Astilleros Espanoles To Convert Tanker To FPSO
Astilleros Espanoles signed a contract with Bluewater Terminal Systems for the conversion of the tanker Dirch Maersk into a floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to be called Uisge Gorm.
Once converted, the vessel will be operated in the Fife Field in the British area of the North Sea, used by Amerada Hess.
This is the fifth conversion performed by Astilleros Espanoles' Cadiz shipyard.
The Cadiz yard converted the Ildefonso Fierro and the Sitala for Shell,FPSO VI for Ashland Oil and Alisa Craig for Fosco N.V.
In order to improve the productivity of the conversion works, it will be necessary to drydock the vessel three times in the Cadiz shipyard and to move it to the Puerto Real Shipyard for a short time to fit the heaviest equipment.
The conversion of theUisge Gorm entails: structure and fixed point mooring system; forward crude intake; module support structure on deck; service support structure and landing areas; flare stack for the gas remaining from the process plant; building and fitting of helicopter landing area; installation of two cranes on deck and their correspondent material stowage areas; modification of the accommodation spaces according to regulations in force and enlarging them in order to accommodate 54 people; installation of new lifeboats and davits; integral modification of the ballast and cargo systems; installation of a sternthruster; installation of a new turbo-alternator; modification of the fuel system for boilers in order to operate on dual fuel using gas coming from the process; modification of the firefighting system; extension of the electric and automation service which enables the feed and control of all ship activities; construction and fitting of a service and power module, consisting of one compartment to be installed which will stow five diesel motors fitted to two well water injection pumps and to three compressors for the reinjection of process gas.
Aside from conversion work, repairs and ship life extension work for the Uisge Gorm entail: checking and arrangement of all the piping, machinery and electricity services; structural steel surfaces treatment and coating, including tanks as well as decks and accommodation exteriors; cathodic protection installation; additional reinforcement of the structure in order to compensate the structural fatigue life for a period of at least 15 years.
The ship is due for delivery, after the conversion and repair work, on March 15, 1995.
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