The invention provides a
system composed of a
hydrocarbon transfer
buoy (2, 82) and a vessel (3, 95), the
buoy having a length (H1,H2,H3) of at least 50 m and a length-to-
width ratio of at least 10: 1, and comprising a submerged
buoyancy member (5,6,7,85) having a length of at least 30 m and being situated at a depth of at least 10 m below
water level, a support frame (10,96) being connected to the top of the
buoyancy member and projecting above
water level, the support frame carrying a support
deck (11,91) and a
mooring buoy connector (36, 99,102) for attaching to a
mooring arm connector (21,100) of the vessel, which
mooring arm connector is situated on an arm (4,92) projecting outboard from the vessel's
hull, the buoy being anchored to the sea
bed via anchor lines (23,24,83,84) which extend at an angle to a vertical direction, at least one
hydrocarbon riser (12,13,93,94) being attached to the buoy, the support frame (10, 96) is an open support frame, the
buoyancy member being connected to the sea
bed via at least one substantially vertical taut
tendon (31,32,33).