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, by combining the well-proven MacGregor Pusnes technology in bow loading and offloading systems. The first contracts for the systems have recently been signed with China’s Cosco Shipyard Group.
The Cosco Shipyard Group orders will see MacGregor design, manufacture, deliver and commission complete Pusnes loading systems for two cargo transfer (CTV) vessels. The vessels will be built at Cosco Nantong Shipyard and at Cosco Guangdong Shipyard. MacGregor deliveries are planned to start at the end of 2016.
Each vessel will feature MacGregor’s Pusnes bow loading and offloading system, which principally comprises: two Pusnes bow loading systems, one Pusnes offloading system, including the crude oil hose reel with offloading hose; and two sets of Pusnes-patented releasable 700-tonne hawser winches, in addition to auxiliary winches and an integrated electro/hydraulic control system.
