A very large diameter turret for mooring a VLCC class FPSO vessel. A large diameter
rail and wheel bearing system is disposed between a turret main deck and the hull
of the vessel. The turret is designed for a flexibility to allow the turret main
deck to conform to the sag or hog of the vessel so that excessive forces on the
wheels of the bearing system are avoided. The turret's main deck, in a preferred
embodiment, includes a center hub, an outer ring, and spokes between the hub and
outer ring. A lower chain deck is preferably connected to the main deck by pillars
or columns, or alternatively by riser tubes alone, or other structures that achieve
the desired flexibility of the main deck.