Spread Mooring System

A Spread Mooring System allows a tanker to moor at a fixed location at a fixed heading
using its own anchors. While the vessel is in a fixed heading relative to the seabed, its
bow typically heads into the dominant environment which is usually the direction where
the largest waves are coming from. The mooring lines can be directly attached to the
hull of the vessel. Structural modifications are required to provide strong points for the
mooring lines.
Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM)

The Conventional Buoy Mooring (CBM) system is a special Spread Mooring System, including
multiple buoys that are fixed to the seabed by means of mooring lines and marine anchors. The
three to six buoys are permanently installed in a rectangular pattern that allows safe mooring of
a vessel which is positioned between the buoys with tug assistance. The CBM system is especially
valuable when no quay sites are available. It can also be combined with a fluid transfer system
that enables connection of (subsea) pipelines to the midship manifold of a conventional tanker.
When no tanker is moored, the submersible hose or hoses are stored on the seabed.

Single Point Mooring

(SPM)  Buoy  Mooring  System
The single point mooring buoy consists of a buoy that is permanently moored to the seabed by
means of multiple mooring lines. The buoy contains a bearing system that allows a part of it to
rotate around the moored geostatic part. When moored to this rotating part of the buoy with a
mooring connection, the vessel is able to freely weathervane around the geostatic part of the
buoy. As the moored vessel rotates itself into the dominant environment, the system will
minimise the loads on the mooring system of the buoy. The mooring system can also be
combined with a fluid transfer system that enables connection of (subsea) pipelines to the
tanker. Also, buoy has different types.

Turntable buoy system

The turntable buoy is a further development of the bogey wheel buoy (first design
for an SPM developed around 1958) to eliminate the horizontal loading of the
rotating frame on the swivel bearing. This was achieved by supporting the rotating
frame by its own large-diameter 3-race roller bearing.

Hawser buoy system

  The single point mooring buoy with a hawser system includes a large-diameter
polypropylene line between the single point mooring buoy and the vessel. This
system requires no modifications to the vessel hull structures and can use the
standard mooring strong points at the bow of the vessel.
 Rigid Arm Buoy system
The single point mooring buoy with rigid arm system inculdes a rigid steel frame
that is connected between vessel and buoy by means of large hingesThis requires a
dedicated vessel as the hull structure is modified to support these hinges. The
hinges reduce the forces on the rigid arm as both the vessel motions and the buoy
motions are not fully coupled.  The single point mooring buoy with rigid arm system
inculdes a rigid steel frame that is connected between vessel and buoy by means of
large hinges

Soft Yoke Buoy system

The single point mooring buoy with a soft yoke system includes a rigid steel frame that is connected to
the buoy by means of hinges and to the vessel by means of a pendulum structure.    Typically the
pendulum structure includes two pendulums that provide a restoring force when the vessel moves
away from the neutral position relative to the buoy. This restoring force maximises the range of local
environmental conditions in which the SPM system can moor a vessel.

Single Point Mooring (SPM) Tower Mooring system

The tower mooring system consists of a tower structure that is permanently fixed to the seabed
by means of piles or a gravity base. The tower contains a bearing system that allows a part of it
to rotate around the fixed geostatic part. When moored to this rotating part of the tower with a
mooring connection, the vessel is able to freely weathervane around the geostatic part of the
tower.

Hawser Tower system

he single point mooring tower with a hawser system includes a large-diameter
polypropylene line between the single point mooring buoy and the vessel. This
system requires no modifications to the vessel hull structures and can use the
standard mooring strong points at the bow of the vessel.

Soft Yoke Wishbone Tower system

The single point mooring tower with a soft yoke wishbone system includes a rigid steel frame that is
connected to the tower by means of hinges and to the vessel by means of a pendulum 

Turret Mooring System

In more severe environmental conditions, Turret Mooring System is more appropriate.A turret
mooring system is composed of a fixed turret column supported by an internal or external
vessel structure via a bearing arrangement. The vessel-bound components can therefore freely
weather vane around the turret, which is fixed via a number or anchor lines to the seabed. This
turret arrangement allows the FPSO to adopt the direction of the least resistance against waves,
wind, etc.
 Turret
A turret mooring system is composed of a fixed turret column supported by an internal or
external vessel structure via a bearing arrangement. The vessel-bound components can
therefore freely weather vane around the turret, which is fixed via a number or anchor
lines to the seabed. This turret arrangement allows the FPSO to adopt the direction of
the least resistance against waves, wind, etc.

Internal Turret Mooring

                                   
The turret is build inside the hull in what is called a moon pool.  The chain table,
connecting the mooring lines to the turret, can be either above or below the
waterline. Usually thesystem is located in the front end of a vessel. In very
exceptional cases it can be found at mid-length of the ship. This type of turrets
can accommodate over 100 risers which gives this system a high fluid transfer
capability. Because the turret is directly attached to the hull, the forces on the
mooring cables are better transferred in the hull than in the case of an external
turret.
External Turret Mooring

An external turret is structural comparable to an internal mooring system. The turret itself is placed
outside the hull through a rigid structure at the bow or at the aft of the tanker. A disadvantage is the
fact that here the amount of risers is very limited. The building process do not has to be performed on
a dry-dock which reduces cost and delivery time. The weight of the system is also less than an internal
turret which saves on steel. The system is normally applied to FPSO in shallow waters and small oil or
gas fields. There are disconnectable external turrets as well.

Detachable FPSO turret

Many turret systems allow the turret to be disconnected from the vessel, but remain
attached to the mooring lines on the seabed. This is particularly useful in situations such
as hurricanes and storms, where the vessel needs to react quickly to external hazards.
Once the threat has been mitigated, the FPSO can return to the turret, reattach and
continue operations. This mooring system is by far the most flexible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4qHXXaFtho