US 12,479,537 B2
Mooring system and method
Calum Miller, Kirkwall (GB); David Clouston, Kirkwall (GB); Thomas Hugon, Kirkwall (GB); and William Annal, Kirkwall (GB)
Assigned to ORBITAL MARINE POWER LIMITED, Kirkwall (GB)
Appl. No. 17/798,760
Filed by ORBITAL MARINE POWER LIMITED, Orkney (GB)
PCT Filed Feb. 4, 2021, PCT No. PCT/GB2021/050240
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/160992, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 19, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2001866 (GB), filed on Feb. 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0110436 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. B63B 21/50 (2006.01); B63B 21/00 (2006.01); B63B 21/04 (2006.01); B63B 21/20 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 21/50 (2013.01) [B63B 21/04 (2013.01); B63B 2021/004 (2013.01); B63B 2021/203 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mooring system for mooring a floating vessel, comprising:
a connector structure comprising an attachment portion for attaching to a mooring line, and an engagement portion; and
an anchor structure configured to be anchored to a sea bed,
wherein the anchor structure comprises an open guide channel extending from an entrance region to a terminal region, and sized to accommodate at least the engagement portion of the connector structure,
wherein a longitudinal opening extends upwardly from the open guide channel, providing access for a mooring line connected to the attachment portion when the engagement portion is in the guide channel,
wherein, when the engagement portion is engaged with the terminal region of the guide channel, at least the terminal region is configured to support the connector structure, and the engagement portion is retained by the terminal region against movement of the engagement portion out of the guide channel upward from the entrance region.