Mooring system

Abstract

A mooring system comprises a pair of first mooring elements configured at first ends for connection to a floating vessel, and a pair of second mooring elements configured at first ends for connection to a seabed below a water surface. A restrictor member is connected between said pair of first mooring elements' second ends. The restrictor member has a length dimension that is less than or equal to the width of the vessel to which the mooring system is connected.

Claims

1. A mooring system, comprising: a floating vessel having a bow mooring system and a stern mooring system, characterized in that: the bow mooring system comprises: a pair of first bow mooring elements connected at first ends to a bow portion of the floating vessel; a pair of second bow mooring elements configured at first ends for connection to a seabed below a water surface; and a bow restrictor member connected between second ends of said pair of first bow mooring elements, said pair of second bow mooring elements connected to respective ends of the bow restrictor member; and the stern mooring system comprises: a pair of first stern mooring elements connected at first ends to a stern portion of the floating vessel; a pair of second stern mooring elements configured at first ends for connection to a seabed below a water surface; and a stern restrictor member connected between second ends of said pair of first stern mooring elements, said pair of second stern mooring elements connected to respective ends of the stern restrictor member, wherein the floating vessel is movable between a state of equilibrium and a maximum backward offset, and between the state of equilibrium and a maximum forward offset.

2. The mooring system of claim 1, wherein the pair of second bow mooring elements and/or second stern mooring elements comprise a first section comprising synthetic fibre ropes and a second section comprising chains that extend to the seabed.

3. The mooring system of claim 1, wherein the pair of first bow mooring elements and/or pair of first stern mooring elements comprise chains.

4. The mooring system of claim 1, wherein: the bow and stern restrictor members are located below the water surface when the floating vessel is in a state of equilibrium; the bow restrictor member is elevated to a level above the stern restrictor member when the floating vessel is in a maximum backward offset; and the stern restrictor member is elevated to a level above the bow restrictor member when the floating vessel is in a maximum forward offset.

5. The mooring system of claim 1, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each comprise an inelastic member and the pairs of first and second bow mooring elements are connected to the bow restrictor member at opposite ends of the bow restrictor member.

6. The mooring system of claim 5, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each have a length dimension between said ends that is less than or equal to a width of the floating vessel to which the mooring system is connected.

7. The mooring system of claim 1, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each comprise a stiff member.

8. The mooring system of claim 1, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each comprises one or more chains or ropes.

9. An assembly of floating vessels, comprising: a first floating vessel comprising: a bow mooring system and a stern mooring system, characterized in that: the bow mooring system comprises: a pair of first bow mooring elements connected at first ends to a bow portion of the first floating vessel; a pair of second bow mooring elements configured at first ends for connection to a seabed below a water surface; and a bow restrictor member connected between second ends of said pair of first bow mooring elements, said pair of second bow mooring elements connected to respective ends of the bow restrictor member; and the stern mooring system comprises: a pair of first stern mooring elements connected at first ends to a stern portion of the first floating vessel; a pair of second stern mooring elements configured at first ends for connection to a seabed below a water surface; and a stern restrictor member connected between second ends of said pair of first stern mooring elements, said pair of second stern mooring elements connected to respective ends of the stern restrictor member, wherein the first floating vessel is movable between a state of equilibrium and a maximum backward offset, and between the state of equilibrium and a maximum forward offset; and a second floating vessel; characterized in that the first floating vessel and the second floating vessel are moored alongside each other.

10. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 9, wherein the first floating vessel is a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) ship, and the second floating vessel is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier.

11. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 9, wherein the pair of second bow mooring elements and/or second stern mooring elements comprise a first section comprising synthetic fibre ropes and a second section comprising chains that extend to the seabed.

12. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 9, wherein the pair of first bow mooring elements and/or pair of first stern mooring elements comprise chains.

13. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 9, wherein: the bow and stern restrictor members are located below the water surface when the first floating vessel is in a state of equilibrium; the bow restrictor member is elevated to a level above the stern restrictor member when the first floating vessel is in a maximum backward offset; and the stern restrictor member is elevated to a level above the bow restrictor member when the first floating vessel is in a maximum forward offset.

14. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 9, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each comprise an inelastic member and the pairs of first and second bow mooring elements are connected to the bow restrictor member at opposite ends of the bow restrictor member.

15. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 14, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each have a length dimension between said ends that is less than or equal to a width of the first floating vessel to which the bow mooring system is connected.

16. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 9, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each comprise a stiff member.

17. The assembly of floating vessels of claim 9, wherein the bow restrictor member and the stern restrictor member each comprises one or more chains or ropes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) These and other characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, wherein:

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of an embodiment of the invented mooring system, in use for mooring a floating vessel;

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic sketch corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 2;

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bow mooring restrictor;

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a stern mooring restrictor;

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view schematic sketch illustrating the invented mooring system in a mooring state in equilibrium;

(7) FIG. 7 is a side view schematic sketch illustrating the invented mooring system in a mooring state with maximum backward offset;

(8) FIG. 8 is a side view schematic sketch illustrating the invented mooring system in a mooring state with maximum forward offset;

(9) FIG. 9 is a side view schematic sketch illustrating the invented mooring system in a mooring state in maximum sideways tension;

(10) FIG. 10 is a front view of an embodiment of the invented mooring system, in use for mooring a floating vessel, on a sideways (to starboard) offset state;

(11) FIG. 11 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invented mooring system, in use for mooring a floating vessel, and also showing another vessel moored alongside the floating vessel; and

(12) FIGS. 12a and 12b are perspective views illustrating alternative embodiments of the mooring restrictor. The dotted lines indicate that the mooring restrictor chains are interconnected and may have a length that suit the applicable configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL EMBODIMENT

(13) The following description will use terms such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “lateral”, “back and forth”, “up and down”, “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “forward”, “rear”, etc. These terms generally refer to the views and orientations as shown in the drawings and that are associated with a normal use of the invention. The terms are used for the reader's convenience only and shall not be limiting.

(14) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the invented mooring system, in use for mooring a floating vessel 1, for example a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) ship 1. An export gas riser 2 is routed from a balcony along one side of the ship 1. An umbilical (not shown) may be included for control and operation of a seabed Pipeline End Manifold (PLEM; not shown). The umbilical may be stand-alone or piggy-backed to the riser (preferred).

(15) In the illustrated embodiment, the ship 1 is moored via a bow mooring system 3 and a stern (hold-back) mooring system 4. The bow mooring system 3 and the stern mooring system 4 may in principle be similar (and thus generally be referred to as a “mooring system”).

(16) The bow mooring system 3 comprises in the illustrated embodiment two upper mooring elements 31a, 31b. Each of the upper mooring elements is at one end connected to the ship's 1 bow portion in a manner which is well known in the art (e.g. to winches on the ship's deck). The upper mooring elements 31a, 31b may comprise wires, ropes, lines, chains, or any other flexible mooring element known in the art. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, each upper mooring element 31a, 31b comprises three mooring chains, but the invention shall not be limited to this number or type of mooring element.

(17) Each upper mooring element 31a, 31b is at its other end connected to generally opposite ends of an elongate element 34 which in the following will be referred to as a mooring restrictor. Also connected to (and generally at opposite ends of) the mooring restrictor 34, are two lower mooring elements 35a, 35b. These lower mooring elements are connected between the mooring restrictor 34 and respective seabed anchors (not shown) and extend in a catenary fashion in the body of water. The mooring elements 35a, 35b may comprise wires, ropes, lines, chains, or any other flexible mooring element known in the art.

(18) In the illustrated embodiment, each lower mooring element 35a, 35b comprises a first section 32a, 32b that may comprise synthetic fibre ropes (e.g. polyester) and a second section 33a, 33b that comprises chains and extend to the seabed anchors. FIGS. 1-3 show that each lower mooring element 35a, 35b comprises three elements (lines, ropes, chains, etc.), but the invention shall not be limited to this number or type of mooring element.

(19) The stern mooring system 4 comprises in the illustrated embodiment two upper mooring elements 41a, 41b. Each of the upper mooring elements is at one end connected to the ship's 1 stern portion in a manner which is well known in the art (e.g. to winches on the ship's deck). The upper mooring elements 41a, 41b may comprise wires, ropes, lines, chains, or any other flexible mooring element known in the art. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, each upper mooring element 41a, 41b comprises two mooring chains, but the invention shall not be limited to this number or type of mooring element.

(20) Each upper mooring element 41a, 41b is at its other end connected to generally opposite ends of an elongate element 44 which in the following will be referred to as a mooring restrictor. Also connected to (and generally at opposite ends of) the mooring restrictor 44, are two lower mooring elements 45a, 45b. These lower mooring elements are connected between the mooring restrictor 44 and respective seabed anchors (not shown) and extend in a catenary fashion in the body of water. The mooring elements 45a, 45b may comprise wires, ropes, lines, chains, or any other flexible mooring element known in the art.

(21) In the illustrated embodiment, each lower mooring element 45a, 45b comprises a first section 42a, 42b that may comprise synthetic fibre ropes (e.g. polyester) and a second section 43a, 43b that comprises chains and extend to the seabed anchors. FIGS. 1-3 show that each lower mooring element 45a, 45b comprises three elements (lines, ropes, chains, etc.), but the invention shall not be limited to this number or type of mooring element.

(22) FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the mooring restrictor 34, which serves to hold the mooring lines together, in order to avoid interference with any ship moored alongside the ship 1 (See e.g. FIG. 11, described below). The system comprises a restrictor triangle having a bar (the mooring restrictor) with the leeward lines relocated to point forward, resulting in a 3+3 bow mooring line configuration in the illustrated embodiment. The horizontal motions at the mooring restrictor are small. The Restricted Catenary Mooring (RCM) may be split in the following key components: Mooring hang-off at deck level Handling equipment Upper mooring hang-off The mooring, 3+3 lines assumed with fluke anchors. The mooring restriction (The Restrictor Bar) close to the bow/stern. A riser with PLEM for gas pipeline to shore and an umbilical for PLEM control

(23) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a mooring restrictor 44 for the stern holdback lines in a stern RCM system 4. These lines may be similar to the bow mooring, but with e.g. 2+2 lines if weather permits. See also FIG. 11. The upper part (above the restrictor) is chains, while the first portion of the lower lines are suggested to be buoyant polyester ropes in order to avoid interference with the existing pipelines and/or provide flexibility into the lines.

(24) The mooring restrictors 34, 44 may be made from a reinforced pipe structure with a pad eye structure at each end. The mooring lines are attached with H-links.

(25) FIG. 6 shows the ship 1 and the mooring system according to the invention in a state of equilibrium. Reference letter S denotes the water surface. Note that the mooring restrictors 34, 44 are located below and near the water surface S.

(26) FIG. 7 illustrates a maximum backward offset, and shows how the bow mooring restrictor 34 has been elevated above the water surface S, while the stern mooring restrictor 44 has sunk deeper into the water.

(27) FIG. 8 illustrates a maximum forward offset, and shows how the stern mooring restrictor 44 has been elevated above the water surface S, while the bow mooring restrictor 34 has sunk deeper into the water.

(28) FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrates the ship in a state of maximum sideways tension, but in equilibrium in the fore-aft direction.

(29) FIG. 11 shows a ship (e.g. an FRSU ship) 1 moored with a bow mooring system 3 and a (stern) hold-back system 4, and a ship 5 (e.g. an LNGC) moored alongside.

(30) Referring to FIGS. 12a and 12b, the mooring restrictors (bow and/or stern) may in other embodiments comprise one or more chains, wires or ropes, but a stiff connection which is considered to be more durable. Here, the mooring system 6 comprises upper mooring elements 61a,b that at one end are connected to the ship's bow portion or stern portion and at the other end are connected to a mooring restrictor 64. Lower mooring elements 62a,b are connected between the mooring restrictor 64 and respective seabed anchors (not shown) and extend in a catenary fashion in the body of water. It should be understood that this mooring system 6 may be used at the bow or at the stern, and that the number or chains and ropes may be dimensioned according to the applicable situation. The major difference between the mooring restrictors 34, 44 described above, and the alternative mooring restrictor 64, it that the latter comprises one or more chains (two shown in FIG. 12), which are rigid in tension. The mooring restrictor chains are at each end connected to end links 65a,b, which in turn are connected to respective mooring links 66a,b. The upper 61a,b and lower 62a,b mooring elements are connected to respective mooring links 66a,b.