The invention relates to a marine loading system including: an arm having a coupling system for connection to a target manifold for fluid transfer, the manifold and a target located adjacent to the manifold each having tracking means designed to make it possible to determine a relative position; actuators for controlling the movement of the arm in space; optical means supported by the coupling system and suitable for transmitting images of the tracking means; means for controlling the actuators provided on the arm; and computing means for calculating a movement trajectory of the arm towards the manifold on the basis the images of the tracking means of the target and of the manifold, transmitted by the optical means, and for generating control instructions determined on the basis of the calculated trajectory and transmitting said instructions to the control means.

An offshore fluid transfer system comprising a boom (2100) and at least one movable fluid conveying pipe (3000) attached to the boom, said movable pipe (3000) comprising, starting from its anchorage point, a length for extension, then an outer valve (3210) for coupling to a third party loading pipe, a maneuvering cable called outer maneuvering cable (4100) maneuvered from the boom (2100) being furthermore linked to the free end of the movable pipe at a point referred to as cable anchorage point, characterized in that the anchorage point is rigidly connected to the outer valve (3210). The invention also relates to the corresponding method.

An offshore fluid transfer system comprising a boom (2100) and at least one movable fluid conveying pipe (3000) attached to the boom, said movable pipe (3000) comprising, starting from its anchorage point, a length for extension, then an outer valve (3210) for coupling to a third party loading pipe, a maneuvering cable called outer maneuvering cable (4100) maneuvered from the boom (2100) being furthermore linked to the free end of the movable pipe at a point referred to as cable anchorage point, characterized in that the anchorage point is rigidly connected to the outer valve (3210). The invention also relates to the corresponding method.

A device for providing information on the positioning of a moveable coupling located on a movable end of a fluid transfer line, the other end of which is fixed to a base, includes a first GPS device which is positioned on or adjacent the coupling and provides information on the absolute positioning of the coupling in space, and a second apparatus which is adapted to cooperate directly with the first apparatus and provides information on the positioning of the base. The second apparatus is disposed on or adjacent the base and provides, on the basis of the information on the positioning of the base and the information on the positioning of the coupling, information on the relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base. Alternatively, the first apparatus is adapted to provide information on the absolute positioning of the coupling in space, the base has a fixed position in space, and the device comprises a calculator for calculating, on the basis of the information on the absolute positioning of the coupling and data on the positioning of the base, information on the relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base.

A device for providing information on the positioning of a moveable coupling located on a movable end of a fluid transfer line, the other end of which is fixed to a base, includes a first GPS device which is positioned on or adjacent the coupling and provides information on the absolute positioning of the coupling in space, and a second apparatus which is adapted to cooperate directly with the first apparatus and provides information on the positioning of the base. The second apparatus is disposed on or adjacent the base and provides, on the basis of the information on the positioning of the base and the information on the positioning of the coupling, information on the relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base. Alternatively, the first apparatus is adapted to provide information on the absolute positioning of the coupling in space, the base has a fixed position in space, and the device comprises a calculator for calculating, on the basis of the information on the absolute positioning of the coupling and data on the positioning of the base, information on the relative positioning of the coupling directly relative to the base.

A fluid transfer apparatus for transferring fluids such as hydrocarbon fuel is disclosed. The fluid transfer apparatus comprises a support member and at least one catenary hose, wherein a proximal end of each catenary hose is suspended from the support member. A distal end of each catenary hose is coupled to a transfer manifold. A tensioning member is arranged for applying a tensile force to the transfer manifold during a transfer operation.

Device (100) for achieving a temporary connection between two objects (101,102) which are movable relative to each other, comprising respective connecting means (114,154), being brought together in order to jointly establish said connection, a movable robot (110), arranged to continuously displace the first connecting means relative to the first object, a control means (120), arranged to control the movements of the robot relative to the first object, as well as a sensor means (130), arranged to continuously read a relative position between the first connecting means and the second connecting means while the said objects move relative to each other. The invention is characterised in that the control means is arranged to, while the objects move relative to each other, continuously control the robot so that the first connecting means is displaced, relative to the first object and up to the second connecting means, and there connects to the second connecting means. The invention also relates to a method.

Device (100) for achieving a temporary connection between two objects (101,102) which are movable relative to each other, comprising respective connecting means (114,154), being brought together in order to jointly establish said connection, a movable robot (110), arranged to continuously displace the first connecting means relative to the first object, a control means (120), arranged to control the movements of the robot relative to the first object, as well as a sensor means (130), arranged to continuously read a relative position between the first connecting means and the second connecting means while the said objects move relative to each other. The invention is characterised in that the control means is arranged to, while the objects move relative to each other, continuously control the robot so that the first connecting means is displaced, relative to the first object and up to the second connecting means, and there connects to the second connecting means. The invention also relates to a method.

A transfer device for transferring flowable material between a first reservoir and a second reservoir is provided having a loading device (106) mounted on a support structure (101). The loading device (106) includes several loading arm sections (103-105) mechanically connected by pivot joints (113,116,118). The transfer device further has a transfer line (122) connecting the first and second reservoir. The transfer line (122) is composed of rigid and flexible transfer line sections (123-126, 133). The flexible transfer line sections connect the rigid transfer line sections. At an upstream end at least one rigid transfer line section branches into several flexible transfer lines, which are fluidly merged into the next rigid transfer line in flow direction.

A transfer device for transferring flowable material between a first reservoir and a second reservoir is provided having a loading device (106) mounted on a support structure (101). The loading device (106) includes several loading arm sections (103-105) mechanically connected by pivot joints (113,116,118). The transfer device further has a transfer line (122) connecting the first and second reservoir. The transfer line (122) is composed of rigid and flexible transfer line sections (123-126, 133). The flexible transfer line sections connect the rigid transfer line sections. At an upstream end at least one rigid transfer line section branches into several flexible transfer lines, which are fluidly merged into the next rigid transfer line in flow direction.