Submerged loading system

An offshore hydrocarbon loading system for use in a sea location of a predetermined depth comprising a vessel that floats at the sea surface and a pipe with a stationary pipe end lying approximately on the sea floor, the system including a conduit that includes a flexible hose that extends in a sine wave along at least 80% of the conduit length between said stationary pipe end and said vessel, wherein:

• said conduit includes a rigid pipe section that extends a distance of a plurality of meters at an upward incline from said stationary pipe end and that connects to said flexible hose;
• said pipe including a base fixed to the sea floor, and a pivot connector that pivotally connects a lower end of said rigid pipe section to said stationary pipe end and that allows said rigid pipe section to pivot about two perpendicular axes on said base.

An offshore hydrocarbon transfer system for use in a sea location of predetermined depth, comprising a vessel that floats at the sea surface and a pipe with a stationary pipe end that lies substantially at the sea floor, which includes a conduit that comprises primarily a flexible hose, said conduit extending between said vessel and said stationary pipe end, said flexible hose extending in approximately a sine wave when connected to the vessel, with a first portion that extends down from the vessel and that forms an upwardly-open first loop, and with a second portion that extends from said first portion to said sea floor pipe end and that forms a downwardly-open second loop, said conduit having a conduit coupling at its upper end that is disconnectable from said vessel, wherein:

• said vessel is a dynamic positioning vessel that has thrusters that are capable of propelling the vessel in any horizontal direction, said vessel being connected to the sea floor only by said conduit and not by any mooring line and being free of mooring to any body;
• and including
• at least one weight that has a mass greater than the length of a 10 meters long section of said flexible hose, and attached to said first portion of said hose to resist movement of said conduit coupling when it is disconnected from said vessel.