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Upgrade project of “the MOL FSRU Challenger” (Hereafter, the MFC), the world's largest FSRU owned by the MOL group, was completed at Keppel Shipyard in Singapore. This is the 2^nd half of the blog, therefore if you have not read the 1^st half, please check from the link below.

Also please check the video we have made for this upgrade project.

PHASE 2
In Dry Dock

The MFC entered dry dock (a dock where the water can be drained and the hull made accessible) and had its bottom cleaned and painted. All fouling and deteriorating paint on the vessel’s bottom were stripped off and paint is reapplied, which improves the vessel’s speed. The hull (vessel’s side body) were also repainted an emerald green.

The MFC underwent routine repairs and maintenance of various equipment during the dry dock. Although a special dry dock carried out for this time for the upgrade project, the vessel is designed to allow the necessary maintenance and inspections to be carried out on board without the need for dry docking for 20 years.

　

Before and After

PHASE 3
Installation of power supply facility for jetty

The specifications and locations of the jetty facilities that receive gas discharged from FSRU vary from project to project. If jetty facilities are located offshore, it is necessary to supply the power to a jetty from the landside or by the offshore power generation, both of which can be difficult for economic and spatial constraints.

The upgrade project includes the installation of new switchboards, shutdown and protection devices, as well as cable saddles and socket boxes, so that power generated on board can be safely supplied to the jetty facility.

Once this power function is provided on board the vessel, generators and transmission lines from the shore are no longer necessary, which leads to reducing the cost for power generation facility as well as maintenance and operation costs.

Cable saddle and socket box for pier feed

PHASE 4
Equipped with a real-time ship monitoring system with ICT

MOL and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME), the company that built MFC, are jointly developing an ICT-enhanced ship management system for FSRUs. Link

The operational data collection and data transmission equipment required for the use of the system has been installed during the upgrade project, enabling real-time monitoring of various operational data from onshore through the application.

The FSRU is installed with specialized equipment for LNG regasification, in addition to the equipment normally found on ordinary LNG carriers. The newly installed ship management enhancement system will enable the early detection of factors causing such equipment trouble and the more efficient vessel operation by increasing data sharing and cooperation between vessels and shore-side.

This system will ensure even safer and more stable operation of the FSRUs.

Credit: DSME 

PHASE 5
Piping checks at ultra-low temperatures

The various pipes on board must be strong enough to withstand ultra-low temperatures, as LNG at -162℃ flows through them. Therefore, before the upgrade project was completed, ultra-low temperature liquefied nitrogen (-196℃) was circulated instead of LNG to check whether the pipes could withstand future use of ultra-low temperature liquid and whether there were any leaks.

As you can see in the picture below, the pipe has been cooled down by circulating ultralow temperature liquid, causing frost on the surface.

PHASE 6
After completion of the project, heading to the next destination

The upgrade project was successfully completed as scheduled and the MFC is now heading to its next destination.

Together with projects such as the world's largest FSRU, MOL sustain people’s lives and ensure a prosperous future through the stable supply of energy.