Dubai Wins FSO Conversion; Dalian Completes Graving Dock
Dubai Drydocks has won a contract for the conversion of a tanker into a Floating Storage Offloading Unit (FSO). The engineering was carried out by Single Buoy Moorings (SBM) and the FSO will be chartered by Elf-Congo for use on the Nkossa oilfield offshore the Congo. Its primary functions will be to receive, store and offload the stabilized crude oil produced on the field to export tankers. The FSO is expected to stay on-site for a minimum of 10 years.
The vessel is a 273,000-dwt tanker built in 1974, and the project consists of two major parts: the refurbishment of the vessel and the conversion to provide the required functions of the FSO. The major work includes: the installation of a purpose-built extension on the vessel's bow that will support the station keeping turret mooring system; the fabrication and installation of a helideck and a new boarding system; the installation of a new metering skid unit and a new cargo control room; major modifications to cargo systems; the conversion of the boiler to a new dual-fuel system; and the total refurbishment of the accommodations. The main design work for the FSO is being undertaken by SBM, but a significant amount of detailed engineering is being undertaken by Dubai Drydocks. Dalian New Shipyard, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), announced the completion of a 1,181 x 262.5 x 42.7 ft. (360 x 80 x 13 m), 350,000-dwt capacity graving dock, complete with a 900-ton gantry for constructing harsh environment rigs and large offshore structures. CSSC operates 26 shipyards, 67 marine equipment manufacturing plants and 37 design and research institutes throughout China. Its subsidiary, China Offshore Industrial Corporation, is responsible for coordinating all commercial business related to newbuilding and repair of offshore rigs and structures on behalf of the group.
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