Floating terminal for loading/offloading ships such as methane tankers

Abstract

A floating terminal for loading/offloading cargo of ships such as methane tankers comprises an area for mooring ships and a submerged skirt to damp oscillation of the terminal to attenuate relative movement of the terminal and ships in the mooring area.

1 . A floating terminal for loading/offloading cargo of ships such as methane tankers, said terminal comprising an area for mooring said ships and submerged skirt means disposed to damp oscillations of said terminal in order to attenuate relative movement of said terminal and ships in said mooring area.  
   
   
       2 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  comprising a submerged horizontal skirt.  
   
   
       3 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 2  comprising two submerged horizontal skirts extending over at least a portion of the length of its lower portion.  
   
   
       4 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  comprising a submerged vertical skirt.  
   
   
       5 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 4  comprising two submerged vertical skirts extending over at least a portion of the length of its lower portion.  
   
   
       6 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  comprising a skirt oriented at an angle between the horizontal and the vertical and extending over at least a portion of the length of its lower portion.  
   
   
       7 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  comprising means for orienting said floating terminal relative to the swell, the wind, and the current.  
   
   
       8 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 7  wherein said orientation means comprise fixed positioning means.  
   
   
       9 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 8  wherein said fixed positioning means comprise a catenary anchoring system.  
   
   
       10 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 7  wherein said orientation means comprise mobile positioning means.  
   
   
       11 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 10  wherein said mobile positioning means comprise a system chosen from the group comprising turret systems and articulated arm systems.  
   
   
       12 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 10  wherein said orientation means comprise displacement means.  
   
   
       13 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 12  wherein said displacement means are chosen from the group comprising thrusters and tugs.  
   
   
       14 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  comprising a swell damping chamber chosen from the group comprising chambers on the upstream side of said floating terminal relative to the direction of the swell and chambers on the downstream side in that direction.  
   
   
       15 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 14  wherein said damping chamber is of the perforated wall type.  
   
   
       16 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  comprising means for storing said cargo.  
   
   
       17 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  comprising plant chosen from the group comprising lines and risers for importing/exporting said cargo, loading/offloading arms for said cargo, means for treating said cargo, crew quarters, maintenance areas, and control areas.  
   
   
       18 . The floating terminal claimed in  claim 1  constructed from a material chosen from the group comprising steel, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete.