PSV to Floating Regasification Unit project gets DNV GL nod

In the past few years, OSV owners have been forced to stack hundreds of vessels due to the oversupply and declining offshore activity. This has given rise to various scenarios on what to do with the tonnage: warm stack, cold stack, scrap, deploy in other industries, convert?

There have been proposals to convert laid up platform suppliers  into container feeders, accommodation units, logistic support vessels for naval operations, fish carriers, and even dredgers.

Now, one Norwegian company has received a nod for a concept to use a platform supply vessel as part of its floating regasification unit concept.

The company, Dreifa Energy, on Friday said that DNV GL gave its approval in principle (AiP) for what it named the Dreifa FRU.

The Dreifa FRU consists of a regasification plant and associated utility systems located on the deck of a platform supply vessel. The FRU concept operates in combination with an LNG carrier acting as a floating storage unit (FSU).

DNV GL based its approval in principal on the examination of the basic engineering package developed by the company throughout the second and third quarters of 2017.

According to available information, Dreifa is aiming to offer its floating regas solution to new potential consumers with lower annual throughput.

Vessel already acquired

To do this, the company has already bought a platform supplier for the conversion, the 81-meter long Blue Betria PSV.

The vessel was built by Ulstein Hatløy in 1983 and extensively upgraded in 2015. The company bought it from Blue Star Line A/S in June

At the time, the company said that the 893 square-meter deck space and excellent condition of the vessel made the PSV an ideal candidate for conversion to an FRU.

It’s not clear when the conversion work will start, however, the Dreifa said that AiP was an important step towards making the final goal.

In a statement last Friday, Dreifa said, that apart from confirming the design’s compliance with DNV GL’s rules of current stage of engineering, the AiP provided clarity on the regulatory framework and classification procedure towards final approval.

“This is an important step forward in Dreifa Energy’s efforts to be prepared to enter into contracts for equipment and conversion,” Dreifa said.

Offshore Energy Today Staff