Bow Loading Systems News

Over the last year we have seen an upswing in floating production and storage systems ordering after many years of low activity. According to our colleagues at World Energy Reports, “The global oil and natural gas markets are contending with rebounding energy demand on top of supply disruptions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a result, activity and business sentiment in the floating production sector has seldom been stronger.”  This increased activity in the floating production…

By combining well-proven MacGregor Pusnes technology in bow loading and offloading systems, MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has helped to develop a solution that enables crude oil to be loaded directly from a floating production storage offloading (FPSO) facility or a floating storage offloading (FSO) unit to a conventional tanker, up to very large crude carrier (VLCC) size. The first contracts for the systems have been signed with China's Cosco Shipyard Group. "MacGregor, and its Pusnes brand, has a long history of developing pioneering offshore loading systems within the industry," says Høye Høyesen, Vice President, MacGregor Advanced Offshore Solutions.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec, has secured contracts to supply Pusnes bow loading systems for three newbuild shuttle tankers intended for operations in Brazilian waters. The order was booked into first quarter 2015 order intake. South Korean shipyard Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd will install a Pusnes bow loading system on a 157,000 dwt Suezmax DP2 shuttle tanker under construction for tanker specialist Tsakos Energy and Navigation Ltd. The Greek headquartered company specified Pusnes loading systems for two earlier shuttle tankers, the Brasil 2014 and Rio 2016, both delivered in 2013. The other two systems will be installed on a pair of 156,000 dwt Suezmax shuttle tankers under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea for Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers AS.

Aker Solutions has been awarded contracts for the supply of Pusnes offshore loading systems for ten shuttle tankers that will operate in Brazil and Norway. The total contract value for Aker Solutions is approximately NOK 150 million. Several major South Korean shipyards have awarded Aker Solutions contracts for the supply of Pusnes bow loading system for 10 suezmax shuttle tankers. Eight of the shuttle tankers are being built for various ship-owners, and will operate in Brazilian waters. Two of the shuttle tankers will operate for a Norwegian ship-owner at the Goliat field in the Barents Sea. The Pusnes bow loading system enables a safe and secure connection for the hose to the shuttle tanker.

Aker Kvaerner has been awarded contracts from Russian Admirality Shipyards to supply equipment for two shuttle tankers destined to operate in Arctic waters. The contracts include bow loading systems and complete mooring and emergency towing systems. The equipment is designed for the extreme low temperature conditions in the Arctic areas. The vessels are being built for the Russian Shipowner Sovcomflot to service the Prirazlomnaya field in the Pechora sea. The bow loading system will be of the latest arctic version with completely oil spill-free connection and disconnection of the offloading hose for environmental protection. Pusnes offloading…

Aker Kvaerner has recently been awarded several contracts for delivery of advanced loading and offloading systems. One of these contracts comprise the delivery of an advanced offshore offloading system to Lukoil's Varandey platform located at the Peninsula Coast of the Barents Sea. The work is undertaken by the Aker Kvaerner subsidiary Aker Kvaerner Pusnes in Arendal. The offfloading system is designed for extreme low temperature conditions and is the second contract of its kind to Aker Kvaerner Pusnes. Aker Kvaerner Pusnes is the dominant supplier of offshore loading systems in the area and has previously signed contracts and delivered a number of Arctic bow loading systems for shuttle tankers.

Aker Kvaerner has been awarded a contract with Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd in South Korea for delivery of bow loading systems for three new shuttle tankers able to operate in arctic conditions. Another contract for delivery of two additional systems has also recently been signed with a Norwegian shipowner. The total contract value for the two contracts is approximately NOK 50 million. The equipment will be delivered from Aker Kvaerner's business unit Aker Kvaerner Pusnes in Arendal, Norway. The contract with Samsung involves supply of bow loading equipment, for offshore loading, for three shuttle tankers to be built at Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd for the Russian ship owner Sovcomflot.