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Drum Cussac in key Dubai FSRU project

Dubai, January 11, 2014

The FSRU Toscana, the world’s first-ever floating LNG platform, has begun commercial operations off the coast of Italy on schedule after being towed away from Drydock World in Dubai with the help of top maritime security consultants, Drum Cussac.

Dubai's ship building unit Drydocks World had last year announced the completion of the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) for Italy's OLT Offshore LNG Toscana.

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

A leader in anti-piracy and maritime security consultancy services, Drum Cussac, said it was instrumental in the debut of world's first floating LNG platform, The FSRU Toscana.

However, before the 288 metre long container ship, turned floating LNG storage platform, could begin operation as a regasification plant, it had to negotiate a perilous journey, being towed from Drydock World to the Italian Coast, via the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal, protected by Drum Cussac security specialists, said a senior official.

Drum Cussac’s chief operating officer David Pickard described the project as a huge challenge.

"The owners of this 100,000 tonnes 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 3,000 nautical mile transit; 1,600 nautical miles of it in a high-risk area," he revealed.

"It was towed for the entire journey by two tugs, at an average speed of seven knots an hour. Drum Cussac provided two security escort vessels to ensure the platform’s safety, and the whole journey was completed without incident," he added.

According to Pickard, 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 rigorous testing of the platform and pipeline, amid extensive safety and environmental checks, he added. -TradeArabia News Service




Tags: Drydocks | Dubai | FSRU Toscana | LNG platform |

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