Experimental study on the side-by-side offloading operation of FSRU and LNGC

Abstract

The motions and mooring loads of turret moored FSRU (Floating Storage & Regasification Unit) and LNGC (Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier) including sloshing are studied by experiments. Turret moored FSRU weathervanes on a turret and side-by-side (SbS) LNGC moves and interacts with FSRU. FSRU and LNGC have LNG cargo tanks and sloshing affects the motions and loads due to the coupling between sloshing and floating body motions. The performance of FSRU and LNGC offloading system is investigated through the assessment of global motions, accelerations, mooring loads and Ship-To-Ship (STS) loads. It is noted that although the direction of head moves to bow quartering, the sloshing occurs in longitudinal mode and affect the surge motion and mooring load. STS mooring affects the sway and roll motion of LNGC and interacts with LNGC sloshing. Copyright ？ 2012 by the International Society of Offshore and Polar Engineers (ISOPE).