EP1400442B1 - Vertäuungsverfahren - Google Patents

Vertäuungsverfahren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1400442B1
EP1400442B1 EP03255544A EP03255544A EP1400442B1 EP 1400442 B1 EP1400442 B1 EP 1400442B1 EP 03255544 A EP03255544 A EP 03255544A EP 03255544 A EP03255544 A EP 03255544A EP 1400442 B1 EP1400442 B1 EP 1400442B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
dock
vessel
single point
loading
floating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP03255544A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1400442A1 (de
Inventor
Jacob De Baan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bluewater Energy Services BV
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Bluewater Energy Services BV
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bluewater Energy Services BV filed Critical Bluewater Energy Services BV
Publication of EP1400442A1 publication Critical patent/EP1400442A1/de
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Publication of EP1400442B1 publication Critical patent/EP1400442B1/de
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/02—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
    • B63B22/021—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids
    • B63B22/026—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids and with means to rotate the vessel around the anchored buoy
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C1/00—Dry-docking of vessels or flying-boats
    • B63C1/02—Floating docks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to apparatus for mooring a floating vessel in open sea, using a semi-submersible floating dock.
  • LNG Liquid Natural Gas
  • the LNG receiving terminals can be located offshore, away from any populated areas.
  • transferring LNG between two offshore structures can pose a number of significant technical difficulties due to the large relative motions that may result between the vessels as a result of wave action acting upon them.
  • Current offloading apparatus does little to reduce the effects of wave action upon two offshore vessels and consequently there is a need for improved fluid transfer apparatus.
  • GB 2,056,391 discloses a submersible dock comprising a frame which is connected via a rigid articulated arm to an anchoring member on the seabed. Being rigidly connected to the sea bed the frame has limited movement in a vertical direction. Consequently, it would be unsuitable for mooring a tanker in heavy seas.
  • US 3,841,501 discloses a submersible dock having a range of movement limited only by the length of the fluid supply line. There are no integral means for mooring the tanker, other than to the submersible dock itself, and so the tanker must instead be moored by attachment to a separate buoy or submerged buoyant body.
  • WO 82/01859 which constitutes the closest prior art describes a mooring tower secured to the seabed, for use in loading or unloading particulate material to or from a vessel.
  • a rotatable portion mounted on the tower is connected to a floating dock for mooring a vessel.
  • the present invention provides apparatus for mooring a floating vessel, comprising a semi-submersible floating dock, a single point mooring system and a rigid connecting member connecting the dock to the single point mooring system, wherein the dock is pivotally attached to the connecting member and characterised in that the single point mooring system is attached to the seabed by a compliant anchoring system, and the rigid connecting member is pivotally attached to the dock for movement about two mutually perpendicular axes.
  • the apparatus further comprises at least one thrust producing device mounted to the dock to facilitate movement of the dock relative to the single point mooring system or the stationary earth.
  • the floating dock may further comprise variable buoyancy means to raise and lower the level of dock in the water.
  • variable buoyancy means comprises at least one tank, means to admit water to the tank to reduce buoyancy and means to supply gas to the tank to expel water therein in order to increase buoyancy.
  • the dock may comprise a floor structure engageable against the hull of a vessel and a plurality of columns projecting upwardly from the floor structure, the columns arranged on either side of the axis to allow a vessel to enter and exit the dock in the same direction.
  • the single point mooring system comprising a floating buoy attached to the seabed by three equi-spaced anchor leg groups, to prevent excessive drift of the buoy.
  • a swivel mechanism may be fitted between the buoy and the anchor leg group.
  • Each anchor leg group typically comprises two or more generally parallel anchor legs to provide redundancy.
  • a winch mechanism is preferably mounted on the single point mooring system, having a winch line attachable to a vessel and operable to facilitate entry of the vessel into the dock.
  • the apparatus usually further comprises loading means on the dock for loading or unloading contents of a vessel moored in the dock.
  • a riser may connect a single point mooring system to a seabed structure, such as a pipeline, and fluid conduits extend from the riser to the dock for transmission of fluid to the loading means.
  • the present invention also provides a method for mooring a vessel in an offshore environment, utilising apparatus of the type described above, comprising the steps of aligning the floating dock with the direction of approach of a floating vessel, positioning the vessel within the dock, increasing the buoyancy of the dock to raise the level of the dock in the water until it engages against the underside of the hull of the vessel to suppress differential motion between the vessel and the dock, and loading or unloading material onto or from the vessel.
  • FIG. 1 A schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention can be seen in Fig. 1.
  • a loading dock shown generally at 1 is attached by a rigid arm 3 to a single point mooring system, shown generally at 5, and a winch line 21 is attached between the single point mooring system 5 and a docking vessel 10.
  • the semi-submersible loading dock 1 is arranged in a U configuration having a generally horizontal loading dock floor 7 supporting generally vertical and perpendicular uprights 9.
  • the loading dock floor 7 is rectangular in shape, with each of the longer sides oriented in a direction that is generally parallel to the sides of a docking vessel 10.
  • a typical configuration of the loading dock 1 comprises a plurality of uprights 9 along a long side and a single upright 9a located on the opposite long side. Structural members linked between the plurality of uprights 9 provide support for any operational equipment.
  • the single upright 9a acts as a guide when manoeuvring the vessel 10 into the dock 1.
  • the rigid arm 3 is rotatably attached to the loading dock floor 7 at the apex of a triangular section 13 which is in turn attached to the short side of the loading dock floor 7 on the exit side of the loading dock 1.
  • the single point mooring system 5 consists of a mooring buoy 17 secured to the sea bed by a compliant anchoring system, such as a number of catenary anchor legs 15, such that movement of the buoy 17 is restricted within known parameters.
  • This mooring system 5 allows vertical movement of the mooring buoy 17 but constrains this movement to a relatively small column of water.
  • the rigid arm 3 is attached to the mooring buoy 17 and acts to position the loading dock 1 at a sufficient distance from the single point mooring 5 such that a vessel 10 may be positioned within the loading dock 1 without colliding with the mooring buoy 17.
  • the arm 3 typically has two axes of movement at its point of attachment to the loading dock 1, best seen in Figure 2.
  • the first axis 28 is a substantially vertical axis, generally perpendicular to the loading dock floor 7, enabling the loading dock 1 to rotate relative to the arm 3 in a generally horizontal plane in response to relative movements between the loading dock 1 and the mooring buoy 17, particularly for alignment purposes on the approach of a vessel 10.
  • the second axis 30 is a substantially horizontal axis enabling the arm 3 to pivot in a substantially vertical plane in response to relative displacements between a vessel 10 and the mooring buoy 17.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is equipped with a plurality of motion inducing devices.
  • thrusters 19 typically attached to the long sides of the loading dock, are used in the preliminary stages to align the long axis of the loading dock 1 with the line of approach of the vessel 10 and during the final stages of docking, to position the loading dock 1 such that contact between the sides of the vessel 10 and the uprights 9 is limited.
  • a winch (not shown) and winch line 21, typically integral to the mooring buoy 17, are provided for attachment to an approaching vessel 10 to further control progress of the vessel 10 into the loading dock.
  • the loading dock floor 7 is typically constructed from steel box section girders permanently attached together in a single plane in a ladder type configuration.
  • the loading dock floor 7 may have two side beams spaced apart by transverse members.
  • the loading dock floor 7 is constructed from two side beams 8 and three main transverse members 12 and two smaller cross section tubular bracing members 11.
  • two further members extend from one end of the frame 7 to form a triangular section 13, at the apex of which the arm 3 is attached.
  • floatation chambers 23 which enable the buoyancy of the loading dock 1 to be increased or decreased and hence facilitate raising or lowering of the loading dock 1.
  • floatation chambers 23 are vented to allow egress of air and ingress of water.
  • the floatation chambers 23 are vented to permit expulsion of water under the pressure of air supplied to the floatation chambers 23 from a compressed air supply.
  • the apparatus of the present invention achieves positive engagement of the floating structures by using the adjustable buoyancy floatation chambers 23 which are able to force the loading dock floor 7 into contact with the bottom of the hull of the vessel 10 with sufficient upthrust that the loading dock 1 and vessel 10 move in unison.
  • the uprights 9,9a are preferably cylindrical and extend perpendicularly upwards from the loading dock floor 7 so that they protrude above the surface of the water.
  • a horizontal beam 14 and two diagonal braces 16 form a structure which acts as a support for the operational equipment of the loading dock 1.
  • the loading dock 1 also comprises fluid transfer means 25, typically LNG loading/unloading equipment, processing equipment, for example a LNG re-gasification plant 20, and operational facilities, for example personnel living quarters and/or a helideck 18.
  • the loading dock floor 7 and uprights 9 of the loading dock 1 are equipped with fenders 22.
  • the fenders 22 attached to the loading dock floor 7 are also intended to provide additional grip between the loading dock floor 7 and the bottom of the hull and to prevent damage caused by movement between the loading dock floor 7 and the hull of the vessel.
  • the arm 3 is constructed in a similar way to the loading dock floor 7 having two side beams 24 between which cross members and bracing are positioned. Due to its relatively slender nature it is desirable that the overall mass be kept to a minimum to decrease flexure of the arm 3.
  • the arm 3 is fixed to the apex of the triangular section 13 of loading dock floor 7 by a coupling 27 which allows the arm 3 to rotate about the vertical axis 28 and pivot about the horizontal axis 30 and at its distal end the arm 3 is fixed to the mooring buoy 17.
  • the mooring buoy 17 is the surface component of the single point mooring system 5 and is attached to the sea bed by anchor legs 15. To further facilitate the movement of the loading dock 1 the mooring buoy 17 is rotatably attached to these anchor legs 15. Attached beneath the anchor legs 15 are attached to this. In the preferred embodiment, there are three anchor legs 15 spaced at approximately 120 degrees from each other. The use of three anchor legs 15, each supplying approximately the same degree of tethering force, helps to limit movement of the buoy 17 within a vertical column of water. Each of the three anchor legs 15 may comprise three individual, and generally parallel, anchor lines. Each of the anchor lines, which are typically anchor chains, are capable of supporting the loads applied to the mooring buoy 17, the additional anchor lines acting as redundant members in case of failure of one or more of the anchor lines.
  • the mooring buoy 17 may support a flexible riser 31 in order to transfer fluid between a subsea pipeline connected to a shoreline and the vessel 10.
  • a further pipeline which may either be a flexible pipeline or a rigid pipeline having flexible joints, may be run via the arm 3.
  • FIG. 3 shows a vessel 10, in this case a LNG tanker, in a docked configuration with the loading dock 1.
  • the uprights 9 protrude above the surface of the water to an appropriate height such that fluid transfer means 25 can be extended between the loading dock 1 and the docked vessel 10.
  • the preferred location for the vessel 10 is equidistant the two rows of uprights 9, to reduce any pitching moments. This prevents unnecessary damage being caused by contact between the sides of the hull and the uprights 9 and provides sufficient room in which to manoeuvre the fluid transfer means 25.
  • the floatation tanks When the loading dock 1 is empty the floatation tanks are flooded to position it in a semi-submerged state. This serves two purposes. Firstly, it prepares the loading dock 1 to receive a new vessel 10 and secondly it lowers the centre of gravity of the loading dock 1 with respect to the surface of the water and consequently increases its stability.
  • the loading dock 1 On the approach of a vessel 10 the loading dock 1 must be manoeuvred into a position in which its longitudinal axis is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the vessel 10.
  • the loading dock 1, the arm 3 and the vessel 10 should be aligned in such a way that once fluid transfer is complete the vessel 10 may exit from the dock in a forwards direction without colliding with the mooring buoy 17. This is shown in Figure 1 by the angular offset between the arm 3 and the longitudinal axis of the loading dock 1.
  • Movement of the loading dock 1 is induced by the thrusters 19 located along the sides of the loading dock 1. Control of these thrusters 19 is effected by crew members located upon the loading dock 1. Approach of the vessel 10 to the loading dock 1 is made by the vessel 10 under its own power, however, once the vessel 10 is close to the loading dock 1 a winch line 21 is attached to the bow of the vessel 10 so that the ship can be guided into the loading dock 1 under greater control.
  • the winch line 21 is attached to a winch which is integral with the mooring buoy 17. Connection between the mooring buoy 17 and the docking vessel 10 is achieved using known techniques.
  • a measured further increase in the buoyancy of the tanks then acts to ensure contact between the vessel 10 and the loading dock 1 for all sea conditions, thus suppressing differential motion between the dock 1 and the vessel 10.
  • the vertical movement of the loading dock 1 is enabled by pivoting of the arm 3 around the horizontal axis 30.
  • the floatation tanks 23 can be flooded and the loading dock floor 7 can be lowered away from the vessel 10 to its default empty position. Any securing lines may now be removed and with the assistance of the mooring buoy 17 winch the vessel 10 may leave the loading dock 1. Use of the thrusters 19 may additionally be required to ensure that contact is not made between the hull and the uprights 9.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Vorrichtung zum Festmachen eines schwimmenden Schiffs (10), umfassend ein halb untertauchbares Schwimmdock (1), ein Einpunkt-Festmachersystem (5) und ein festes Verbindungselement (3), welches das Dock (1) mit dem Einpunkt-Festmachersystem (5) verbindet, wobei das Dock (1) schwenkbar an dem Verbindungselement (3) befestigt ist, und dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Einpunkt-Festmachersystem (5) am Meeresboden mittels eines passenden Verankerungssystems befestigt ist, und wobei das feste Verbindungselement (3) zum Bewegen um zwei zueinander orthogonale Achsen schwenkbar an dem Dock (1) befestigt ist.
  2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, welche ferner wenigstens eine an dem Dock (1) befestigte, Schub erzeugende Vorrichtung (19) umfasst, um eine Bewegung des Docks bezüglich des Einpunkt-Festmachersystems (5) oder bezüglich des stationären Bodens zu erleichtern.
  3. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Schwimmdock (1) ferner variable Auftriebsmittel umfasst, um die Höhe des Docks (1) im Wasser zu erhöhen oder abzusenken.
  4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, wobei das variable Auftriebsmittel wenigstens einen Tank (23), ein Mittel zum Aufnehmen von Wasser in den Tank (23) zum Verringern des Auftriebs und ein Mittel zum Zuführen von Gas in den Tank (23) zum Ausstoßen des Wassers darin zum Vergrößern des Auftriebs umfasst.
  5. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3 oder Anspruch 4, wobei das Dock (1) eine an dem Rumpf eines Schiffes (10) angreifende Bodenstruktur (7) und eine Vielzahl von der Bodenstruktur (7) aufragende Säulen (9) umfasst, wobei die Säulen (9) angeordnet sind, um dem Schiff zu ermöglichen, in das Dock hinein und aus dem Dock heraus zu gelangen.
  6. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Einpunkt-Festmachersystem (5) einen schwimmenden Auftriebskörper (17) umfasst, der am Meeresboden durch drei, im gleichen Abstand zueinander angeordnete Verankerungsbein-Gruppen (15) befestigt ist.
  7. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, welche ferner einen Schwenkmechanismus zwischen dem Auftriebskörper und den Ankerbein-Gruppen umfasst.
  8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6 oder Anspruch 7, wobei jede Ankerbein-Gruppe (15) zwei oder mehr, im Allgemeinen parallele Ankerbeine umfasst.
  9. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, welche ferner einen an dem Einpunkt-Festmachersystem (5) angebrachten Windenmechanismus umfasst, mit einer Windenleine (21), die an einem Schiff (10) befestigt werden kann und betreibbar ist, um das Einbringen des Schiffs (10) in das Dock (1) zu erleichtern.
  10. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, welche ferner an dem Dock (1) Lademittel (25) zum Laden oder Entladen von Material auf oder von einem in dem Dock (1) festgemachten Schiff (10) umfasst.
  11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 10, welche ferner ein Steigrohr (31) zum Verbinden des Einpunkt-Festmachersystems mit einer Meeresbodenstruktur sowie Flüssigkeitsleitungen umfasst, welche von dem Steigrohr (31) zu dem Dock (1) verlaufen, um Flüssigkeiten zu dem Lademittel zu transportieren.
  12. Verfahren zum Festmachen eines Schiffs in einem Umfeld auf offener See unter Verwendung der Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, umfassend die Schritte des Ausrichtens des Docks (1) mit der Annäherungsrichtung eines schwimmenden Schiffs (10), des Positionierens des Schiffs (10) in dem Dock (1), des Vergrößerns des Auftriebs des Docks (1) zum Erhöhen der Höhe des Docks (1) im Wasser bis es an der Unterseite des Rumpfs des Schiffs (10) angreift, um eine Differentialbewegung zwischen dem Schiff (10) und dem Dock (1) zu verhindern, und des Ladens oder Entladens von Material auf das oder von dem Schiff (10).
EP03255544A 2002-09-18 2003-09-05 Vertäuungsverfahren Expired - Lifetime EP1400442B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0221698 2002-09-18
GB0221698A GB2393169B (en) 2002-09-18 2002-09-18 Mooring apparatus incorporating a partly submerged floating dock

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1400442A1 EP1400442A1 (de) 2004-03-24
EP1400442B1 true EP1400442B1 (de) 2006-11-22

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Family Applications (1)

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EP03255544A Expired - Lifetime EP1400442B1 (de) 2002-09-18 2003-09-05 Vertäuungsverfahren

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1400442B1 (de)
CY (1) CY1105952T1 (de)
GB (1) GB2393169B (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014031075A1 (en) * 2012-08-23 2014-02-27 Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd Semi-submersible integrated port

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2399329B (en) * 2003-03-13 2005-02-02 Bluewater Energy Services Bv Mooring apparatus
US7287484B2 (en) * 2003-05-01 2007-10-30 David Charles Landry Berthing method and system
FR2874589B1 (fr) * 2004-09-01 2006-11-03 Technip France Sa Methode et installation de chargement et dechargement de gaz naturel comprime
EP1963171B1 (de) 2005-12-22 2011-03-23 Bluewater Energy Services B.V. Vetäuungssystem
SG193028A1 (de) 2012-02-07 2013-09-30 Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1421700A (fr) 1964-12-16 1965-12-17 Fmc Corp Installation d'amarrage d'un navire et de transfert d'un fluide
FR1465759A (fr) * 1965-12-16 1967-01-13 Shell Int Research Bouée d'amarrage pour charger et décharger des navires
DE1938018A1 (de) * 1969-07-23 1971-01-28 Mannesmann Ag Anlage zum Be- und Entladen von Tankschiffen
NL7115916A (de) 1971-11-18 1973-05-22
IT1122786B (it) 1979-08-17 1986-04-23 Magnanini Umberto Struttura di ormeggio rotante temporaneo o permanente per navi o natanti
WO1982001859A1 (en) * 1980-11-24 1982-06-10 Brown John G Azimuthal mooring material handling terminal and tower
JPS59179486A (ja) * 1983-03-31 1984-10-12 Akira Seo 一点係船装置
GB2328197B (en) * 1997-08-12 1999-08-11 Bluewater Terminal Systems Nv Fluid transfer system
NO984968L (no) * 1998-10-26 2000-04-27 Lmg Marin Anordning for posisjonering av fartøy

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014031075A1 (en) * 2012-08-23 2014-02-27 Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd Semi-submersible integrated port
US9463848B2 (en) 2012-08-23 2016-10-11 Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd Semi-submersible integrated port

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0221698D0 (en) 2002-10-30
GB2393169A (en) 2004-03-24
GB2393169B (en) 2004-12-22
CY1105952T1 (el) 2011-04-06
EP1400442A1 (de) 2004-03-24

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