Systems, methods and units for offloading or loading cargo at sea

A system for offloading fluid cargo from a cargo vessel and delivering the fluid cargo to a cargo recipient, the system comprising:

• a cargo vessel which is moored at sea to a mooring point anchored to the seabed such that the cargo vessel is allowed to rotate about the mooring point in response to weather conditions, the fluid cargo to be offloaded from the cargo vessel;
• tubing configured to be connected to the cargo vessel for fluid communication through the tubing between the cargo vessel and the cargo recipient, the tubing comprising a first portion configured to be connected to the cargo vessel and a second portion configured to be connected to the cargo recipient;
• and
• a unit operable to travel across the sea and carry part of the tubing from a stand-by location to a position at or adjacent to the cargo vessel, so as to allow an end of the first portion of the tubing to be connected the cargo vessel for offloading the fluid cargo through the tubing, whereby the fluid cargo is transmitted to the unit through the first portion of tubing and away from the unit to the cargo recipient through the second portion of tubing;
• wherein the unit has at least one lifting and handling device which with the first portion of the tubing coupled thereto and when the unit is positioned at or adjacent to the cargo vessel is operable to lift, maneuver, and land the end of the first portion of the tubing on the cargo vessel for arranging the end of the first portion of the tubing at or near a manifold on the cargo vessel for connection thereto.

A system for loading fluid cargo onto a cargo vessel from a cargo supplier, the system comprising:

• a cargo vessel which is spread moored at sea to a plurality of mooring points for mooring the cargo vessel in a desired orientation, the cargo to be loaded onto the cargo vessel;
• tubing configured to be connected to the cargo vessel for fluid communication between the cargo vessel and the cargo supplier, the tubing comprising a first portion configured to be connected to the cargo vessel and a second portion configured to be connected to the cargo supplier;
• and
• a unit operable to travel across the sea and carry part of the tubing from a stand-by location to a position at or adjacent to the cargo vessel, so as to allow an end of the first portion of the tubing to be connected to the cargo vessel for loading the fluid cargo through the tubing, whereby the fluid cargo is transmitted to the unit through the second portion of tubing and from the unit to the cargo vessel through the first portion of tubing;
• wherein the unit has at least one lifting and handling device, which with the first portion of the tubing coupled thereto and when the unit is positioned at or adjacent to the cargo vessel is operable to lift, maneuver, and land the end of the first portion of the tubing on the cargo vessel for arranging the end of the first portion of the tubing at or near a manifold on the cargo vessel for connection thereto.

A system for loading fluid cargo onto a cargo vessel from a cargo supplier, the system comprising:

• a cargo vessel which is moored at sea to a mooring point anchored to the seabed such that the cargo vessel is allowed to rotate about the mooring point in response to weather conditions, the fluid cargo to be loaded onto the cargo vessel;
• tubing configured to be connected to the cargo vessel for fluid communication between the cargo vessel and the cargo supplier, the tubing comprising a first portion configured to be connected to the cargo vessel and a second portion configured to be connected to the cargo supplier;
• and
• a unit operable to travel across the sea and carry part of the tubing from a stand-by location to a position at or adjacent to the cargo vessel, so as to allow an end of the first portion of the tubing to be connected the cargo vessel for loading the fluid cargo through the tubing, whereby the fluid cargo is transmitted to the unit through the second portion of tubing and from the unit to the cargo vessel through the first portion of tubing;
• wherein the unit has at least one lifting and handling device which with the first portion of tubing coupled thereto and when the unit is positioned at or adjacent to the cargo vessel is operable to lift, maneuver, and land the end of the first portion of the tubing on the cargo vessel for arranging the end of the first portion of the tubing at or near a manifold on the cargo vessel for connection thereto.