Bow loading system
A MacGregor bow loading system enables a shuttle tanker to safely and efficiently load oil from an offshore production or storage facility. The bow loading system consists of two integrated units.
The hose-handling system
A 20” bow-loading coupler is located forward on the centerline of the ship. The coupler receives the hose end from the offloading vessel/platform (FPSO, FSO).
A vital part of the system is the MacGregor moment free bow loading coupler, which allows the coupler to follow the movement of the hose. The system includes a hose winch for pulling in and handling the hose during the connection and disconnection phases.
The hawser-handling system
A roller fairlead and a chain stopper located on the platform deck are operated together with a twin drum traction winch for mooring purposes during tandem loading. The chain stopper is a hydraulically-operated self-locking type and can be released under full design load. Aft of the chain stopper is a guide roller with a built-in load cell which operates together with a traction winch. The system also includes a storage reel or bin for storing the messenger line during loading.