Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering announced on the 14th that it has successfully completed the core of a large-scale offshore plant, which had been facing technical difficulties, with the support of the Gyeongnam Southern Customs Office.
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) announced on the 14th that it has successfully launched a large-scale offshore plant, which had been facing technical difficulties, with the support of the Gyeongnam Southern Customs Office.
The floating production unit (FPU) for oil and gas production, ordered from the oil company Chevron by DSME, is a large structure weighing a total of 22,194 tons. To launch it stably, a minimum water depth of 23 meters was required, but the average depth of the inner harbor at DSME's Okpo Shipyard was about 15 meters.
To secure a stable water depth for the launch, the facility had to be moved to a suitable location. DSME sought cooperation from the Gyeongnam Southern Customs Office to allow the use of a self-propelled vessel, a dedicated ship that carries blocks from overseas.
The offshore plant launching operation using an international trade vessel was the first case in Korea. Since the approval procedures for sea transport and launching of bonded factory products were not clearly defined in the law, there were difficulties. However, the Gyeongnam Southern Customs Office interpreted the relevant laws favorably for the company and approved the entry of the international trade vessel into the non-port area and the procedures for off-site work.
On the 6th, the anchor project FPU, which was constructed on land, was moved outside Okpo Bay and was successfully launched over three days in a safe water depth.
The successfully launched offshore oil and gas production facility is a structure to be used for the "Anchor Project," a development plan for offshore oil fields in the Gulf of Mexico. It measures 83.2 meters in width and length and 53 meters in height. Final construction will be completed at DSME's Okpo Shipyard by mid-next month, and it is scheduled to depart for the Gulf of Mexico.
A DSME official said, "We deeply appreciate the Gyeongnam Southern Customs Office officials and on-site technical support teams who worked hard to strengthen the competitiveness of the shipbuilding industry through public-private cooperation," adding, "We will do our best to communicate and collaborate extensively to resolve various difficulties occurring at the shipyard and improve systems for mutual growth."
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