World’s first FSRU begins operations: VIDEO

The world’s first ever floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) platform, the FSRU Toscana, has begun commercial operations off the coast of Italy.

The 288 m long container ship, which has been converted to a floating LNG storage platform, has begun operations as a regasification plant after being towed from Drydock World in Dubai to the Italian coast, via the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal. The vessel was protected by Drum Cussac security specialists.

Drum Cussac’s CEO, David Pickard, commented: “The owners of this 100 000 t ground-breaking vessel were very nervous about moving it through the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The journey involved a 3000 nautical mile transit, 1600 nautical miles of it in a high-risk area. It was towed for the entire journey by two tugs, at an average speed of seven knots an hour. Drum Cussac provided unarmed vessel protection personnel on board, and two fast-reaction escort vessels carrying armed personnel, to ensure the platform’s safety. The whole journey was completed without incident.”

The floating platform is now moored 22 km off Italy’s Tuscan coast, and has begun delivering LNG to the mainland via a 36.5 km pipeline, operated and managed by Snam Rete Gas.

The start of commercial operations was preceded by three months of testing of the platform and pipeline, as well as extensive safety and environmental checks.

OLT Offshore LNG Toscana is a joint venture between E.ON Group (46.79%), Iren Group (46.79%), OLT Energy Toscana SpA (3.73%) and Golar Offshore Toscana Limited (2.69%). The company was created specifically for the regasification terminal project.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/13012014/fsru_toscana_begins_operations_31/