CIMC Wetrans Helps Successfully Deliver the World’s Largest FPU

Recently, under the escort of CIMC Wetrans International Shipping (Shandong) Co. Ltd., the largest unpowered barge in Asia, “HAI YANG SHI YOU 229”, successfully carried the upper module of the world’s largest floating production unit (FPU, Floating Production Unit) weighing over 32,000 tons (approximately equivalent to the weight of 4.5 Eiffel Tower steel structures), and set sail successfully from Haixi Bay in Qingdao, Shandong Province. The module, together with the lower floating body in the Dalian anchorage in Liaoning, forms the largest and most technically challenging offshore oil and gas production facility under construction in the world at present. Its successful transfer marks a crucial step forward in the global ocean energy development industry.

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Since undertaking the operation task of the upper module in Qingdao, CIMC Wetrans Shandong Shipping Marine Engineering Team has promptly established a specialized working system. Facing the complex challenges of transporting super-large oil and gas equipment, the team actively coordinated with relevant units such as Qingdao Maritime Safety Administration, Qingdao Pilot Station and Qingdao Port Ship and Barge Company, carefully organized multiple rounds of technical demonstration and plan review work concerning the shifting berthing, docking and departure operations of “HAI YANG SHI YOU 229” in Qingdao waters, and carried out in-depth discussed and detailed panning for each operation link to ensure that the operation plan was scientific and reasonable, and to minimize risks. Meanwhile, to further verify the feasibility and safety of the plan, the team also organized departure simulation tests of “HAI YANG SHI YOU 229”. By simulating real operation scenarios, potential problems were identified and solved in advance, accumulating valuable experience for the official departure operations.

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After the topside module of “HAI YANG SHI YOU 229” was loaded, its safety and security became the top priority. In this regard, CIMC Wetrans Shandong Shipping responded quickly, carefully arranged an experienced command team, and fully integrated the advantageous resources to provide guarding and supervision for the “HAI YANG SHI YOU 229 + topside module”. With exquisite professional skills and rich practical experience, the command team paid constant attention to the status of the barge and the changes in the surrounding environment, responded to various emergencies promptly, and made every effort to ensure the safety and stability of “HAI YANG SHI YOU 229” during the berthing period after loading the topside module, laying a solid line of defence for the smooth progress of the project.

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It is understood that after completing the operation in the Qingdao sea area, “HAI YANG SHI YOU 229” set sail from Haixi Bay, Qingdao as planned and successfully arrived at the anchorage in Dalian to close the lower floating body. Afterwards, the floating oil and gas production platform, which had undergone a precise closing operation, smoothly sailed into the exclusive berth of CIMC Raffles’ Yantai construction base along the established channel and completed berthing smoothly under the all-round and multi-level arrangement of CIMC Wetrans Yantai Shipping. Throughout the project, CIMC Wetrans’ Qingdao and Yantai teams worked closely and efficiently together, giving full play to their respective professional and resource advantages, realizing information sharing and resource complementation, and jointly contributing to the successful promotion of the project. The successful completion of the FPU offshore operation project of the world’s largest floating oil and gas production platform is another major milestone for CIMC Wetrans in the field of offshore engineering logistics. CIMC Wetrans will take this opportunity to continue to deepen its presence in the area of offshore engineering logistics, drive service upgrading with innovation, contribute more professional strength to the development of global offshore resources, and help more “Made-in-China” high-end offshore engineering equipment to be safely and efficiently sailed to all parts of the world, and to shine on the international stage.