US 12,466,519 B2
Disconnectable mooring system
Malcolm Bowie, Aberdeen (GB)
Assigned to ENCOMARA LIMITED, Aberdeen (GB)
Appl. No. 17/926,895
Filed by SLLP 134 Limited, Aberdeen (GB)
PCT Filed May 21, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/063656
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/234148, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 25, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2007691 (GB), filed on May 22, 2020; and application No. 2014361 (GB), filed on Sep. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0094823 A1, Mar. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B63B 21/50 (2006.01); B63B 21/00 (2006.01); B63B 21/20 (2006.01); B63B 21/26 (2006.01); B63B 22/02 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 21/50 (2013.01) [B63B 21/20 (2013.01); B63B 21/26 (2013.01); B63B 22/021 (2013.01); B63B 2021/004 (2013.01); B63B 2022/028 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A disconnectable mooring system for offshore semi-submersible floating structures, comprising:
a buoy including means to connect and disconnect from the structure;
a plurality of mooring lines;
each mooring line comprising a mooring chain, the mooring chain having a first end connected to an anchor on a seabed;
at least one mooring line also comprising a buoy chain, a first end of the buoy chain being connected to a second end of the mooring chain via a mooring connector and a second end of the buoy chain being connected to the buoy;
wherein, in use: in a first configuration, the buoy is disconnected from the structure and the buoy chain supports the mooring chain, preventing the mooring connector contacting the seabed; and
in a second configuration, the buoy is connected to the structure and the mooring chain is pulled in via the mooring connector to a mooring point on the structure to tension the mooring chain, thereby providing a spread to the structure with the buoy chain being a catenary.