GB1207935A - Method for self-mooring of a ship to a one-point mooring system - Google Patents

Abstract

1,207,935. Mooring vessels to buoys. SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ N.V. 6 May, 1969 [8 May, 1968], No. 23051/69. Heading B7A. An arrangement for mooring a tanker 46, Fig. 1, to a buoy 1 equipped with a floating mooring cable 17 and floating loading and unloading hoses 5, 6 for connection to the tanker, includes a buoy 16 attached to cable 17 and hoses 5, 6 by bracing cables 19 and 13 and self-propelled so as to maintain cable 17 and hoses 5, 6 stretched radially of the buoy. The bracing cable 19 of mooring cable 17 is connected to a cable 40 which passes over a sheave 39, Fig. 6, and through a tube 37 on buoy 16, the lower end of cable 40 carrying a weight 41 slidable within tube 37, which also carries a weight 38. In use, a grapple is used on tanker 46 to haul cable 19 on board, thereby raising weight 41 within tube 37. Cable 19 is then disconnected from cable 40, cable 19 being subsequently connected to cable 50, and cable 40 to cable 52, and the tanker winched into its moored position with its bow moored to buoy 1, and buoy 16 moored to the tanker stern. The grapple is then used to haul cable 13 with hoses 5, 6 on board, cable 13 being disconnected from the hoses and secured to the tanker stern, and the hoses connected to the loading and unloading lines of the tanker, Fig. 5 (not shown). Buoy 16 is continuously propelled by an I.C. engine 22 or electric motor driving a caged propeller 20, or a water or air jet. In the I.C. engine-driven arrangement shown, air and exhaust pipes 25, 26 and a fuel storage tank 23 are provided, a pump 34 automatically controlling the amount of water ballast in tank 29 in proportion with the quantity of fuel. The buoy also has a beacon 45, man hole 30, guard rail 32 and fender 33. The hose bracing cable 13 incorporates a nylon rope portion 15 acting as a shock absorber. Alternatively, the hoses may . be slidably connected to the cable 13.