Cathelco ICCP system for FPSO conversions

Armada Ali is being converted to an FPSO from the 301,963 tonne VLCC Osprey at the Keppel yard in Singapore. The project is being managed by Malaysian offshore oil service company, Bumi Armada, which has been contracted for the charter, operation and maintenance of the vessel by Eni Angola SpA.

With a length of 335m, Armada Ali will be fitted with a fore and aft ICCP system. Both of the 500 amp systems will consist of a control panel wired to an arrangement of two Cathelco C-Max disc anodes and reference electrodes mounted port and starboard.

“FPSOs are on station for long periods of time without drydocking and there are clever advantages in having diver changeable anodes which can be changed at sea, if necessary,” said Andrew Gamble, who has been involved in the project at Cathelco.

In operation, the anodes emit a current which flows over the surface of the hull and neutralises corrosive activity. The reference electrodes constantly monitor the electrical potential at the hull/seawater interface and send a signal to the control panel which raises or lowers the electrical output. This way, the hull is said to receive the optimum level of corrosion protection at all times.

Elsewhere, the company is also supplying marine pipework antifouling systems for the BW Joko Tole, formerly an Aframax tanker, which was converted into an FPSO at the Sembawang shipyard back in 2012.

Cathelco is providing a pipework antifouling system capable of treating flow rates of up to 3,600m³/hour. It will consist of eight dual-purpose copper/aluminium anodes mounted in a strainer which will dose the seawater, preventing the build-up of barnacles and mussels which can block pipes and impair the efficiency of downstream equipment.