Load Compensating Mooring Hooks
AssigneeExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
InventorsKeith Gill, Roald T. Lokken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mooring apparatus that includes an actuator connected to a mooring hook and the mooring base. The actuator provides translational movement of the mooring hook towards the mooring base. The mooring apparatus also includes a vessel motion detection system and a mooring apparatus control system. The mooring apparatus may include a mooring line tension gauge. The vessel motion detection system provides an input indicative of vessel motion to the mooring apparatus control system. The mooring apparatus control system then provides an output signal to the appropriate mooring system(s) which results in adjustment of the mooring line tension in the appropriate mooring system(s). Methods for use thereof thereof are also disclosed.
Claims15
A method of controlling a mooring system comprising:
- mooring a vessel to a terminal using one or more mooring lines;
- providing a vessel motion detection system;
- providing a mooring control system operatively connected to the one or more mooring lines and operatively connected to the vessel motion detection system;
- determining vessel motion data;
- and
- operating at least one of the one or more mooring lines by the mooring control system based on the vessel motion data which mooring control system, the mooring control system configured to control translational movement of one or more mooring hooks of the mooring system.
A mooring apparatus comprising:
- a mooring hook,
- a mooring base;
- an actuator connected to the mooring hook and the mooring base, wherein the actuator provides translational movement of the mooring hook towards the mooring base.
A method of controlling a mooring system comprising:
- means for mooring a vessel to a terminal using one or more mooring lines;
- means for providing a vessel motion detection system;
- means for providing a mooring control system operatively connected to the one or more mooring lines and operatively connected to the vessel motion detection system;
- means for determining vessel motion data;
- and
- means for operating at least one of the one or more mooring lines by the mooring control system based on the vessel motion data, the mooring control system configured to control translational movement of one or more mooring hooks of the mooring system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.