Replaceable roller bearing

A method for in situ replacement of a bearing that rotatively couples a vessel to a turret, comprising the steps of:

• removing a spacer that secures a first flange of the vessel and a second flange of the turret into engagement with a first bearing assembly so as to allow for increased separation between said first and second flanges;
• axially displacing said turret with respect to said vessel in a first direction thereby exposing said first bearing assembly;
• replacing said first bearing assembly
• axially displacing said turret with respect to said vessel in a second direction opposite said first direction to dispose said first and second flanges into engagement with said first bearing assembly;
• and
• replacing said spacer thereby securing said first flange and said second flange into engagement with said first bearing assembly.

An arrangement for connecting a turret within a moon pool of a vessel so as to be capable of rotation about a longitudinal axis of said turret, comprising:

• a first flange structurally coupled to said turret defining a circular path about said longitudinal axis;
• a second flange structurally coupled to said vessel in concentric alignment with said circular path;
• a first thrust bearing assembly connected between said first and second flanges so as to allow rotation of said first flange with respect to said second flange and to axially transfer the weight of said turret to said vessel;
• and
• a spacer mounted to at least one of the group consisting of said vessel and said turret, said spacer positioning said first and second flanges into engagement with said first thrust bearing assembly;
• wherein
• removal of said spacer from said at least one of the group consisting of said vessel and said turret allows for a distance between said first and second flanges to be increased thereby allowing said first thrust bearing assembly to be replaced in situ.