Single point mooring system

Claim 2

A structure for use in offshore mooring and servicing of seagoing vessels which comprises: a. a unitary, self supporting, substantially hollow, rigid fluid transporting boom adapted to be connected to one end thereof to a submerged point of communication with a submarine fluid transport conduit and to extend therefrom above the water surface; b. means for mooring and establishing fluid transport communication with the seagoing vessel at the opposed end of said boom; and c. flotation means connected to and surrounding said boom along a portion of the length thereof, said flotation means containing means to vary the buoyancy of said boom and to maintain said means for mooring and fluid transport communication above the water surface.

Claim 3

The structure as claimed in claim 1 in combination with an impact-resistant wave fairing connected to said boom, said wave fairing adapted to intersect the water surface when said boom is at rest.

Claim 4

A structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the wave fairing contains said flotation means.

Claim 5

A structure as claimed in claim 3 in which impact-resistant wave fairing is provided with means to vary the buoyancy of the boom.

Claim 6

A structure as claimed in claim 4 in which the means to vary the buoyancy of the boom comprises a normally submerged chamber in open communication with water and in connectable communication with the pressurized gas supply.

Claim 7

A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the boom is el shaped having: a. a normally submerged horizontal leg adapted to be connected to a submerged point with the submarine fluid transport conduit and containing the means of flotation; and b. a vertically extending leg adapted to extend to at least the water surface and connected to the means for mooring and establishing fluid transport communication with a seagoing vessel.

Claim 8

A structure as claimed in claim 6 in which the means to vary the buoyancy of the boom comprises at least one horizontally extending ballast tube in connectable communication with a pressurized gas supply.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the means to vary the buoyancy of the boom is connected to an air chamber contained by the submerged point of communication.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the air chamber is connected to a compressor system comprising: a. means to compress air located in the flotation means; and b. an impeller inserted in the boom, said impeller adapted to be driven by a flow of fluid through said boom and shaft means connecting said impeller to said compressor means.

Claim 11

A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the boom is constructed from a glass fiber reinforced resin.

Claim 12

A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for mooring and establishing communication with a seagoing vessel includes means to signal an approaching vessel.

Claim 13

A structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the boom is tubular.

Claim 14

A single point mooring system for offshore surfacing of seagoing vessels which comprises: a. an anchored coupling in connecting communication with a submarine fluid transport conduit; b. a unitary, self supporting, substantially hollow, rigid, fluid transporting boom pivotally connected at one end thereof to said coupling and in open watertight communication with said submarine conduit, said boom adapted to extend from said coupling to at least the water surface; c. means for mooring and establishing fluid transport communication with a vessel at opposed end of said boom; and d. flotation means connected to and surrounding at least a portion of said boom, said Flotation means containing means to vary the buoyancy of said boom and to maintain said means for mooring and establishing fluid transport with the vessel above the water surface.

Claim 15

A single point mooring system for offshore surfacing of seagoing vessels which comprises: a. an anchored coupling in connecting communication with a submarine fluid transport conduit; b. a unitary, self supporting, substantially hollow, rigid, fluid transporting boom pivotally connected at one end thereof to said coupling and in open watertight communication with said submarine conduit, said boom adapted to extend from said coupling to at least the water surface; c. means for mooring and establishing fluid transport communication with a vessel at opposed end of said boom; and d. flotation means connected to and surrounding at least a portion of said boom, said Flotation means containing means to vary the buoyancy of said boom and to maintain said means for mooring and establishing fluid transport with the vessel above the water surface.

Claim 16

A single point mooring system as claimed in claim 13 in which the coupling is secured to a submerged buoy.

Claim 17

A single point mooring system as claimed in claim 13 in which the coupling is secured to a submerged piling.

Claim 18

The single point mooring system as claimed in claim 13 in combination with an impact-resistant wave fairing connected to said boom, said wave fairing adapted to intersect the water surface when said boom is at rest.

Claim 19

A single point mooring system as claimed in claim 16 in which impact-resistant wave fairing is provided with means to vary the buoyancy of the boom, said means comprises a normally submerged chamber in open communication with water and in connectable communication with the pressurized gas supply.

Claim 20

A structure as claimed in claim 13 in which the boom is el shaped having: a. a normally submerged horizontal leg connected to the anchored coupling and containing the means of flotation; and b. a vertically extending leg adapted to extend to at least the water surface and connected to the means for mooring and establishing fluid transport communication with a seagoing vessel.

Claim 21

A single point mooring system as claimed in claim 18 in which the means to vary the buoyancy of the boom comprises at least one horizontally extending ballast tube in connectable communication with a pressurized gas supply.

Claim 22

A single point mooring system as claimed in claim 18 in which the means to vary the buoyancy of the boom is connected to an air chamber contained by the anchored coupling.

Claim 23

A single point mooring system as claimed in claim 20 in which the air chamber is connected to a compressor system comprising: a. means to compress air located in the flotation means; and b. an impeller inserted in said boom said impeller adapted to be driven by a flow of fluid through said boom and shaft means connecting said impeller to said compressor means.