned between the retracted position and the extended position. The linkage assembly is fully supported by the stand pipe such that movement of the pipe assembly does not require manipulating the weight of the linkage assembly.

A liquefied hydrogen transport method includes connecting first and second loading arms to the manifold while vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms are filled with hydrogen gas and air is mixed in piggyback lines; supplying an inactive gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of an inactive gas and air from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms; supplying hydrogen gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of hydrogen gas and an inactive gas from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second lading arms; and transporting liquefied hydrogen through any one of the vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms.

A liquefied hydrogen transport method includes connecting first and second loading arms to the manifold while vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms are filled with hydrogen gas and air is mixed in piggyback lines; supplying an inactive gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of an inactive gas and air from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms; supplying hydrogen gas to one of the piggyback lines of the first and second loading arms and taking in a gas mixture of hydrogen gas and an inactive gas from the other of the piggyback lines of the first and second lading arms; and transporting liquefied hydrogen through any one of the vacuum insulation double tubes of the first and second loading arms.

An emergency release system includes a first shut-off valve unit which is land-based; and a second shut-off valve unit which is provided for a marine vessel and separably connected to the first shut-off valve unit, and the first shut-off valve unit is provided with a reservoir container which receives liquid air generated in the first shut-off valve unit and dropped, in a state in which the second shut-off valve unit is separated from the first shut-off valve unit, and the system includes. a container support mechanism which is capable of retaining the reservoir container at a retracted position in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are connected to each other, the container support mechanism being configured to automatically shift the reservoir container to a reserving position, in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are separated from each other.

An emergency release system includes a first shut-off valve unit which is land-based; and a second shut-off valve unit which is provided for a marine vessel and separably connected to the first shut-off valve unit, and the first shut-off valve unit is provided with a reservoir container which receives liquid air generated in the first shut-off valve unit and dropped, in a state in which the second shut-off valve unit is separated from the first shut-off valve unit, and the system includes. a container support mechanism which is capable of retaining the reservoir container at a retracted position in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are connected to each other, the container support mechanism being configured to automatically shift the reservoir container to a reserving position, in a state in which the first and second shut-off valve units are separated from each other.

An object is to propose a fluid handling device for liquid hydrogen that prevents evaporation of liquid hydrogen, and moreover affords excellent heat insulation without liquefying oxygen in the vicinity. In a fluid handling device for liquid hydrogen, piping sections (1) have a heat insulation structure, a swivel joint section (2) is configured with helium gas sealed into a boundary relative-rotation section (6) between an outer ring section (3) and an inner ring section (4) with a bearing section (5) interposed, and moreover, between an outside-air-contacting wall section (7) that is in contact with the outside air and a liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8) that is in contact with liquid hydrogen, a vacuum section (9) extends in the axial direction and moreover a heat-conducting extended path section (10) is provided with one end connected to the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the other end connected to the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8), extending the heat conduction distance between the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8), and reducing heat conductivity between the outside-air-contacting wall section (7) and the liquid-hydrogen-contacting wall section (8).

There is provided a fluid transfer system (100) and method in which a transfer manifold (150) is secured to a frame (120). The frame (120) is designed to engage with a coupling point (328) in a vessel, in order to support the manifold (150) in a desired position.

A method, and a support vessel for use in the system. The system can in various embodiments include: a carrier vessel for carrying fluid hydrocarbon cargo across sea, the hydrocarbon cargo to be loaded into at least one cargo tank of the vessel; a support vessel; VOC recovery means on the support vessel for recovering volatile organic compounds, VOCs, the VOCs being produced from the cargo tank in loading the cargo tank, in use; and at least one hose extending between the carrier vessel and the support vessel for communicating gas having volatile organic compounds, VOCs, through the hose from the cargo tank of the carrier vessel to the VOC recovery means on the support vessel.

A method, and a support vessel for use in the system. The system can in various embodiments include: a carrier vessel for carrying fluid hydrocarbon cargo across sea, the hydrocarbon cargo to be loaded into at least one cargo tank of the vessel; a support vessel; VOC recovery means on the support vessel for recovering volatile organic compounds, VOCs, the VOCs being produced from the cargo tank in loading the cargo tank, in use; and at least one hose extending between the carrier vessel and the support vessel for communicating gas having volatile organic compounds, VOCs, through the hose from the cargo tank of the carrier vessel to the VOC recovery means on the support vessel.