Rectifying Incorrectly Specified Passive Fire Protection on a FPSO
When a new FPSO came into service, the operator noticed some blistering of the aft firewall and asked us to take a look. This firewall was an important protection for the crew quarters and lifeboats at the stern of the ship, so we sent one of our experts out to investigate.
Our Approach
Our experts quickly concluded that not only had the Passive Fire Protection (PFP) coating been badly applied, the wrong PFP material had been initially specified. The only solution would be to strip off the current layer, and apply a new one. During this process the firewall’s ability to protect the crew quarters would be severely impaired, and production might have to be halted.
To check if it would be possible to continue production without the PFP, we undertook some detailed fire modelling and structural response analysis, and concluded that without the PFP the heat coming through the wall would make it impossible for crew to approach the lifeboats. However, we were able to suggest a temporary water deluge system that would spray the firewall with cooling water and provide sufficient escape time.
We also developed a novel method for removing the old PFP that massively reduced the amount of slurry waste generated, and required a smaller team to execute. With a progressive repair technique developed and a solution to the continued safe operation of the vessel, we were able to work with the certification and safety authorities to approve the programme.
Outcome
Our experts were able to identify a significant safety problem on the vessel based on only a single survey. We were then able to establish how the problem had occurred, develop a solution and get it approved and installed, all on-station and without loss of production
For more information surrounding our Passive Fire Protection capabilities, or to discuss your project requirements, please contact us on 01224 061 480 (Aberdeen) or email us.