The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 08, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 05, 2002
Olivier Jarry, Cormeilles en Parisis, FR;
Lionel Storai, Marseilles, FR;
Olivier Guitierre, Courbevoie, FR;
Olivier Jarry, Cormeilles en Parisis, FR;
Lionel Storai, Marseilles, FR;
Olivier Guitierre, Courbevoie, FR;
Stolt Offshore SA, , FR;
Abstract
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.