The world’s first offshore-moored floating, storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU), the FSRU Toscana, has been successfully delivered and permanently moored off the coast of Livorno, Italy, where it will be used as a terminal and export point for liquefied natural gas.
Two tugs from Rotterdam-based Fairmount Marine delivered the floating ‘gas plant’ from Dubai via Malta where final equipment was installed. After delivering the Toscana, the tugs assisted in mooring the unit to her six pre installed anchors.
The FSRU was converted from the 2004-built LNG carrier, Golar Frost, at Drydocks World in Dubai for contractor Saipem and client OLT Offshore LNG Toscana SpA.
When fully operational the unit has a re-gasification capacity of 3.75 billion cubic meters a year (11 million cubic meters a day) and a storage capacity of 137,500 cubic meters of LNG.
For the towage, Fairmount Marine mobilized their 205-ton bollard pull tugs, Fairmount Summit and Fairmount Alpine, towards Dubai. After hooking-up the convoy set sail for Malta, where the unit underwent final outfitting. Later both tugs towed Toscana to her final location about 12 miles offshore Livorno and assisted in mooring the FSRU.
Needles to say Saipem was very pleased that their unit arrived as scheduled. “The execution of the complex operations demonstrates sound engineering methodology, good preparations, strong teamwork and 110 percent commitment of all involved,”” Saipem management.
