A mechanical attachment mechanism includes a clamp and a receptacle. The clamp includes a trigger arm and catchment fingers biased to pivot toward the trigger arm. The receptacle includes an aligner and curved grooves. The curved grooves each have open exterior and closed interior ends. The trigger arm of the clamp is biased from a triggered position toward secured and extended positions. The extended position is for the trigger arm beginning and ending contact between the trigger arm and the aligner. The extended position is also for the trigger arm capturing the catchment fingers of the clamp from the open exterior end of the curved grooves of the receptacle. The triggered position is for the trigger arm releasing the catchment fingers into the curved grooves. The secured position is for securing the clamp and the receptacle together with the catchment fingers engaging the closed interior end of the curved grooves.

Disclosed is a mooring system (1) for mooring a floating vessel. The mooring system includes a connector structure (10) for attachment to a mooring line and an anchor structure (20) to be anchored to a sea bed. The connector structure comprises an engagement portion (14) and an attachment portion (12). The anchor structure comprises an open guide channel (22) extending from an entrance region (24) to a terminal region (26); and sized to accommodate at least the engagement portion of the connector structure. A longitudinal opening to the guide channel provides access for a mooring line connected to the attachment portion, while the connector and anchor structures are connected and disconnected. Connection and disconnection can be controlled from the water surface.

Yoke mooring systems and processes for using same. The system can include a turntable connected to and rotatable with respect to a base. A yoke can be connected to the turntable such that the yoke can at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and at least partially rotate about a second axis that can be orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A first and second link arm can be connected to the yoke and to a first component of a first and a second releasable connector, respectively. A first and second lifting line can be connected to the second end of the first and second link arms, respectively. A first and second lifting device can be disposed on a vessel and configured to be connected to a second end of the first and second lifting lines, respectively, to lift and lower the link arms and the yoke.

A disconnectable mooring system for offshore semi-submersible floating structures. A disconnectable buoy has a number of mooring lines which include a buoy chain between the mooring chain and the buoy. The mooring chain and the buoy chain are connected via a three way mooring connector, with the third connection configured to pull the mooring connector to a mooring point on the structure. In a first configuration the buoy is disconnected and supports the mooring chains for recovery at shallow depths to be pulled in. In a second configuration, the mooring lines are pulled in via the mooring connectors thereby providing a spread mooring to the structure with the buoy chain left as a catenary between the buoy and mooring point.

Connectors assemblies. The connector assembly can include a stinger and a sleeve assembly that includes a latching mechanism. An outer surface of the stinger can define first and second grooves located toward first and second ends, respectively, thereof. An inner surface of the sleeve assembly can define first and second shoulders located toward first and second ends, respectively, thereof. The latching mechanism can be in an unlocked position or a locked position. When the latching mechanism is unlocked the stinger can be inserted into or removed from the sleeve assembly. When the stinger is within the sleeve assembly and the latching mechanism is locked, the latching mechanism can maintain a first split ring partially within the first groove and partially on the first shoulder and a second split ring partially within the second groove and partially on the second shoulder to secure the stinger within the sleeve assembly.

A disconnectable mooring system for offshore semi-submersible floating structures. A disconnectable buoy has a number of mooring lines which include a buoy chain between the mooring chain and the buoy. The mooring chain and the buoy chain are connected via a three way mooring connector, with the third connection configured to pull the mooring connector to a mooring point on the structure. In a first configuration the buoy is disconnected and supports the mooring chains for recovery at shallow depths to be pulled in. In a second configuration, the mooring lines are pulled in via the mooring connectors thereby providing a spread mooring to the structure with the buoy chain left as a catenary between the buoy and mooring point.

Connector assemblies and processes for using same. In some embodiments, a connector assembly can include a stinger and a sleeve assembly. An outer surface of the stinger can define first and second grooves. The sleeve assembly can include a structural ring, a support ring, and first and second retainer rings. The structural ring can define a first shoulder. The support ring can be connected to the structural ring and can define a second shoulder. The first and second retainer rings can be independently movable between an unlocked position and a locked position. When the stinger is positioned within the sleeve assembly, the first retainer ring can maintain a first split ring in a position partially within the first groove and partially on the first shoulder and/or the second retainer ring can maintain a second split ring in a position partially within the second groove and partially on the second shoulder.

Yoke mooring systems and processes for using same. The system can include a turntable connected to and rotatable with respect to a base. A yoke can be connected to the turntable such that the yoke can at least partially rotate about a longitudinal axis of the yoke and at least partially rotate about a second axis that can be orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. A first and second link arm can be connected to the yoke and to a first component of a first and a second releasable connector, respectively. A first and second lifting line can be connected to the second end of the first and second link arms, respectively. A first and second lifting device can be disposed on a vessel and configured to be connected to a second end of the first and second lifting lines, respectively, to lift and lower the link arms and the yoke.