An adjustable mooring connector to connect a floating base with a mooring line, related floating installation and installation method

Abstract

The connector (100) comprises: - a pivoting member (130), extending along a central axis (112), - an adjustment bar (110) fixable to the pivoting member (130) at a plurality of fixing positions along the central axis (112), the adjustment bar (110) having a lower connection (113) configured to be connected to a mooring line, - at least one support (180) configured to be attached to the floating base (14), - an intermediate joint (160), pivotably connecting the pivoting member (130) on each support (180) about at least a first rotation axis (170), and - a locking member (150), removably positionable to secure the adjustment bar (110) at any of the plurality of axial fixing positions with respect to the pivoting member (130).

Description

[0001] TITLE: An adjustable mooring connector to connect a floating base with a mooring line, related floating installation and installation method

[0002] The present disclosure concerns an adjustable mooring connector to connect a floating base with a mooring line, comprising:

[0003] - a pivoting member, extending along a central axis;

[0004] - an adjustment bar fixable to the pivoting member at a plurality of fixing positions along the central axis, the adjustment bar having a lower connection configured to be connected to a mooring line;

[0005] - at least one support configured to be attached to the floating base;

[0006] - an intermediate joint, pivotably connecting the pivoting member on each support about at least a first rotation axis.

[0007] Such an adjustable mooring connector is in particular adapted to floating installations moored with several mooring lines, in which the connector of the mooring line on the floating installation may have to be adjusted in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0008] When installing a floating base on a body of water, several mooring lines are used to define and maintain a horizontal position of the floating base in the body of water.

[0009] The length of the mooring lines is calculated, especially in the case of Tension Leg Platforms (or TLP), to ensure an appropriate tension of each mooring line after it has been connected to the floating base through a connector.

[0010] In some instances, an adjustment of the tension of the mooring line is carried out after the initial installation, due to e.g. some tolerances / gaps badly anticipated, soil / anchor settlement movement or mooring leg creeping. These adjustments require disconnecting the complete mooring line and retrieving it on deck to adjust it. It constitutes a significant time loss leading to adding costs.

[0011] Adjustable mooring connectors are thus useful to carry out on site adjustments. However, some connectors use many different parts with a complex adjustment between the parts, with an amplified risk of blocking adjustment. Additionally, some adjustable mooring connectors in conventional use are not easy to manufacture and are thus expensive.

[0012] One aspect of the disclosure is to provide an adjustable mooring connector to connect a floating base with a mooring line, which is very reliable and yet simple and cheap to manufacture.

[0013] To this aim, the subject matter of the disclosure is an adjustable mooring connector of the above-mentioned type comprising a locking member, removably positionable to secure the adjustment bar at any of the plurality of axial fixing positions with respect to the pivoting member.

[0014] The adjustable mooring connector according to the disclosure may comprise one or more of the following feature(s), taken solely or according to any technical feasible combination:

[0015] - at least one of the pivoting member and of the adjustment bar has a plurality of holes, notches or / and grooves at the fixing positions along the central axis, the other one of the pivoting member and of the adjustment bar having at least a corresponding hole, notch or / and groove configured to be placed overlapping a chosen hole notch or / and groove of the plurality of holes, notches or / and grooves to form an overlapping passage at a chosen position among the plurality of fixing positions;

[0016] - the locking member comprises at least a locking pin configured to be removably inserted in the overlapping passage to fix the adjustment bar to the pivoting member at the chosen position among the plurality of fixing positions;

[0017] - the pivoting member has an internal passage, extending along the central axis, the adjustment bar being at least partly positioned in the internal passage;

[0018] - the first rotation axis of the pivoting member relative to the joint is perpendicular to the central axis, the pivoting member being rotatable about a second rotation axis of the joint relative to the floating base, the second rotation axis being perpendicular to the central axis and to the first rotation axis;

[0019] - the adjustment bar is fixed in rotation around the central axis with regard to the pivoting member;

[0020] - the support comprises two hook plates, positioned facing each other, perpendicular to the first rotation axis, each hook plate having a vertical groove emerging upwardly and having a closed bottom, the joint having pivots configured to slide in the groove and to abut on the closed bottom;

[0021] - the grooves of the hook plates have a U or V-shape;

[0022] - the adjustment bar has an upper lifting member to be seized by a lifting line;

[0023] - the upper lifting member comprises a pad eye positioned on top of the adjustment bar;

[0024] - the adjustment bar and at least one of the pivoting members or of the joint have at least a remotely operated vehicle connection interface.

[0025] The disclosure also concerns a floating installation comprising:

[0026] - a floating base;

[0027] - a plurality of mooring lines extending between the floating base and the bottom of the body of water; - a plurality of adjustable mooring connectors as defined above, the support of each adjustable mooring connector being connected to the floating base, the lower connection of the adjustment bar being connected to an upper end of a mooring line;

[0028] - for each mooring line, a bottom connector, connecting the mooring line to the bottom of the body of water.

[0029] The floating installation according to the disclosure may comprise:

[0030] - the floating installation is a Tension Leg Platform;

[0031] The disclosure also relates to an installation method, of a floating installation, as defined above comprising:

[0032] - adjusting a position of an adjustment bar connected to the mooring line at one chosen position among the fixing positions and positioning the locking member to secure the adjustment bar at the chosen position with respect to the pivoting member;

[0033] - connecting of the mooring line to the bottom of the body of water;

[0034] - ballasting of the floating base to lower its position;

[0035] - inserting of the joint into the support;

[0036] - deballasting the floating base.

[0037] The installation method according to the disclosure may comprise one or more of the following feature(s), taken solely or according to any technical feasible combination:

[0038] - modifying a position of the adjustment bar relative to the pivoting member connected to the mooring line at one chosen position among the fixing positions, including:

[0039] - connecting a remotely operated vehicle to the adjustable mooring connector by at least one connection interface;

[0040] - removing the locking member;

[0041] - adjusting the position of the adjustment bar with regards to the pivoting member to reach another chosen position among the plurality of fixing positions, and positioning the locking member to secure the adjustment bar at the other chosen position with respect to the pivoting member;

[0042] - the position of the adjustment bar with regards to the pivoting member is carried out via the remotely operated vehicle or / and via a lifting line connected to a crane or to a lifting jack.

[0043] The disclosure will be better understood, based on reading the following description, given solely as an example, and made in reference to the following drawings in which:

[0044] - Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of a floating installation according to the disclosure, floating in a body of water; - Figure 2 is a schematic elevation view of the floating installation of figure 1 , during the setting up of mooring lines according to the installation method according to the disclosure;

[0045] - Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an example of an assembled adjustable mooring connector according to the disclosure, mounted to the floating base;

[0046] - Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable mooring connector of figure 3;

[0047] - Figure 5 is a side view of the assembled adjustable mooring connector in an extended configuration;

[0048] - Figure 6 is a view similar to figure 5, in which the assembled adjustable mooring connector is in a retracted configuration;

[0049] - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the adjustable mooring connector with a remotely operated vehicle connected to it by an adjustment jack, which is engaging with the adjustable mooring connector, the latter being in an extended configuration; and

[0050] - Figure 8 is a view similar to figure 7, in which the adjustable mooring connector is in a contracted configuration after modification of its configuration by the adjustment jack.

[0051] A first floating installation 10 according to the disclosure is shown in particular in figures 1 and 2. The floating installation 10 floats in a body of water 12.

[0052] The body of water 12 in the vicinity of the floating installation 10 has typically a depth comprised between 10 m to 30 m. The body of water 12 is for example an ocean, a sea, a lake, and / or a river.

[0053] Figure 1 is a schematic elevation view of a floating installation 10 according to an example configuration of the disclosure, floating in a body of water 12.

[0054] In reference to figure 1 , the floating installation 10 comprises a floating base 14. The floating base 14 has a ballasting / deballasting system configured to adjust its buoyancy (not expressly shown).

[0055] For example, a ballasting / deballasting system may be used to redistribute ballast among various pontoons to offset a bias caused by water movements or wind, and / or to adjust an amount of ballast within the floating base 14 to adjust a net buoyancy.

[0056] The floating base 14 is configured to be held stationary as further described below, e.g., by mooring lines 24 and anchoring 34, but it is still subjected to water movements, for example swells or currents, which can move the floating base 14.

[0057] The floating base 14 is configured to carry equipment (not shown), e.g., a wind turbine, or / and a fluid production or / and injection facility. It has at least a connection region 16 to receive the adjustable mooring connector 100. In one or more embodiments, the floating base 14 may represent that of a TLP (“Tension Leg Platform”).

[0058] The floating installation 10 also comprises a plurality of mooring lines 24, connecting the adjustable mooring connector 100 to the bottom connectors 34, to fix a horizontal position of the floating installation 10.

[0059] In the present example, the mooring lines 24 are under tension under the effect of the buoyancy of the floating base 14. They are made from a suitable material (e.g. a metal tubing) to withstand high tensions (e.g. greater than 10 000 kN), while still being articulated. Additionally, the mooring lines 24 do not expand when subjected to their operating tension.

[0060] In the example of figure 1 and 2 the mooring lines 24 extend vertically. In a variant, where the depth of the body of water 12 in the vicinity of the floating installation 10 is shallow, the mooring lines 24 are not perpendicular to the surface 36 of the body of water but form rather an angle other than a right angle. This may benefit from a pivotable connection between the floating base 14 and the mooring lines 24 as taught herein.

[0061] Each mooring line 24 is equipped with a bottom connector 34 to fix and articulate a lower end of the mooring line 24 to the bottom 38 of the body of water.

[0062] The bottom connectors 34 are for example installed on anchors or piles.

[0063] The floating installation 10 comprises, for each mooring line 24, an adjustable mooring connector 100 connecting and articulating the mooring line 24 to the floating base 14.

[0064] In reference to figures 3 to 6, the adjustable mooring connector 100 comprises an adjustment bar 1 10 extending along a central axis 1 12 of the adjustment bar 110, a pivoting member 130 receiving the adjustment bar 110 at an adjustable fixing position and a locking member 150 to lock the adjustment bar 110 at the fixing position .

[0065] The adjustable mooring connector 100 further comprises a joint 160 hinged to the pivoting member 130 and supports 180 to hold the joint 160 at the connection region 16.

[0066] In the particular example disclosed in figure 4, the adjustment bar 1 10 has a nonround cross section, in particular a polygonal, e.g. square cross section.

[0067] The adjustment bar comprises a lower connection 1 13 to the mooring line 24. The lower connection 1 13 of the adjustment bar 110 is configured to withstand the mooring tension.

[0068] The adjustment bar 110 has an upper lifting member 114. The upper lifting member 1 14 is configured to be connected to a lifting line (not shown) to lift the adjustment bar and the mooring line 24, connected to the adjustment bar 1 10. In the present example, the upper lifting member 114 is a padeye, positioned on top of the adjustment bar 110. The lifting line is for example a deployable crane lifting line, the crane being for example carried by the floating base 14, or is a deployable jack lifting line, the jack being optionally mounted on the joint 160.

[0069] The length of the adjustment bar 110 is for example comprised between 1 m and 3 m.

[0070] The adjustment bar 110 has a plurality of holes 1 18 at various fixing positions in projection along the central axis 112 (which is here depicted as vertical).

[0071] In an embodiment, the holes 118 at various fixing positions have a diameter comprised for example between 100 mm and 300 mm, e.g. 200 mm. They are spaced apart from one another along the central axis 1 12, the distance separating two consecutive holes 1 18 being for example greater than 150 mm and comprised between 150 mm and 450 mm.

[0072] The adjustment bar 110 advantageously comprises at least a releasable connection interface 120 to removably connect a remotely operated vehicle 300. At least an actuating member of a remotely operated vehicle 300 can thereby engage the adjustment bar 110 at the releasable connection interface 120.

[0073] The pivoting member 130 extends along the central axis 1 12.

[0074] The pivoting member 130 has an internal passage 132, configured to receive the adjustment bar 1 10 positioned therein. The cross section of the internal passage 132 is non circular and corresponds to the cross section of the outer profile of the adjustment bar 110.

[0075] Advantageously, the length of the pivoting member 130 is comprised between 1.5 m and 5 m.

[0076] The pivoting member 130, in the present embodiment, comprises at least a connection interface 134 for a remotely operated vehicle 300. The remotely operated vehicle 300 is therefore configured to engage the pivoting member 130 at the positions defined by the connection interface 134.

[0077] The pivoting member 130 has hinge connectors 131 , e.g. at least one clevis, to be pivotably connected to the intermediate joint 160 about a first rotation axis 170.

[0078] The pivoting member 130 has at least a corresponding hole 136 intended to register with one of the holes 118 of the adjustment bar 110.

[0079] The adjustment bar 1 10 and the internal passage 132 having a non-round cross section, when the adjustment bar 110 is positioned inside the internal passage 132, the rotation of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130 about the central axis 1 12 is prevented.

[0080] The adjustment bar 110 is movable in translation along the central axis 112 relative to the pivoting member 130 between an extended configuration shown in figure 5 and a retracted position shown in figure 6, defining in between several fixing positions of the adjustment bar 1 10.

[0081] In each fixing position, at least one of the holes 1 18 of the adjustment bar 1 10 overlaps a corresponding hole 136 of the pivoting member 130 to create an overlapping through passage 138.

[0082] The locking member 150 is removably positionable to constrain relative movement between the adjustment bar 110 and the pivoting member 130.

[0083] The term “removably positionable” generally means that the locking member 150 can be reversibly assembled to engage both the adjustment bar 110 and the pivoting member 130 or reversibly disassembled to disengage both the adjustment bar 1 10 and the pivoting member 130, in particular without having to break or tear apart any of the locking member 150, adjustment bar 1 10 or pivoting member 130.

[0084] Generally, a locking member 150 according to this disclosure may secure the adjustment bar 1 10 at any of a plurality of axial positions with respect to the pivoting member 130, and once in a selected one of the axial positions, to interfere with movement of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130, in particular to axially lock the adjustment bar 1 10 with regard to the pivoting member 130.

[0085] The locking member 150 in this example is configured, more specifically, to be inserted into an overlapping through passage 138 to interfere with the movement of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130 in a given position among the several fixing positions.

[0086] Alternative configurations may include, for example, a notch or groove formed in one or both of the adjustment bar 1 10 and pivoting member 130, whereby placement of the locking member 150 into the notch or groove interferes with relative movement between the adjustment bar 1 10 and the pivoting member 130, in particular to axially lock the adjustment bar 1 10 with regard to the pivoting member 130.

[0087] The locking member 150 is for example a pin for example made of a round cylinder with a smaller diameter than the overlapping through passage 138.

[0088] The length of the locking member 150 is longer than the width of the pivoting member 130, so as to block the movement of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130.

[0089] The locking member 150 is configured to withstand the shear stress resulting from blocking the movement of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130 when inserted and when it therefore supports all the tension applied on the mooring line 24 by the buoyancy of the floating base 14. The locking member 150 having a smaller diameter than the overlapping through passage 138, by slightly changing the position of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130, one can reduce the load on the locking member 150 to retrieve it.

[0090] In one or more embodiment, the locking member 150 is composed of two sections with different diameters, whereby one is bigger than the holes 136 at various fixing positions of the pivoting member 130 to form a stop when inserted into the overlapping through passage 138. Slight sections variation may also here to ease the locking member 150 insertion and align an hole 136 and the overlapping through passage 138.

[0091] The intermediate joint 160 is connected to the pivoting member 130.

[0092] The joint 160 has an internal passage 162, to receive the pivoting member 130 hinged therein. The joint 160 has connection points 164.

[0093] The joint 160 has two external pivots 166 protruding externally along a second rotation axis 186 perpendicular to the first rotation axis 170.

[0094] As shown in figure 3, the hinge connectors 131 of the pivoting member 130 are pivotably connected to the connection points 164 via two pins 168.

[0095] The hinged connection thus formed allows preferably a rotation of at least +-35° of the pivoting member 130 relative to the joint 160, about the first rotation axis 170 being perpendicular to the central axis 112.

[0096] The adjustable mooring connector 100 also comprises a support 180, which is attached to the connection region 16 of the floating base 14. The support 180 comprises two hook plates 182 with vertical grooves 184 emerging upwardly and having a closed bottom. The hook plates 182 are mounted to the connection region 16 of the floating base 14 facing one another. Each vertical groove 184 is configured to receive a corresponding pivot 166 of the joint 160.

[0097] Advantageously, as shown in figure 4, the grooves 184 have a U or V-shape. The pivots 166 of the joint are therefore guided while they slide into the groove 184.

[0098] Each pivot 166 of the joint 160 is configured to slide into the groove 184 and abut on the closed bottom of the groove 184 of the hook plates 182. Therefore, the pivots 166 of the joint 160 are in permanent contact with the bottom of the groove 184 when the mooring line 24 is tensioned but can be easily removed when there is no tension applied.

[0099] The joint 160 is pivotably connected to the support 180 to rotate about the second axis 186 defined by the pivots 166. This second rotation axis 186 is perpendicular to the central axis 112 and the first rotation axis 170.

[0100] The degrees and amplitudes of rotations of the adjustable mooring connector 100 relative to the floating base along the first rotation axis 170 and the second rotation axis 186 are especially useful in shallow depths of the body of water 12 in the vicinity of the floating installation 10, when angles of the mooring lines 24 to the surface 36 of the body of water occur. They also enable the adjustable mooring connector 100 to absorb water movements of the body of water 12.

[0101] The adjustable mooring connector 100 is adjustable in length. As a consequence, the cumulated length of the adjustable mooring connector 100 and of the mooring line 24 attached to the adjustable mooring connector 100 can be adjusted after the initial installation of the floating installation 10, without having to change the length of the mooring line 24.

[0102] It is thus possible to prevent unbalanced mooring line tensions or unstable floating bases 14.

[0103] According to the disclosure, the length adjustment of the adjustable mooring connector 100 is achieved by changing the position of the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130 of the adjustable mooring connector 100 without necessarily adjusting the length of the mooring line 24, as will be described below.

[0104] Indeed, the distance between the bottom 38 of the body of water 12 and the connection region 16 of the floating base 14 can be changed by passing the adjustment bar 1 10 from one fixing position defined by an overlapping through passage 138 to another fixing position defined by another overlapping through passage 138. This adjustment can be carried out after the initial installation, in case some tolerances / gaps have badly been anticipated, or in case soil / anchor settlement movement or mooring leg creeping has occurred.

[0105] This beneficial effect is obtained via an adjustable mooring connector 100 comprising easily manufacturable components. They are mainly plates or casted components that can be easily joined (for example by bolting or welding). The design is therefore simple and large quantities can be easily fabricated.

[0106] Figure 2 is a schematic elevation view of the floating installation 10, during the setting up of mooring lines 24 following the installation method according to the disclosure.

[0107] A non-limiting example of an installation method for a floating installation 10 according to the disclosure will now be described in reference to figure 2.

[0108] First, the length of each mooring line 24 is adjusted to have a defined length. The defined length is determined to have the floating installation 10 at the desired position in the body of water 12 with a determined tension applied on each mooring line 24. Adjusting the length is generally executed on a vessel or on-shore.

[0109] The mooring line 24 is then connected to the adjustment bar 1 10. The adjustment bar 1 10 is slid inside the pivoting member 130 and at least one overlapping through passage 138 is created by adjusting the position of the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130 at a given fixing position. A locking member 150 is inserted into the overlapping through passage 138 and blocks thereby any movement of the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130. Preferably, the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130 is neither fully extracted nor retracted so that one can easily adjust the adjustable mooring connector 100 once it is installed by changing the position of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130 in either one of the two directions parallel to the central axis 112.

[0110] The bottom connectors 34 are positioned and fixed at the bottom 38 of the body of water.

[0111] The supports 180 are attached on the connection regions 16 of the floating base 14.

[0112] The lower end of each mooring line 24 is connected to a bottom connector 34 and a buoy 190 is temporarily attached at the upper end of the mooring line 24, to facilitate further installation.

[0113] The buoyancy of the floating base 14 height is then reduced by the buoyancy adjusting system (not shown) to lower the floating base 14 in the body of water 12, such that each joint 160 extends above a corresponding support 180. The adjustable mooring connectors 100 are then engaged on the floating base 14.

[0114] The pivots 166 of the joint 160 are slid into the grooves 184 of the hook plates 182, thus pivotably mounting the adjustable mooring connector 100 to the floating base 14.

[0115] The buoyancy of the floating base 14 is thereafter increased by the buoyancy adjusting system (not shown) to raise its position in the body of water 12 to place the mooring lines 24 under tension between the adjustable mooring connector 100 and the bottom 38 of the body of water.

[0116] When needed, adjusting the position of the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130 includes using a remotely operated vehicle 300.

[0117] In reference to figure 7, the remotely operated vehicle 300 includes a jack comprising a base 301 and a deploying piston 302 configured to adjust the position of the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130.

[0118] The remotely operated vehicle 300 further includes a deployable connector 304 allowing the base 301 of the remotely operated vehicle 300 to engage with the connection interface 120 of the adjustment bar 100. It also includes a base connector 306 allowing the piston 302 of the remotely operated vehicle 300 to engage with the connection interface 134 of the pivoting member 130.

[0119] The jack is configured to be controlled to adjust the extension of the piston 302 to modify the distance between the connectors 304, 306, and thus to adapt the position of the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130. The remotely operated vehicle 300 includes a controller (not shown) with which is configured to be controlled for example from a vessel, from onshore or from the body of water 12.

[0120] A non-limiting example of an adjusting method for an adjustable mooring connector 100 according to the disclosure will now be described in reference to figures 7 and 8.

[0121] The buoyancy of the floating base 14 is reduced by the buoyancy adjusting system (not shown) to lower the mooring tension on the mooring lines 24.

[0122] The remotely operated vehicle 300 connects the base connector 304 to the connection interface 120 of the adjustment bar 110 and the deployable connector 306 to the connection interface 134 of the pivoting member 130.

[0123] The piston 302 of the remotely operated vehicle 300 is slightly contracted to reduce the load on the locking member 150. The locking member 150 is removed from the overlapping through passage 138. The movement of the adjustment bar 1 10 relative to the pivoting member 130 is now blocked by the remotely operated vehicle 300 and the remotely operated vehicle 300 supports the mooring tension.

[0124] The piston 302 is then contracted or extended to move the adjustment bar 1 10 along the central axis 1 12 relative to the pivoting member 130. A new overlapping through passage 138 at a desired fixing position is formed by overlapping one of holes 1 18 of the adjustment bar 1 10 with a corresponding hole 136 of the pivoting member 130.

[0125] The locking member 150 is inserted into the overlapping through passage 138.

[0126] The remotely operated vehicle 300 disengages from the adjustable mooring connector 100 by disconnecting its connectors 304, 306 from the connection interfaces 120, 134 of the adjustable mooring connector 100.

[0127] The buoyancy of the floating base 14 is thereafter increased by the buoyancy adjusting system (not shown) to increase the mooring tension on the mooring lines 24.

[0128] In a variant, the position of the adjustment bar 110 relative to the pivoting member 130 is controlled by connecting a lifting line (not shown) to the upper lifting member 1 14 of the adjustment bar 1 10 and by using a crane or a jack (not shown) to support the mooring tension.

[0129] In a variant, the pivoting member 130 has a plurality of holes 136 intended to register with one of the holes 118 of the adjustment bar 110.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An adjustable mooring connector (100) to connect a floating base (14) with a mooring line (24), comprising:- a pivoting member (130), extending along a central axis (112),- an adjustment bar (1 10) fixable to the pivoting member (130) at a plurality of fixing positions along the central axis (112), the adjustment bar (1 10) having a lower connection (1 13) configured to be connected to a mooring line (24),- at least one support (180) configured to be attached to the floating base (14),- an intermediate joint (160), pivotably connecting the pivoting member (130) on each support (180) about at least a first rotation axis (170), characterized by a locking member (150), removably positionable to secure the adjustment bar (1 10) at any of the plurality of axial fixing positions with respect to the pivoting member (130).

2. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to claim 1 , wherein :- at least one of the pivoting member (130) and of the adjustment bar (1 10) has a plurality of holes (118), notches or / and grooves at the fixing positions along the central axis (112), the other one of the pivoting member (130) and of the adjustment bar (1 10) having at least a corresponding hole (136), notch or / and groove configured to be placed overlapping a chosen hole notch or / and groove of the plurality of holes (118), notches or / and grooves to form an overlapping passage (138) at a chosen position among the plurality of fixing positions.

3. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to claim 2, wherein the locking member (150) comprises at least a locking pin configured to be removably inserted in the overlapping passage (138) to fix the adjustment bar (1 10) to the pivoting member (130) at the chosen position among the plurality of fixing positions.

4. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivoting member (130) has an internal passage (132), extending along the central axis (1 12), the adjustment bar (110) being at least partly positioned in the internal passage (132).

5. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first rotation axis (170) of the pivoting member (130) relative to the joint (160) is perpendicular to the central axis (112), the pivoting member (130) being rotatable about a second rotation axis (186) of the joint (160) relative to the floating base (14), the second rotation axis (186) being perpendicular to the central axis (112) and to the first rotation axis (170).

6. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment bar (110) is fixed in rotation around the central axis (112) with regard to the pivoting member (130).

7. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support (180) comprises two hook plates (182), positioned facing each other, perpendicular to the first rotation axis (170), each hook plate (182) having a vertical groove (184) emerging upwardly and having a closed bottom, the joint (160) having pivots (166) configured to slide in the groove (184) and to abut on the closed bottom.

8. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to claim 7, wherein the grooves (184) of the hook plates (182) have a U or V-shape.

9. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment bar (1 10) has an upper lifting member (114) to be seized by a lifting line.

10. The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to claim 9, wherein the upper lifting member (1 14) comprises a pad eye (114) positioned on top of the adjustment bar (1 10).1 1 . The adjustable mooring connector (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment bar (110) and at least one of the pivoting members (130) or of the joint (130) have at least a remotely operated vehicle connection interface (120, 134).

12. A floating installation (10), comprising:- a floating base (14),- a plurality of mooring lines (24) extending between the floating base (14) and the bottom (38) of the body of water (12),- a plurality of adjustable mooring connectors (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the support (180) of each adjustable mooring connector (100) being connected to the floating base (14), the lower connection (113) of the adjustment bar (1 10) being connected to an upper end of a mooring line (24),- for each mooring line (24), a bottom connector (34), connecting the mooring line (24) to the bottom (38) of the body of water (12).

13. The floating installation (10) according to claim 12, wherein the floating installation (10) is a Tension Leg Platform (TLP).

14. An installation method of a floating installation (10) according to any one of claims 12 or 13, comprising:- adjusting a position of an adjustment bar (110) connected to the mooring line (24) at one chosen position among the fixing positions and positioning the locking member (150) to secure the adjustment bar (1 10) at the chosen position with respect to the pivoting member (130)- connecting of the mooring line (24) to the bottom (38) of the body of water (12);- ballasting of the floating base (14) to lower its position;- inserting of the joint (160) into the support (180);- deballasting the floating base (14).

15. The installation method according to claim 14, comprising modifying a position of the adjustment bar (110) relative to the pivoting member (130) connected to the mooring line (24) at one chosen position among the fixing positions, including:- connecting a remotely operated vehicle (300) to the adjustable mooring connector (100) by at least one connection interface (120, 134),- removing the locking member (150) ,- adjusting the position of the adjustment bar (1 10) with regards to the pivoting member (130) to reach another chosen position among the plurality of fixing positions; and positioning the locking member (150) to secure the adjustment bar (110) at the other chosen position with respect to the pivoting member (130).

16. The installation method according to claim 15, wherein adjusting the position of the adjustment bar (110) with regards to the pivoting member (130) is carried out via the remotely operated vehicle (300) or / and via a lifting line connected to a crane or to a lifting jack.

Images