System and method for offshore loading of cargo vessels
US9346520B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 24, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 24, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2021/008
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for offshore loading of large cargo vessels, or motherships. The system includes a plurality of mooring stations, which may be mooring buoys, positioned in an offshore mooring field proximal an onshore cargo loading facility. A mothership is positioned within the mooring field and moored via bow and stern lines to two or more different mooring stations. Environmental data, including wind, wave, and current data, as well data regarding the physical characteristics of the mothership and movement (roll/pitch/heave) of the mothership are collected by remote transmitting and sensing devices. This data is processed by numerical analysis in a digital processor, namely a computer, to determine optimum mooring line length and tension, and mooring station locations, in order to minimize mother ship movement and create an optimum “lee” loading area adjacent the mothership. Cargo is transferred to the mothership by a trans-shipper moored to the mothership.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.