Releasable and retrievable mooring system

Abstract

A releasable and retrievable mooring system for vessels is disclosed which includes anchors and anchor chains each having an explosive link arranged to separate the anchor upon detonation, a transponder operable from the vessel to send acoustic signals and receivers secured to the links to detonate them, a marker buoy having a line to either or both the anchor or anchor chain downstream but adjacent to the link, and a stopper upstream but adjacent to the link to prevent the link end of the anchor chain from falling into its locker when reeled in. The marker buoys either float on the water's surface or are submerged and releasable to the surface. Each includes retrieving lines extending to the anchor chain adjacent but downstream of the link or to the link. When using floating buoys, the retrieving lines are attached to strippers slidable on the anchor chains which includes stripper stoppers to limit travel of the strippers. Detonation of the link frees the vessel from the anchors for movement off of location and in repositioning the vessel on location, a workboat moves the previously retrieved portion of the anchor chain to the location of its anchor marker buoy, retrieves the submerged portion of the anchor chain by hoisting the line connected to it, and then reconnects the sections of the chain by reconnecting the explosive link. Other details, features and advantages are disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.