Disconnectable tower yoke mooring system and methods for using same

1. A yoke mooring system for connecting a floating vessel to a tower structure at sea, comprising:

a support structure;

one or more extension arms suspended from the support structure;

a ballast tank connected to the one or more extension arms;

a yoke extending from and connected to the ballast tank at a first end thereof, the yoke comprising a tower connector disposed on a second end thereof;

a first winch system located on the support structure, the first winch system connected to the yoke proximate the second end of the yoke via a first line or cable; and

a second winch system connected to the ballast tank via a second line or cable.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first winch system is disposed above the yoke and located on the support structure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second winch system is disposed beneath the first winch system, and substantially lateral to the ballast tank.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tower connector comprises a mating hub having a recess and a notched profile disposed on an outer surface thereof, the hub being an annular member having a bore formed therethrough.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second winch systems are each electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or a combination thereof.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second winch systems comprise both electric and hydraulic actuated components.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third winch system connected to the ballast tank via a third line or cable, the third winch system configured to control side to side movement of the ballast tank.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more transit arms connected at one end thereof to the support structure and connected to the ballast tank at a second end thereof, the one or more transit arms configured to prevent the ballast tank from moving independent of the vessel.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more transit arms connected at one end thereof to the support structure and connected to the yoke at a second end thereof, the one or more transit arms configured to prevent the yoke from moving independent of the vessel.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the ballast tank comprises a ballast medium disposed within an internal volume thereof such that the ballast tank is configured to serve as a counterbalance or restoring force as the vessel moves at sea.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

one or more first transit arms connected at one end thereof to the support structure and connected to the ballast tank at a second end thereof, the one or more first transit arms configured to prevent the ballast tank from moving independent of the vessel; and

one or more second transit arms connected at one end thereof to the support structure and connected to the yoke at a second end thereof, the one or more second transit arms configured to prevent the yoke from moving independent of the vessel.

12. A method for mooring a floating vessel to a tower structure at sea, comprising:

providing a floating vessel comprising:

a support structure mounted on an upper deck thereof;

one or more extension arms suspended from the support structure;

a ballast tank connected to the one or more extension arms;

a yoke extending from and connected to the ballast tank at a first end thereof, the yoke comprising a tower connector disposed on a second end thereof;

a first winch system located on the support structure, the first winch system connected to the yoke proximate the second end of the yoke via a first line or cable; and

a second winch system connected to the ballast tank via a second line or cable;

locating the vessel close to the tower structure, the tower structure comprising a yoke head connector affixed thereto, the yoke head connector adapted to receive the tower connector;

pulling the vessel toward the tower structure using a pull-in winch system located on the vessel and connected to the tower structure via a pull-in line or cable;

aligning the tower connector and the yoke head connector;

controlling vertical movement of the yoke using the first winch system located on the support structure; and

actuating a hydraulic cylinder within the yoke head connector to mechanically link the tower connector to the yoke head connector.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second winch system is located on the vessel below the first winch system.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first winch system is located above the ballast tank, and wherein the second winch system and the pull-in winch system are located on the vessel below the first winch system.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein each winch system is electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein each winch system comprises both electric and hydraulic actuated components.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floating vessel further comprises one or more transit arms connected at one end thereof to the support structure and connected to the ballast tank at a second end thereof, the one or more transit arms configured to prevent the ballast tank from moving independent of the vessel.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the floating vessel further comprises one or more transit arms connected at one end thereof to the support structure and connected to the yoke at a second end thereof, the one or more transit arms configured to prevent the yoke from moving independent of the vessel.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the ballast tank comprises a ballast medium disposed within an internal volume thereof such that the ballast tank is configured to serve as a counterbalance or restoring force as the vessel moves at sea.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising controlling side to side movement of the ballast tank using a third winch system disposed on the vessel and connected to the ballast tank via a third line or cable.