StressAlert™ hull stress monitoring system installed on Gaza FSO

James Fisher Strainstall's StressAlert™ hull stress monitoring system to enhance safety of Gaza FSO.

James Fisher Strainstall (JF Strainstall), part of James Fisher and Sons plc, is pleased to announce the successful installation of its market-leading StressAlert™ hull stress monitoring system on the recently converted Gaza floating storage and offloading unit (FSO), at the Bouri offshore field in the Mediterranean.

Following completion of the $424.78m vessel conversion from a super tanker, JF Strainstall was commissioned to design and install the StressAlert™ system, to enable continuous monitoring of the vessel's hull structural integrity during production activities. With over 300 systems installed worldwide, JF Strainstall is an expert in the development of monitoring solutions for offshore and hazardous environments.

A substantial asset, the Gaza FSO's operator, Mellitah Oil and Gas, wanted the ability to continually monitor the hull condition under operating parameters. The FSO now benefits from real-time data acquisition and bespoke analytical capabilities to monitor the vessel's hull condition. The system facilitates predictive maintenance planning and maintains a from-launch record of hull stress that enables fatigue life to be accurately determined.

Speaking about the project, Simon Everett, managing director of JF Strainstall said:

"We're very pleased with the successful installation on the Gaza FSO. With a conversion on such a large vessel there was a lot to consider during system configuration, but the team is highly experienced and the system is working well.

"StressAlert™ helps operators to understand the condition of their assets and implement preventative maintenance programmes. Ultimately the system helps improve safety and we are pleased to be able to put this into practice on such a large vessel and demonstrate the benefits of the system on this scale."

The Gaza FSO was commissioned to replace the existing Sloug FSO and the wider project involved detailed design, engineering, procurement, fabrication, construction, installation and commissioning of the associated offshore facilities. JF Strainstall was selected to provide monitoring services due to their expertise in the field and due to the quality of service provided in supporting other major asset monitoring projects.

Another group company, James Fisher Subsea Excavation was selected for post-lay trenching and backfilling activities during the FSO renewal and installation project, demonstrating the wide range of marine services available to customers in the James Fisher group of companies.

With the installation complete, the Gaza FSO reached the Bouri field in May 2016 and made its first successful offloading of crude oil in January 2017.

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