MOORING ELEMENT LATCHING ASSEMBLY

摘要

The invention relates to a mooring element latching assembly for releasably latching a mooring element of an offshore vessel mooring and riser inboarding system. In one embodiment, a mooring element latching assembly (14) is disclosed which is for releasably latching a mooring element (16) of an offshore vessel mooring and riser inboarding system (10) to a gimbal arrangement (18) of the system. The latching assembly comprises a primary latch mechanism (52) comprising a plurality of primary latch members (54) which are movable between release positions out of engagement with the mooring element and latching positions in which the latch members engage and support the mooring element. Each latch member has a load face (56) adapted to abut and support the mooring element. At least a portion of the load face of each latch member is inclined such that, in use, the mooring element exerts a force on the latch members which acts to urge the members towards their release positions in the absence of a latching force acting on the primary latch members. By providing a mooring element latching assembly having primary latch members including such inclined load faces, a mooring system incorporating the assembly can be arranged to failsafe release a mooring element, so that emergency disconnect can be achieved without specifically requiring application of an independent retraction force on the latch members.