The ship-to-ship transfer of over 1.1 million barrels of oil from the deteriorating floating storage and offloading unit FSO Safer to a replacement tanker, the Yemen, has commenced, says an article published on Energyportal.
Nations-coordinated initiative
Pumping began on July 25, 2023, and the operation is expected to take approximately two to three weeks to complete.
The transfer is part of a United Nations-coordinated initiative to prevent an oil spill from the FSO Safer, which is currently anchored off the coast of Yemen.
Marine salvage company
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is playing a crucial role in supporting this initiative. The marine salvage company SMIT, a subsidiary of Boskalis, has been contracted to inspect and prepare the FSO Safer and facilitate the ship-to-ship transfer of the oil.
IMO is providing technical support and has deployed a Crisis Management specialist to be on-site throughout the operation.
Specialized oil spill response
Extensive contingency planning has been conducted to mitigate potential risks associated with the transfer operation. As part of this process, IMO has assisted the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in procuring specialized oil spill response equipment to prevent or minimize any oil spill. Moreover, IMO has been facilitating donations of equipment for this purpose.
Once the ship-to-ship transfer is complete, the next crucial step will be the installation of a mooring point for the replacement vessel, Yemen, to secure it safely. This work is expected to be finished by September to account for worsening weather conditions in the region.
Emergency phase
Negotiations are ongoing to address legal issues related to the safe recycling of the FSO Safer and the future sale of its oil. Boskalis’ multipurpose support vessel, Ndeavor, has been working alongside the FSO Safer to perform inspections and assessments, ensuring the vessel’s safe handling during the operation.
IMO has been supporting the planning efforts since the UN initiated the measures in 2019 to address the FSO Safer. These efforts aim to enhance preparedness and minimize environmental impacts in the event of an oil spill. However, additional funds are still required to cover the immediate cost of $142 million for the emergency phase of the salvage operation, with an additional $19 million estimated for the second phase, which includes the removal and safe recycling of the FSO Safer.
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Source: Energyportal
