The Aoka Mizu moonpool cover under construction at ROG Ship Repair (photo: ROG)

When a Floating Production & Storage Offshore (FPSO) vessel was being towed from Europe to the Middle East, and encountered problematic weather conditions, Holland’s ROG Ship Repair came to the rescue.

The 89,184 dwt, 248.1 metre long FPSO Aoka Mizu (Japanese for Bluewater), which is owned and operated by Holland’s Bluewater Energy Services, has recently been assigned a new contract. She will be utilised for the early production system (EPS) phase of the development on Hurricane’s offshore field in the North Sea.

The contract for the upgrade of the 30,000 bpd, Aoka Mizu, was awarded to Dubai’s Drydocks World and the vessel needed to be towed from Gdansk, in Poland, where she was in lay-up, to Dubai. During this passage, high sea states were expected and therefore the turret moonpool on-board this big blue lady had to be closed off.

Rotterdam’s ROG Ship Repair, was awarded the fabrication and installation of the moonpool cover, with delivery required in a very short lead time. It took ROG just two weeks working 24/7 to fabricate this steel structure according the highest quality standards, in their workshops in Waalhaven.

After fabrication, the cover was transported to Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, where it was positioned and coordinated on the seabed, ready and waiting for the arrival of Aoka Mizu. When the FPSO arrived, under tow, she was moored in a position precisely above the cover. ROG then came on-board to mount the hoisting arrangements.

Before lifting the cover into the Aoka Mizu, air pressure hoses where connected underneath the cover to ensure that it was not sucked onto the seabed. Divers connected the cover to the hoist and ROG began the controlled lift, which hoisted the moonpool cover into the correct position. Once in position, sea-fastenings were installed and secured.

The job was well-prepared and precisely executed, and successfully within the contracted time frame following the highest safety standards.

Tags: Bluewater Energy Services BV, ROG Ship Repair