Stolt Offshore S.a.

Lionel Storai

Olivier Jarry

Olivier Guitierre

There is disclosed improved mooring apparatus and method suitable for use with large offshore vessels. To avoid deploying an anchor with a full weight of mooring chain, they are deployed separately. An anchor, such as a suction anchor (), is fitted with a short chain (C) with one end permanently connected () thereto and its free end temporarily placed in a chain locator (), which is positioned so as to be accessible after deployment of the anchor to the seabed, minimising the potential for seabed material to cause disruption. The anchor with its short chain is deployed to the seabed and at some stage the free end of a mooring chain (C) is lowered to and accurately guided () into the chain locator, such that both free ends align. A pin () is inserted by an ROV to interconnect the two chains, after which the combined mooring chain (C) is tensioned, withdrawing it from the chain locator.

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Marseilles, France

Lionel Storai