Mooring Analysis of the Ocean Sentinel through Field Observation and Numerical Simulation

Abstract

Mooring systems are used to secure offshore structures to the ocean floor. They can provide general station-keeping, where a ship, buoy, or platform is kept in a general location. They can also provide more finite positioning, where heading, draught, elevation, and GPS coordinates are tightly controlled. The behavior of a mooring system depends greatly on its configuration and components, which is discussed in more detail in this section. There are two major organizations that produce mooring system specifications: Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and the American Petroleum Institute. DNV specifications are available for free online, and several of them were reviewed during this study (DNV 2005, DNV 2008, and DNV 2010). Additionally, two reports prepared specifically for the Oregon Coast by Sound and Sea Technology Engineering Solutions (SST) were important sources for this study (SST 2009 and SST 2012).