Loading/unloading buoy

A buoy for use in loading or unloading of a flowable medium, especially oil, comprising an outer buoyancy member arranged to be introduced and secured in a submerged downwardly open receiving space in a floating vessel, said outer buoyancy member having an at least partly upwardly tapering shape for mating with the receiving space, with a fender means on at least an upper portion of its outer surface, said fender means consisting of a layer of elastic material, such as rubber, which is applied to said upper portion of said surface of said outer member, and a central member rotatably mounted in said outer member, which central member is intended for anchoring to the sea bed and is arranged for passage of medium between a transfer line which, in operation, is coupled to the lower end of said central member and a tube system on the vessel, wherein said central member is provided with a lower extension body having an outer peripheral portion abutting on and essentially corresponding to the outer periphery of an adjacent end of said outer buoyancy member, and having a lower portion which is downwardly tapering from said outer peripheral portion, said lower extension body comprising at least one buoyancy chamber for receiving buoyancy or ballast material.

A buoy for use in loading or unloading of a flowable medium, especially oil, comprising an outer buoyancy member arranged to be introduced and secured in a submerged downwardly open receiving space in a floating vessel, said outer buoyancy member having an at least partly upwardly tapering shape for mating with the receiving space, with a fender means on at least an upper portion of its outer surface, said fender means comprises a number of longitudinally extending guiding edge elements which are placed at intervals along the periphery of said surface of said outer member, and which are covered by a fender-forming material, and a central member rotatably mounted in said outer member, which central member is intended for anchoring to the sea bed and is arranged for passage of medium between a transfer line which, in operation, is coupled to the lower end of said central member and a tube system on the vessel, wherein said central member is provided with a lower extension body having an outer peripheral portion abutting on and essentially corresponding to the outer periphery of an adjacent end of said outer buoyancy member, and having a lower portion which is downwardly tapering from said outer peripheral portion, said lower extension body comprising at least one buoyancy chamber for receiving buoyancy or ballast material.