ICCP systems for two FPSO conversions

The FPSOs Cidade de Maricá and Cidade de Saquarema will be converted from two double hulled 308,491dwt VLCCs by the Chengxi Shipyard in Guangzhou, China. Delivery of the vessels is planned for the end of 2015 and early 2016, respectively.

Cathelco is to supply impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) systems for both vessels to safeguard the hulls against corrosion throughout their operational life. Each FPSO will have 600A forward and aft systems consisting of an arrangement of hull mounted anodes and reference electrodes which are connected to a control panel. In operation, the anodes emit a current which flows over the surface of the hull and neutralises corrosive activity. The reference electrodes measure the electrical potential at the hull/seawater interface and send a signal to the control panel which raises or lowers the electrical output in order to optimise the level of corrosion protection.

The installations will use Cathelco’s C-Max linear anodes which are diver changeable, enabling the FPSOs to remain on station for prolonged periods.

“Working with SBM Offshore, Cathelco supplied an ICCP system for the FPSO Cidade de Paraty, the first of the company’s Generation 3 FPSOs to start production in the pre-salt basin off Brazil. More recently, a system has been provided for the Cidade de lIhabela, a vessel which is similar in design to the two latest FPSOs”, said Andrew Gamble, large projects manager at Cathelco.