Damen Shiprepair Brest completes rapid repairs to LNG carrier ‘LNG Methane Princess’

In order to achieve this in the minimum time it was done while the vessel was both afloat and with the cargo tanks holding either some liquefied gas and/or gas vapour.

The damage, which occurred above the waterline on the aft starboard side, was the result of a collision with a harbour tug while berthing at the Punta Europa LNG Terminal (EG LNG) in Equatorial Guinea. After the collision occurred, the carrier proceeded to the Milford Haven (UK) LNG terminal to offload as planned. During the offloading stop, the Class association required immediate repairs and issued to the vessel an extension to the LNG Methane Princess’s Class certificate which made her ineligible for charter until the damage was made good. It was therefore vital that the works were completed as soon as possible. To achieve this, the owners requested that Damen Shiprepair Brest (DSBr) perform the hot work repairs with the vessel afloat and with residual gas in the tanks so as to keep them cool. By doing so, the vessel could return to work almost immediately without the usual three to four day cooling down process.

Ahead of her arrival, meetings were held with the client and the safety and control procedures prepared. Once she was alongside, several controls were performed by a shore-certified chemist to identify the various risk areas and certify that the hot work area was safe before starting. The yard team then constructed a platform against the side of the vessel side, held in place by eyes welded on to the hull, and the work went ahead to remove and replace the damaged steel. Once the welding and the necessary tests and certification by the Class were completed, the hull area was painted.

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/20052019/damen-shiprepair-brest-completes-rapid-repairs-to-lng-carrier-lng-methane-princess/