Vessel ARMADA KRAKEN with an LOA 280m, was docked at Singapore Keppel Shipyard for 2 years, for her conversion into a Floating Production Storage and Offloading or FPSO as commonly termed.
A FPSO is a floating vessel used by the offshore oil and gas industry for the production and processing of hydrocarbons, and for the storage of oil. It is commonplace for such vessels to be at operations for a continuous period of 25 years.
At the end of October 2016, FPSO ARMADA KRAKEN left the shipyard for Raffles Reserved Anchorage where she would complete her final stages of commissioning work. In preparation for her maiden voyage to the North Sea and final delivery to the owners, underwater full hull cleaning was ordered.
Coordinators, project managers and HSE personnel met on numerous occasions to discuss and plan at length for a smooth execution of the underwater operations that were to run simultaneously with the testing and commissioning activities of all other systems on board. Diving operations had to be split over 3 days in order to cover the entire hull portion with minimal risks to the divers as multiple seawater intakes could not be isolated owing to the commissioning activities.
On each day of the operations, Divetech Marine carried out thorough safety and toolbox meetings together with the vessel’s captain, chief engineer and involved representatives from Bumi Armada so that all parties were briefed on the scope of work for the day.
Despite the special paint coatings applied, the said vessel’s shell plating was found to be 70% fouled with various types of marine growth, including tubes worms, sea algae, acorn barnacles and more. The formation of such fouling can be attributed to the vessel’s lengthy stay at the dock where she remained in a stationary position.
In order to expedite the diving operation, Divetech Marine mobilised a total of three diving vessels and teams to carry out simultaneous cleaning of the vessel from both port and starboard sides. In addition to the hull cleaning, divers accessed the vessel’s moon-pool for the disconnection of ropes that were connected to the bottom of the mating cone seal.
As with delivering a brand new Porsche with a polished body. The FPSO ARMADA KRAKEN was ready for delivery to her owners and the tall order awaiting her in the North Sea.
Divetech Marine would like to thank the team from Bumi Armada and all parties who have in one way or another assisted us and made this operation possible.
FPSO ARMADA KRAKEN
Vertical Sides – before cleaning Vertical Sides – after cleaning
Flat Bottom – before cleaning Flat bottom – after cleaning
Sea Chest Gratings – before cleaning Sea Chest Gratings – after cleaning
Ropes connected to mating cone seal Cutting of ropes
In May 2018, the Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for Biofouling on vessels arriving to New Zealand which was implemented by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
A rope guard functions as a protective barrier for the propeller shaft, to protect them against rope and fishing net entanglement. Once ropes and fishing
Divetech Marine, in joint collaboration with Mirae Ocean Technology (“MOT”), a ship design consulting and marine engineering company based in Korea, performed underwater CCTV and
