EDITORIAL COMMENT
A class of their own
FPSO Umuroa, a converted FPSO from Keppel Shipyard delivered
in 2007 (Source: Keppel Shipyard).
ecent innovative fl oating produc- weathertight integrity of spars and TLPs, (CVA) contract for the fi rst FPSO for the
tion unit designs are prompting rule changes for survival environmen- Gulf of Mexico region. DNV, as the certifi -
Rship classification societies to tal conditions for TLPs, change of deck cation verifi cation agent, must ensure that
review their rules for the next generation clearance and tendon loads for TLPs, and the US Minerals Management Service
of offshore installations. The American rule changes of environmental severity (MMS) requirements are complied with in
Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has been review- factors (α and β) for ship-type FPSOs. regards to all of the fi ve signifi cant elements
ing its regulations and has announced the of the project. Th e elements make up the
release of a major revision and update of hull, topsides with topside-hull interfaces,
its Guide for Floating Production Instal- “The approach turret with turret-hull interfaces, polyester
lations. Th e updated requirements apply
has served the
mooring system and piled foundation.
FPSO-specific loading conditions and Bureau Veritas (BV) has also been
prescribe strength assessment procedures
industry well for
involved in classification and non-clas-
to be followed. ABS believes that as an
established organisation it is in an excellent
many years, but our
sification, certification and engineer-
ing support work in connection with
position to review its regulations as it has
knowledge base
fl oating structures. BV has been keen to
the experience of around 50 FPSO installa-
tions that are in its class.
and technology
demonstrate how operators can save time
and money if models are integrated, and
Some of the many issues that have
now allow us to
class included, early in the process.
infl uenced the decision by ABS to re-eval- Elsewhere in the world, revisions to the
uate its rules for FPSOs are: the continuing
explicitly consider
MARPOL Annex 1 convention have added
demand for single- and double-hull tanker
these specialized
FPSOs and FSUs to the list of vessel types
conversions, the structural and loads that must comply with the regulations. Th is
interface between the larger and heavier vessels.” amendment refers to vessels sailing under
topside production facilities and the hull, the Bahamas fl ag and was issued in August
and specialised environmental loads and 2008. The amendments stipulate that
operational loading conditions. Speaking at Offshore Technology pre-existing fl oating vessels need not be
ABS has been working with both design- Conference (OTC) Houston in May, upgraded to comply with the provisions of
ers and operators within the industry in Christina Wang, Managing Principal the IMO MEPC.139 (53) resolution (which
the development of the new criteria. Th e Engineer for ABS Corporate Research & replaces IMO MEPC/Circ.406) where it
requirements are for the design, construc- Product Development, said: “Th e FPSOs would require structural changes.
tion, and survey aft er construction of the of today and the future require us to think Recent trends have seen more conver-
fl oating installation vessel - including hull differently. Previous class requirements sion of tankers and other large vessels to
structure, equipment and machinery – the applicable to these vessels have been based FPSO units than ever before. In 2008 ten
position mooring system and the hydrocar- on rules for trading tankers. Th e approach very large crude carriers (VLCC) have so
bon production facilities. Floating installa- has served the industry well for many far been converted to FPSOs to satisfy the
tions of ship-type, column-stabilised type, years, but our knowledge base and new global demand for oil and gas. Th at does
tension-leg platforms and spar vessels are technology now allow us to more explicitly not take into account newbuilds, such as
also included, as well as existing tanker consider these specialized vessels.” the Vietnamese FSO Rang Dong MV17 that
hull conversions. Earlier in the year Det Norske Veritas was delivered at the end of July. Th erefore it
Updates to the 2006 ABS guide include (DNV), along with Petrobras America Inc, is likely that regulations will tighten further
a change for stability and watertight/ signed a certification verification agent in the future. OMT
Offshore Marine Technology 4th Quarter 2008 5
OOMT_4Q08_p5.indd 5MT_4Q08_p5.indd 5 110/20/08 1:59:10 PM0/20/08 1:59:10 PM
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