A SYSTEM FOR OFFSHORE LOADING/UNLOADING OF A FLOWABLE MEDIUM, ESPECIALLY OIL

摘要

Apparatus for conveying a liquid medium, especially oil, or from a floating vessel (1) and comprising a floating element in the form of a submerged buoy (2) anchored to the sea bottom (4) and connected to at least a transfer line (6) of said medium, receiving means open at the bottom (3) on the vessel (1) below the water surface and adapted to receive the buoy (2) and performing a binding therewith, a lifting means (11) for raising the buoy (2) so as to introduce it into the receiving means (3) and means enabling the vessel to rotate about a vertical axis through the buoy (2) when the latter is in the receiving means (3). Said receiving means is a module (3) located at a location submerged on the outside of the ship hull and, preferably, incorporated in the bow of the vessel and the buoy (2) comprises an outer buoyancy member (21), and a rotatably mounted member (22) located in its center for the passage of the liquid medium. In addition, a locking mechanism (38, 39) is located in the interior of the module (3) and serves to lock detachably the outer buoyancy member (21) with said module (3), so that said outer member (21) rotates around the central element (20) simultaneously with the rotation of the vessel (1); a coupling element (29) associated with a set of tubes (30) on the vessel (1) for conveying the liquid medium is connected to the central element (22) via means swivel (34).