Floating structure

Abstract

This floating structure includes a floating body, a liquefied gas tank mounted in the floating body, and at least one loading station disposed on the floating body. Each of the at least one loading station has a plurality of manifolds connected to the liquefied gas tank via piping, and each of the plurality of manifolds has a joint connected to liquefied gas transfer equipment of an external storage facility. In at least one loading station, the joint includes a first joint and a second joint different in type from the first joint.

Description

Floating structures

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a floating structure equipped with a liquefied gas tank.

[0002] Floating structures have been known in the past, in which a liquefied gas tank containing liquefied gas is mounted on a float that floats on water. An example of such a floating structure is a liquefied gas carrier that transports liquefied gas such as LNG or LPG. The floating structure includes a transfer pipe extending from the liquefied gas tank and a manifold that is a connector for connecting the transfer pipe to transfer equipment of the external storage facility (hereinafter referred to as external transfer equipment) in order to transfer the liquefied gas between the floating structure and an external facility (hereinafter referred to as external storage facility) that includes a storage tank. Here, the external storage facility may be, for example, a land-based base, an offshore base, a ship, or the like.

[0003] The positions of the connection ports for external transfer facilities are not necessarily standardized in external storage facilities. Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes that in a floating structure having multiple cargo tanks for storing liquefied gas, in order to improve compatibility with onshore and offshore loading facilities, manifolds that can connect piping to onshore or offshore loading facilities are disposed at one, some, or all of the front and rear of the cargo tanks of the floating structure.

[0004] Patent No. 6067804

[0005] When a floating structure equipped with a liquefied gas tank transfers liquefied gas to multiple external storage facilities, the specifications of the piping of the transfer equipment of these multiple external storage facilities, such as the number of pipes, pipe diameter, and joints, are not necessarily uniform. Furthermore, it is possible that a single external storage facility is equipped with multiple transfer equipment with different specifications.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to propose a floating structure equipped with a liquefied gas tank that is equipped with a manifold that can accommodate variations in the specifications of the transfer equipment to which the liquefied gas is transferred.

[0007] In order to solve the above problem, a floating structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a float; a liquefied gas tank mounted on the float; and at least one loading station arranged on the float, each of the at least one loading station having a plurality of manifolds connected to the liquefied gas tank via piping, each of the plurality of manifolds having a fitting connected to liquefied gas transfer equipment of an external storage facility, and the fitting in the at least one loading station including a first fitting and a second fitting of a different type from the first fitting.

[0008] Furthermore, a floating structure according to another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a float, a liquefied gas tank mounted on the float, and a plurality of loading stations distributed on the float, wherein the plurality of loading stations include two loading stations having different numbers of tubes in the plurality of manifolds.

[0009] Furthermore, a floating structure according to another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a float, a liquefied gas tank mounted on the float, and a plurality of loading stations distributed on the float, wherein the plurality of loading stations include two loading stations in which the pipe diameters of the plurality of manifolds are different from each other.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, a floating structure equipped with a liquefied gas tank can be provided with a manifold that can accommodate variations in the specifications of the transfer equipment to which the liquefied gas is transferred.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a floating structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 2 is a side view of the floating structure shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a loading station.

[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a floating structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the floating structure 1 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the floating structure 1 according to this embodiment is a liquefied gas carrier having a plurality of liquefied gas tanks 3 containing liquefied gas as cargo mounted on its hull. However, the floating structure 1 to which the present disclosure is applied is not limited to a liquefied gas carrier, and may be a liquefied gas-fueled ship equipped with liquefied gas tanks 3 for fuel, a floating production storage and offloading unit (FPSO), a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), a floating production and offloading unit (FPO), a floating storage and offloading unit (FSO), or the like.

[0013] <<Float 11>> The floating structure 1 includes a float 11 that floats on water. In this embodiment, a ship's hull corresponds to the float 11. Hereinafter, the longitudinal direction of the float 11 (the left-right direction on the paper in Figures 1 and 2) will be referred to as the "fore-aft direction," and the direction perpendicular to the fore-aft direction of the float 11 will be referred to as the "left-right direction." An accommodation area 12 having rooms for crew members and the like is disposed at the rear of the float 11 in the fore-aft direction. In addition, an engine room 13 that houses a main engine is disposed below the accommodation area 12. However, the arrangement of the accommodation area 12 and the engine room 13 is not limited to the above. For example, the accommodation area 12 may be disposed at the front of the float 11 in the fore-aft direction. In addition, the floating structure 1 does not necessarily have to have the accommodation area 12 and the engine room 13. An upper deck 14 exposed to the outside is provided at the center and front of the float 11 in the fore-aft direction.

[0014] <<Liquefied Gas Tanks 3>> The floating structure 1 includes a plurality of liquefied gas tanks 3 arranged in the longitudinal direction in the central portion of the longitudinal direction of the float 11. The floating structure 1 according to this embodiment includes four liquefied gas tanks 3, but the number of liquefied gas tanks 3 is not limited to the above and may be one or more.

[0015] The liquefied gas tank 3 is spherical or ellipsoidal, and the upper portion of the liquefied gas tank 3 protrudes above the upper deck 14. The shape and arrangement of the liquefied gas tank 3 are not limited to those described above. For example, the liquefied gas tank 3 may be a rectangular tank.

[0016] The liquefied gas tank 3 can store liquefied gas. The liquefied gas tank 3 according to this embodiment stores liquefied hydrogen. However, the liquefied gas stored in the liquefied gas tank 3 may be a liquefied gas other than liquefied hydrogen, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), ammonia, or methanol.

[0017] <<Transfer Equipment>> Figure 3 is a plan view of the loading station 80. As shown in Figures 1 to 3 , the floating structure 1 is equipped with transfer equipment for transferring liquefied gas from the liquefied gas tank 3 to the external storage facility 5 or from the external storage facility 5 to the liquefied gas tank 3. The external storage facility 5 is a facility capable of storing liquefied gas outside the floating structure 1, and is, for example, a land-based base, an offshore base, a ship, or the like. The external storage facility 5 is equipped with an external storage tank 56 for storing liquefied gas, and external transfer equipment 55 for connecting the manifold 8 of the floating structure 1 to the external storage tank 56. The external transfer equipment 55 is equipped with piping connected to the external storage tank 56 of, for example, a loading arm, an unloading arm, or the like, and a connection port for connection to the manifold 8 is provided at the end of the piping.

[0018] The liquefied gas stored in the liquefied gas tank 3 and the vaporized gas of this liquefied gas can be taken out of the tank through a transfer pipe 51 connected to the liquefied gas tank 3. The transfer pipe 51 may branch into multiple pipes along the way, or multiple pipes may be connected and integrated into a single transfer pipe 51. The transfer pipe 51 includes a liquid transfer pipe and a gas transfer pipe. The liquid transfer pipe is composed of pipes, etc., connecting the inside of the liquefied gas tank 3 to the manifold 8. Liquefied gas flows through the liquid transfer pipe, being supplied from the external storage facility 5 to the liquefied gas tank 3 or being sent from the liquefied gas tank 3 to the external storage facility 5. The gas transfer pipe is composed of pipes, etc., connecting the gas phase portion of the liquefied gas tank 3 to the manifold 8. The gas transfer pipe sends a portion of the vaporized gas of the liquefied gas produced in the liquefied gas tank 3 to the manifold 8. The gas transfer pipe may also be used to evacuate gas from the liquefied gas tank 3 for cooling or purging the liquefied gas tank 3 .

[0019] The manifold 8 is a connection point with the external transfer equipment 55. The manifold 8 is disposed in a loading station 80 installed on the float 11. The floating structure 1 has loading stations 80 at multiple dispersed locations on the float 11. However, the floating structure 1 is required to have at least one loading station 80. The loading stations 80 are disposed at multiple dispersed locations on the upper deck 14 of the float 11. The loading stations 80 on the upper deck 14 are disposed between the longitudinal centers of the liquefied gas tanks 3 arranged in the longitudinal direction, at the left and right ends of the upper deck 14. One or more of the multiple loading stations 80 on the upper deck 14 may be disposed between the liquefied gas tanks 3 and the accommodation space 12. In other words, the loading stations 80 are disposed in the empty spaces between the liquefied gas tanks 3 arranged in the longitudinal direction on the upper deck 14. Furthermore, the loading stations 80 may be disposed on tank covers that protrude above the upper deck 14. In the floating structure 1 according to this embodiment, the loading stations 80 are provided in three locations on the upper deck 14, but the number of loading stations 80 is not limited to the above. For example, in a floating structure 1 equipped with four liquefied gas tanks 3, there are potential locations for the loading stations 80 in 10 or more locations on the left and right sides of the float 11.

[0020] The floating structure 1 also has loading stations 80 arranged at one or more locations on the side surfaces 11R, 11L of the float 11. When multiple loading stations 80 are arranged on the side surfaces 11R, 11L of the float 11, the multiple loading stations 80 are arranged dispersedly in the fore-and-aft direction on the right side surface 11R or the left side surface 11L of the float 11, or are arranged dispersedly on the right side surface 11R and the left side surface 11L. The loading stations 80 arranged on the side surfaces 11R, 11L of the float 11 are located above the waterline of the float 11 and below the upper deck 14. The loading stations 80 arranged on the side surfaces 11R, 11L of the float 11 may be recessed into the outer plating of the float 11.

[0021] A plurality of manifolds 8 are arranged in each loading station 80. Joints 82 are provided at the connection ports of the plurality of manifolds 8 for connection to the piping of the external transfer facility 55. Here, a plurality of manifolds 8 arranged in one loading station 80 are referred to as a "manifold group 81." The relationship between the plurality of loading stations 80 satisfies at least one of the following (a) to (c):

[0022] (a) The plurality of loading stations 80 includes a loading station 80 equipped with a first manifold group having a first fitting and a loading station 80 equipped with a second manifold group having a second fitting. The fittings 82 of the manifolds 8 belonging to the first manifold group are of different types from the fittings 82 of the manifolds 8 belonging to the second manifold group. The plurality of loading stations 80 may include one or more loading stations 80 equipped with both a manifold having a first fitting and a manifold having a second fitting. The fittings 82 are divided into mating type and insertion type depending on the joining method.

[0023] An example of a mating joint is a flange joint. When a flange joint is used, flanges are provided at both the connection port of the manifold 8 and the connection port of the external transfer facility 55. By mating these flanges and fastening them with bolts and nuts, the connection port of the manifold 8 and the connection port of the external storage facility 5 are connected. The flanges may also be fastened with clamps.

[0024] Examples of plug-in joints include bayonet joints and coupling joints. Coupling joints generally consist of a combination of a socket and a plug. For example, a socket is provided on one of the connection port of the manifold 8 and the connection port of the external storage facility 5, and a plug is provided on the other. By inserting the plug into the socket, the connection port of the manifold 8 and the connection port of the external transfer facility 55 are connected.

[0025] For example, if the manifolds 8 of the first manifold group have flange joints, the manifolds 8 of the second manifold group have bayonet joints. Also, if the manifolds 8 of the first manifold group have coupling joints, the manifolds 8 of the second manifold group have bayonet joints. In this way, by providing the floating structure 1 with multiple types of joints, it is possible to use different manifold groups 81 depending on the type of joints of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5.

[0026] The first manifold group is arranged in one or more of the plurality of loading stations 80 provided on the float 11, and the second manifold group is arranged in one or more of the remaining plurality of loading stations 80 provided on the float 11. The first manifold group and the second manifold group may be arranged on the same side in the left-right direction of the float 11, or may be arranged separately on the left and right sides. Alternatively, one of the first manifold group and the second manifold group may be provided in a loading station 80 arranged on the upper deck 14, and the other may be provided in a loading station 80 arranged on one of the side surfaces 11R, 11L of the float 11.

[0027] (b) The multiple loading stations 80 include a pair of loading stations 80, each pair including a loading station 80 with a third manifold group and a loading station 80 with a fourth manifold group, each pair having a different number of tubes in the manifolds 8. That is, the number of tubes in the manifolds 8 belonging to the third manifold group is different from the number of tubes in the manifolds 8 belonging to the fourth manifold group. For example, the third manifold group is primarily for connecting to piping in a land-based base, and the fourth manifold group is primarily for connecting to piping in an offshore base. As a non-limiting numerical example, the pipe diameters of the third manifold group and the manifolds 8 in the fourth manifold group are the same, but the number of manifolds 8 in the third manifold group is five and the number of manifolds 8 in the fourth manifold group is three. In this case, the arrangement interval between the manifolds 8 in the fourth manifold group may be wider than the arrangement interval between the manifolds 8 in the third manifold group.

[0028] The third manifold group is arranged in one or more of the plurality of loading stations 80 provided on the float 11, and the fourth manifold group is arranged in one or more of the remaining plurality of loading stations 80 provided on the float 11. The third manifold group and the fourth manifold group may be arranged on the same side in the left-right direction of the float 11, or may be arranged separately on the left and right sides. Furthermore, one of the third manifold group and the fourth manifold group may be provided in a loading station 80 arranged on the upper deck 14, and the other may be provided in a loading station 80 arranged on one of the side surfaces 11R, 11L of the float 11. The third manifold group may be any one of the first manifold group and the second manifold group described above, and the fourth manifold group may be any one of the first manifold group and the second manifold group described above.

[0029] (c) The multiple loading stations 80 include a pair of loading stations 80, one having a fifth manifold group and the other having a sixth manifold group, in which the pipe diameters of the manifolds 8 are different from each other. That is, the pipe diameter of the connection port of the manifold 8 belonging to the fifth manifold group is different from the pipe diameter of the connection port of the manifold 8 belonging to the sixth manifold group. Note that, when manifolds 8 of different pipe diameters belong to one manifold group 81, the average pipe diameters of the manifolds 8 belonging to the manifold group 81 may be compared. For example, the fifth manifold group is mainly used for cargo handling, and the sixth manifold group is mainly used for bunkering. That is, the sixth manifold group is used when the floating structure 1 functions as a bunkering vessel and supplies liquefied gas as fuel to other ships, etc. Generally, the liquid transfer rate during cargo handling is higher than the liquid transfer rate during bunkering. Therefore, the pipe diameter of the cargo handling piping is larger than the pipe diameter of the fuel supply piping. To give a non-limiting numerical example, when the pipe diameter of the connection port of the loading pipe is 400 A (outer diameter 406.4 mm), the pipe diameter of the connection port of the fuel supply pipe is 100 A (outer diameter 114.3 mm). In order to accommodate the transfer of liquid to and from a plurality of external storage facilities 5 having such different pipe diameters, the pipe diameter of the connection port of the fifth manifold group is larger than the pipe diameter of the connection port of the sixth manifold group.

[0030] The fifth manifold group is arranged in one or more of the plurality of loading stations 80 provided on the float 11, and the sixth manifold group is arranged in one or more of the remaining plurality of loading stations 80 provided on the float 11. The fifth manifold group and the sixth manifold group may be arranged on the same side in the left-right direction of the float 11, or may be arranged separately on the left and right sides. Furthermore, one of the fifth manifold group and the sixth manifold group may be provided in a loading station 80 arranged on the upper deck 14, and the other may be provided in a loading station 80 arranged on one of the side surfaces 11R, 11L of the float 11. The fifth manifold group may be any one of the first to fourth manifold groups described above, and the sixth manifold group may be any one of the first to fourth manifold groups described above.

[0031] In (a) above, the first manifold group having the first joints and the second manifold group having the second joints are arranged in different loading stations 80, but the manifold groups in one loading station 80 may each have different types of joints, i.e., manifolds provided with first joints and manifolds provided with second joints.

[0032] <<Arrangement of Ladders 20>> The floating structure 1 includes at least one ladder 20 arranged on each of the right side 11R and the left side 11L of the float 11. The ladder 20 may be a pilot ladder, a side ladder, an accommodation ladder, or the like, and may also include a lifting device for these ladders.

[0033] If the external transfer facility 55 approaches the loading station 80 and a ladder 20 is present between the external transfer facility 55 and the loading station 80, there is a risk of interference between the external transfer facility 55 and the ladder 20. Therefore, the ladder 20 is positioned to avoid the loading station 80 on the upper deck 14. In detail, the multiple loading stations 80 include a right loading station 80 positioned along the right side 11R on the upper deck 14 and a left loading station 80 positioned along the left side 11L on the upper deck 14, and the ladder 20 positioned on the right side 11R is positioned to avoid the right loading station 80, and the ladder 20 positioned on the left side 11L is positioned to avoid the left loading station 80. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the external transfer facility 55 and the ladder 20.

[0034] Generally, in a ship, ladders are arranged symmetrically on both the port and starboard sides of the centerline. In contrast, in the floating structure 1 according to this embodiment, the ladder 20 arranged on the right side 11R of the float 11 and the ladder 20 arranged on the left side 11L are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the centerline extending in the fore-and-aft direction. In other words, one of the ladders 20 arranged on the right side 11R and the ladder 20 arranged on the left side 11L is arranged further forward in the fore-and-aft direction than the other. It is preferable that at least one loading station 80 is arranged between the ladders 20 arranged on the right side 11R and the ladders 20 arranged on the left side 11L in the fore-and-aft direction of the float 11. However, it is preferable that the ladder 20 be arranged close to the accommodation space 12 in the fore-and-aft direction of the float 11 so as to enable quick access from the accommodation space 12 of the float 11.

[0035] For mooring convenience, the loading station 80 is preferably located in an area with a wide vertical portion of the outer plating in the center of the longitudinal direction of the float 11. On the other hand, although the ladders 20 including the side ladders and pilot ladder are not used during loading and unloading, it is preferable to install the ladders 20 in a location where there is a vertical portion of the outer plating of the float 11, taking into consideration the need for a pilot to board the ship. Therefore, by installing the ladders 20 in accordance with the arrangement of the loading station 80, it is possible to achieve the arrangement of both the loading station 80 equipped with the manifold 8 and the ladders 20.

[0036] [Summary] The floating structure 1 according to the first item of the present disclosure comprises a float 11, a liquefied gas tank 3 mounted on the float 11, and at least one loading station 80 arranged on the float 11, each of the at least one loading station 80 having a plurality of manifolds 8 connected to the liquefied gas tank 3 via piping, each of the plurality of manifolds 8 having a fitting 82 connected to liquefied gas transfer equipment 55 of an external storage facility 5, and the fitting 82 in the at least one loading station 80 including a first fitting and a second fitting of a different type from the first fitting.

[0037] As described above, by providing the floating structure 1 with a plurality of types of joints 82, it is possible to select the manifold 8 to be used depending on the specifications (particularly the type of joints 82) of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred. Therefore, it is possible to provide a floating structure 1 equipped with a liquefied gas tank 3 that is equipped with a manifold 8 that can accommodate variations in the specifications of the transfer equipment 55 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred.

[0038] The floating structure 1 according to the second item of the present disclosure is the floating structure 1 according to the first item, wherein at least one loading station 80 includes a first loading station having a plurality of manifolds 8 with first joints, and a second loading station having a plurality of manifolds 8 with second joints.

[0039] According to the floating structure 1 having the above-described configuration, the loading station 80 to be used can be selected depending on the specifications (particularly the type of joint 82) of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred.

[0040] The floating structure 1 according to the third item of the present disclosure is the floating structure 1 according to the first item, wherein at least one loading station 80 includes one loading station having both a first joint and a second joint.

[0041] According to the floating structure 1 having the above configuration, the joints 82 to be used can be selected depending on the specifications (particularly the type of joints 82) of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred.

[0042] The floating structure 1 relating to the fourth item of the present disclosure is a floating structure 1 relating to any one of the first to third items, wherein at least one loading station 80 includes one or more loading stations 80 arranged on the upper deck 14 of the float 11 and one or more loading stations 80 arranged on the sides 11R, 11L of the float 11.

[0043] According to the floating structure 1 having the above-described configuration, the loading station 80 located on the upper deck 14 of the float 11 and the loading stations 80 located on the sides 11R and 11L of the float 11 can be used selectively depending on the specifications of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred.

[0044] The floating structure 1 relating to the fifth item of the present disclosure is a floating structure 1 relating to any one of the first to fourth items, in which at least one loading station 80 includes two loading stations 80 having different numbers of tubes in the multiple manifolds 8.

[0045] According to the floating structure 1 having the above configuration, the loading station 80 to be used can be selected depending on the specifications (particularly the number of pipes) of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred.

[0046] The floating structure 1 relating to the sixth item of the present disclosure is a floating structure 1 relating to any one of the first to fifth items, in which at least one loading station 80 includes two loading stations 80 in which the pipe diameters of the multiple manifolds 8 are different from each other.

[0047] According to the floating structure 1 configured as above, it is possible to select the loading station 80 to be used depending on the specifications (particularly the pipe diameter) of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred. For example, by arranging a small-diameter manifold 8 for transferring liquid from a small bunkering ship in addition to a large-diameter manifold 8 for loading and unloading with the base, the efficiency of transferring liquid to and from the small bunkering ship is improved. Also, for example, by having a small-diameter manifold 8 for bunkering on a large floating structure 1, the floating structure 1 can also be used as a bunkering ship, making it possible to respond to a variety of operating methods of the floating structure 1.

[0048] The floating structure 1 according to the seventh item of the present disclosure is a floating structure 1 according to any one of the first to sixth items, comprising an upper deck 14 arranged on the upper surface of the float 11, a first ladder 20 arranged on the first side 11R of the float 11, and a second ladder 20 arranged on the second side 11L, and at least one loading station 80 includes a first loading station arranged on the upper deck 14 along the first side 11R and a second loading station arranged on the upper deck 14 along the second side 11L, the first ladder 20 being arranged to avoid the sides of the first loading station, and the second ladder 20 being arranged to avoid the sides of the second loading station, and the first ladder 20 and the second ladder 20 being arranged asymmetrically across the center line between the first side 11R and the second side 11L in a plan view.

[0049] According to the floating structure 1 having the above configuration, when the external transfer facility 55 approaches the loading station 80, interference between the external transfer facility 55 and the ladder 20 can be avoided.

[0050] The floating structure 1 according to the eighth item of the present disclosure comprises a float 11, a liquefied gas tank 3 mounted on the float 11, and a plurality of loading stations 80 distributed across the float 11, and the plurality of loading stations 80 include two loading stations having a different number of tubes in the plurality of manifolds 8.

[0051] According to the floating structure 1 having the above configuration, the loading station 80 to be used can be selected depending on the specifications (particularly the number of pipes) of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred.

[0052] The floating structure 1 according to the ninth item of the present disclosure comprises a float 11, a liquefied gas tank 3 mounted on the float 11, and a plurality of loading stations 80 distributed across the float 11, and the plurality of loading stations 80 includes two loading stations in which the pipe diameters of the plurality of manifolds 8 are different from each other.

[0053] According to the floating structure 1 configured as above, it is possible to select the loading station 80 to be used depending on the specifications (particularly the pipe diameter) of the transfer equipment 55 of the external storage facility 5 to which the liquefied gas is to be transferred. For example, by arranging a small-diameter manifold 8 for transferring liquid from a small bunkering ship in addition to a large-diameter manifold 8 for loading and unloading with the base, the efficiency of transferring liquid to and from the small bunkering ship is improved. Also, for example, by having a small-diameter manifold 8 for bunkering on a large floating structure 1, the floating structure 1 can also be used as a bunkering ship, making it possible to respond to a variety of operating methods of the floating structure 1.

[0054] The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form disclosed herein. For example, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features of the present disclosure are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure, but some of the features may also be combined. Furthermore, multiple features included in the present disclosure may be combined into alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above.

[0055] 1: Floating structure 3: Liquefied gas tank 5: External storage facility 8: Manifold 11: Floating body 14: Upper deck 18: Upper deck 20: Ladder 50: Transfer equipment 55: External transfer equipment 80: Loading station 81: Manifold group 82: Joint

Claims

1. A floating structure comprising: a float; a liquefied gas tank mounted on said float; and at least one loading station arranged on said float, wherein each of said at least one loading station has a plurality of manifolds connected to said liquefied gas tank via piping, each of said plurality of manifolds has a fitting connected to liquefied gas transfer equipment of an external storage facility, and wherein said fittings in said at least one loading station include a first fitting and a second fitting of a different type from said first fitting.

2. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one loading station includes a first loading station having the plurality of manifolds with the first joints, and a second loading station having the plurality of manifolds with the second joints.

3. The floating structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one loading station includes one loading station that includes both the first joint and the second joint.

4. A floating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one loading station includes one or more loading stations arranged on the upper deck of the floating body and one or more loading stations arranged on the side of the floating body.

5. A floating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one loading station includes two loading stations having different numbers of tubes in the plurality of manifolds.

6. A floating structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one loading station includes two loading stations in which the pipe diameters of the plurality of manifolds are different from each other.

7. A floating structure as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising: an upper deck arranged on the upper surface of the float; a first ladder arranged on a first side surface of the float; and a second ladder arranged on a second side surface; the at least one loading station includes a first loading station arranged on the upper deck along the first side surface and a second loading station arranged on the upper deck along the second side surface; the first ladder is arranged to avoid the side of the first loading station, and the second ladder is arranged to avoid the side of the second loading station; and the first ladder and the second ladder are arranged asymmetrically across the center line of the first side surface and the second side surface in a plan view.

8. A floating structure comprising: a float; a liquefied gas tank mounted on the float; and a plurality of loading stations distributed across the float, wherein the plurality of loading stations include two loading stations each having a different number of pipes in the plurality of manifolds.

9. A floating structure comprising: a float; a liquefied gas tank mounted on the float; and a plurality of loading stations distributed across the float, wherein the plurality of loading stations include two loading stations in which the pipe diameters of the plurality of manifolds are different from each other.

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