LOADING ASSEMBLY FOR CONVEYING A PRESSURIZED GAS STREAM AND A SWITCHING SYSTEM FOR USE IN A LOADING ASSEMBLY

A loading assembly has a gas conduit that extends between a floating structure and another structure, to convey a pressurized gas stream between the two structures. An emergency disconnection coupler is configured in the gas conduit. A switching system is provided for controlling switching of an engagement mechanism in the emergency disconnection coupler between a locked position and an unlocked position (in either direction). The switching system is subject to two distinct fail-safe regimes: a fail-unlocked regime which inherently instructs for release of the emergency disconnection coupler, and a fail-closed regime which inherently precludes release of the emergency disconnection coupler when there is pressurized gas in the gas connection. The fail-unlocked regime is active when the gas pressure in the gas connection is below a predetermined override threshold value. The fail-locked regime overrides the fail-unlocked regime.