Surface vessel fueling systems and methods

A fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system configured to off-load and on-load a fuel hose and a messenger line coupled to a distal end portion of the fuel hose, the fuel hose assembly deployment and retrieval system comprising:

• a first winch assembly including a first structure on which the fuel hose is configured to be spooled and unspooled, the first structure having a first rotational axis;
• and
• a second winch assembly located rearward of the first winch assembly and including a second structure on which the messenger line is configured to be spooled and unspooled, the second structure having a second rotational axis and being rotatable between first and second rotational positions, upon the second structure being in the first rotational position the second rotational axis is non-orthogonal to the first rotational axis, in the second rotational position the second rotational axis is substantially orthogonal to the first rotational axis, the second structure including an axial through opening through which the fuel hose is configured to pass when the second structure is in the second rotational position.