Method for cooling a hydrocarbon stream and a floating vessel therefor

The present invention provides a floating vessel (1), and a method for cooling a hydrocarbon stream (10), such as natural gas, utilising such a vessel, the vessel comprising at least: one or more cooling stages (50, 100) in which a hydrocarbon stream (10, 20) passes against one or more refrigerant streams (40, 45) in one or more refrigerant circuits (150) to provide cooled hydrocarbon in one or more cooled hydrocarbon streams (20, 30) and one or more at least partly evapourated refrigerant streams (60, 70); each refrigerant circuit (150) comprising one or more compressors (200, 250), one or more coolers (300, 350), one or more expansion devices (400, 450), and one or more heat exchangers (500, 550), said heat exchangers providing the one or more cooled hydrocarbon streams (20, 30); and a plurality of storage tanks (600) for the cooled hydrocarbon, said storage tanks comprising at least two membrane storage tanks and having a combined storage capacity of greater than 170,000 m3, preferably greater than or equal to about 180,000 m3.