There is disclosed an offshore vessel mooring and riser inboarding system
(12) for a vessel (10) such as an FPSO or FSO. In one embodiment, the
system comprises a first mooring element (16) adapted to be located in an
offshore environment (18); a riser (20) adapted to be coupled to the
first mooring element; a connector assembly (22) 11 adapted to be mounted
on the vessel, the connector assembly comprising a second mooring element
(28); and a transfer line (32) adapted to be coupled to the riser;
wherein the first and second mooring elements are adapted to be connected
to facilitate coupling of the riser and the transfer line; and wherein
the connector assembly is adapted to permit relative rotation between the
vessel and the first mooring element about three mutually perpendicular
axes of rotation. This facilitates weathervaning of the vessel relative
to the first mooring element, as well as pitch, roll, heave and surge,
under applied wind, wave and/or tidal forces.