PACKING MEANS FOR A FLEXIBLE TENSION LEG PLATFORM

A tension leg platform has a flexible tension leg member comprising upper and lower tension leg elements and a casing within which the upper and lower tension leg elements are flexibly joined. The platform has a vertical shaft wall in which the casing is supported and a first packing which seals between the casing and the shaft wall. Swingable claws releasably interconnect the upper tension leg element to the casing, and a second packing surrounds the upper tension leg element and releasably seals between the upper tension leg element and the shaft wall. The second packing comprises a hollow cylinder with a coupling flange on the lower end thereof, and a coupling flange on the casing. The claws releasably secure together the flanges and are operated by vertical movement of the cylinder.