ClassNK Updates Guidelines for Floating Offshore Facilities
ClassNK released a new version of its Guidelines for Floating Offshore Facilities for LNG/LPG Production, Storage, Offloading and Regasification.
Available on the ClassNK website, this second edition is an update to the initial guidelines released in February 2011 which aims to provide technical guidelines for the construction and survey of floating offshore facilities.
With its lates version, ClassNK said it has clarified its guidelines to include floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) as well as floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSO), reflecting the rise in FSRU projects globally.
These offshore gas facilities have been gaining popularity due to their low cost (less than half the cost of an equivalent onshore facility) and the advantage of being able to move wherever demand is the highest for regasification.
As many FSRUs are often located close to shore, the amendments include design conditions which take into consideration the possibility and effects of tsunamis on offshore gas facilities, Class NK informs. Additionally, tsunamis which occurred in the past at the specified operation site are to be investigated and the maximum tsunami which can occur at the site is to be taken into account during the design process.
