Vessel mooring system and method for its installation

摘要

The present invention provides a vessel mounted mooring system and a method for its installation. The method involves the construction of a vertical well in the vessel extending from the deck through the bottom plates of the vessel. A lower bearing ring which circumscribes the well is connected to the underside of the bottom plates. A lower turret unit is laterally guided by the lower bearing ring and is restrained against uplift forces by the lower bearing ring. A middle turret unit is placed into the well and connected to the lower turret unit. An upper bearing ring which circumscribes the well is mounted to the deck. The upper turret unit is connected to the middle turret unit whereupon the weight of the assembly of the upper, middle and lower turret units is supported by the upper turret unit and is guided by the upper bearing ring. Chain lockers which include chains and windlasses are mounted to the upper turret unit for selectively paying out or reeling in chain through the upper, middle and lower turret unit to allow the chain to be connected near the subsea floor.