Armstrong Technology has recently completed a contract to redesign elements of the LPG offloading systems (Butane and Propane) for the FSO Liberdade. The FSO, which recently arrived at the BAYU-UNDAN field off the coast of Timor Lesté, required a system to quick disconnect the off-loading hoses.

The contract followed on from a previous study carried out by Armstrong to review and recommend suitable alternatives.

The work undertaken by Armstrong considered the issues of extreme safety, installation costs, ease of re-connection and the suitability for retrofit whilst the vessel is offshore.

Conoco-Phillips approached the Australian division of Babcock, who referred the request to Armstrong, which has extensive FPSO knowledge, to investigate a viable solution. The work included preparation of detail structural, piping and electrical/controls designs, along with full Technical Specifications for tender and purchase use.

At dawn on Sunday 19th October 2003 Shell’s 2 million-barrel Bonga floating oil production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel left the AMEC fabrication yard at Wallsend. Hundreds of people lined both sides of the river to wish her farewell and watch her slow transit, assisted by eight tugs, down the river and into the North Sea. This 395,000t displacement FPSO is the largest and most complex vessel ever to have been completed in the UK. Prior to the arrival of the Bonga the largest ship to grace the river Tyne was the 299,000t displacement Everett F Wells, which was completed in 1977 at the Swan Hunter shipyard, also at Wallsend.

The 300-metre long and 58 metre wide hull of the Bonga was constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea. Following a four-month tow via the Suez Canal she entered the Tyne, stern first, on Saturday 16th November 2002.

In order to plan and ensure the safe execution of the movement of such a large unpowered vessel along the river one of the most advanced marine simulators in the UK, located at South Tyneside College, was used to create an exact computer model of this leviathan. In order to realistically simulate its passage along the river Armstrong Technology produced the mathematical models defining the physical, hydrostatic and dynamic characteristics of the Bonga, both on arrival as a barge and departure with topsides, together with the deep sea and harbour tugs also associated with the tows. Other vessels modelled by Armstrong Technology for use on the simulator include the Bluewater FPSO Bleo Holm and Sir Charles Parson’s steam yacht Turbinia, the worlds first steam turbine driven vessel, which was also built on the river Tyne at Wallsend.

During the Bonga’s 11 month stay on Tyneside over 22,000 tonnes of specialised process and utilities systems were fitted to the deck of the vessel. Armstrong Technology were commissioned by AMEC as consultant naval architects for the £300 million topsides integration and commissioning phase. Tasks included the management of the Korean ballast water exchange, maintaining the vessel trim and stability during and after the lift programme, development of tow conditions and undertaking of the final inclining experiment. Involvement with the Bonga continues with support being given to Shell in the development of in-service enhancements.

The vessel is now moored offshore Nigeria, 120 kilometres south-west of the Niger Delta in water more than 1,000 metres deep. This project is the first deepwater project off Nigeria and the Bonga will produce around 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million cubic feet of natural gas per day.

History was made when in June 2003 scientists from Aalborg University switched on the turbine and Wave Dragon became the first offshore wave energy converter to supply power to the Danish grid.

Wave Dragon is a large floating offshore wave energy converter. It is a slack moored device of the overtopping type, consisting of two wave reflectors focusing the waves towards a ramp where the water overtops into a reservoir. The power is extracted as the water drains back to sea through a number of specially developed variable speed axial turbines. In recent years a partnership of companies from six European countries, has worked together to develop and build a large 1:4.5 scale prototype test rig. The rig which has a span of more than 57 metres and a rated power of 20 kW is currently deployed in Nissum Bredning.

The prototype structure has been built in steel based on a design developed by Armstrong Technology using the results of previous phases of model testing and data provided by the inventor and the other project partners. Armstrong Technology also assessed aspects of the stability of the moored structure by applying expertise developed from their more traditional offshore markets, demonstrating the possibilities for beneficial technology transfer to the renewable energy industry.

If the outcome of the project is as expected, a first generation full-scale Wave Dragon will be deployed in 2005-2006, perhaps 20-30 km offshore in the North Sea.

The De Beers owned diamond drilling vessel !Gariep is now back in her home port in Namibia, following her departure from the Tyne in June. This successful conclusion to the project followed a six month conversion at A&P Tyne’s Hebburn yard, completed three months ahead of schedule. Armstrong Technology were closely involved in all aspects of the conversion and upgrade design, including the installation of a new 13m long mid body section with drill tower and moonpool.

The accelerated completion allowed an early start to mining activities near the mouth of the Orange River, close to the infamous ‘skeleton coast’.

This project has helped to develop a very effective working relationship between Armstrong Technology and DeBeers, and we hope further work will result in the near future.

Dennis Maccoy, Operations Manager of Armstrong Technology, commented, “We are delighted that a customer as prestigious as De Beers selected Armstrong Technology to undertake this complex project. The fact that De Beers also chose a Tyneside facility to undertake the conversion demonstrates once again the capability that exists in our region where ship design and shipbuilding are a part of our heritage”.

“Armstrong Technology specialises in the design of complex vessels. Our clients are attracted to the breadth of our experience together with our strong background in shipbuilding and conversion design”.