Hi Bob,
Many of the shuttle tankers coming into the gulf ports do have purpose built davits for their Yokohama fenders (quite a few of the EAGLE tankers do). In a case like the ship shown, the company contracted for the lightering operation will have a work boat standing by to bring fenders to the off loading VLCC (called the "mother" vessel), then the vessel taking the cargo(the "daughter" ship) will come alongside to load.

Paul: In the 1970s, VLCCs bound up the English Channel were lightened in Lyme Bay, Devon, England into tankers that were specially fitted with davit-mounted fenders on deck. Do you know: how is fendering done in this case?

Yeah, but she has an excuse! She's a shuttle tanker going in and out from lightering offshore in the U.S. Gulf to various ports. Always up against a dock or some fendered ship almost daily. Tough work.

Hello Paul, very big nice lady; sad that she forget to put make-up before she gone out, Hé Hé Hé
Very best regards, Robert08