Loading/unloading buoy

A buoy for reception in a submerged downwardly open receiving space in a floating vessel for transfer of a flowable medium between a riser connected to said buoy and piping within said vessel, said buoy comprising:

• an outer member,
• means on said outer member for releasable engagement by latch means within said receiving space,
• an elongate tubular inner member rotatably received in said outer member and having upper and lower ends,
• an attachment element at said lower end of said inner member for attachment of said inner member to at least one anchoring line,
• first connection means at said upper end of said inner member for connection with said piping, and
• second connection means at said lower end of said inner member for connection with said riser, whereby said flowable medium can flow within said inner member between said riser and said piping, said outer member having an outer shape at least a part of which is complementary to the inner shape of the receiving space, such that when said outer member is engaged in said receiving space, a seal is formed, for sealing said space from the surrounding sea.

A buoy adapted for reception in a submerged downwardly open receiving space in a floating vessel for transfer of a flowable medium between a transfer line connected to said buoy and a tube system within said vessel, said buoy comprising:

• an outer buoyancy member comprising a lower portion and an upper portion of at least partly conical shape,
• means on said outer buoyancy member engageable by latch means within said receiving space for releasable securement of said buoy within said receiving space, said means comprising a collar having a downwardly facing annular abutment edge,
• an inner member,
• means rotatably mounting said inner member centrally in said outer member,
• a passage for said flowable medium extending through said inner member,
• first and second connection means at respective ends of said passage for connection respectively to said transfer line and to said tube system,
• means on said buoy whereby said buoy can be hoisted into said receiving space by a line lowered therefrom, and
• a bearing support member, said support member journalling said central member and being adapted to be lifted from said outer buoyancy member for inspection and servicing.