What is SPS? SPSTM is a patented structural composite comprising two metal plates bonded with a solid polyurethane elastomer core. The elastomer core provides support to the plates. It enhances buckling capacity and fatigue life of the structure. How can SPS be applied to offshore steel renewal work? For repair and structural strengthening applications, the…

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What is SPS?

SPS^TM is a patented structural composite comprising two metal plates bonded with a solid polyurethane elastomer core. The elastomer core provides support to the plates. It enhances buckling capacity and fatigue life of the structure.

How can SPS be applied to offshore steel renewal work?

For repair and structural strengthening applications, the existing corroded or worn existing corroded or worn plating as one side of the composite panel to which perimeter bars and top plate are fixed to form a cavity into which the elastomer core is injected. The resulting composite fully restores or enhances the strength of the original structure.

SPS is a permanent structural repair solution that is approved by all major classification societies. SPS has completed 5500+ maritime and offshore projects for a wide range of applications. Examples include tank tops, bulkheads, decks, and ramp strengthening.

What are the 3 ways that SPS is a better solution?

1) It is durable

An SPS repair is designed to last for the lifetime of a vessel or structure which has been proven with over 20 years’ experience in the market and thousands of hours of testing.

SPS fully restores and strengthens to build strength with greatly improved impact resistance and fatigued life.

2) It uses lesser steel and lower cos

The top plate required ranges from 4-8mm. Depending on the repair design, the elastomer core thickness is between 20mm–50mm. With continuous elastomer core support, SPS panels remain flat with no local buckling.

Reduced steel requirements mean that SPS reduces the cost of repair in comparison with conventional crop and renewal.

3) It is faster

SPS is a non-disruptive repair, completed in a fraction of the time crop and renewal as SPS uses the existing worn-steelwork to form one side of the composite panel formed by a new top plate and elastomer core.

“Using SPS rather than conventional crop and replace methods reduced our repair schedule by 40%.”

Atle Paulsen Superintendent V.Ships

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Floating platforms are increasing in number and complexity, particularly in Deepwater environments. They have driven the development of various technologies that benefit both commercial and military ships. However, operating these assets is also becoming more of a challenge. Currently, there are different production requirements and evolving marine standards. Most FPS units are ship-shaped and are…

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Floating platforms are increasing in number and complexity, particularly in Deepwater environments. They have driven the development of various technologies that benefit both commercial and military ships. However, operating these assets is also becoming more of a challenge. Currently, there are different production requirements and evolving marine standards.

Most FPS units are ship-shaped and are often based on new build or converted trading tankers. Many FPS units remain on-station for extended periods (typically 5-20 years) without drydocking. During this period, they may need to function at above 95% availability to remain commercially viable. Operators and owners have developed maintenance strategies to enable safe operations for extended periods.

Why Asset Integrity Management Is the Best Solution For Inspection & Maintenance Service for FPS?

Asset integrity is the term for an asset’s capacity to run effectively and accurately. At the same time, it protects the wellbeing of all personnel and equipment with which it interacts. There will be measures in place to assure the asset’s life cycle. Asset integrity applies to the entirety of an asset’s operation, from its design phase to its decommissioning and replacement.

Conventional drydock methods are not suitable to apply to an FPS on-station. One example is carrying out hot work that involves emptying, cleaning, and gas-freeing not only the tank to be worked in but all adjacent tanks that carry flammable materials.

Asset integrity management system (AIMS plan) is the alternative solution for all FPS owners. It has 3 stages as shown below.

• 1) Develop criticality-based inspection and maintenance plans
• 2) Managing the plans
• 3) Applying innovative inspection, maintenance, and repair methods.

The plans cover all areas of plant, machinery, process plants, marine piping, and control systems.

New Ways To Reduce Cost Without Compromising On Safety

In this lower oil price era, there is an increased focus on cost reduction, without compromising safety. It has led the industry to adopt radically new ways of operating using robotic and digitization methods. In this way, it can reduce human intervention for routine or hazardous tasks.

Co-operation and consensus between industry experts is the key to this process and the establishment of common standards, particularly for safety. The main drivers have been trying to reduce the need for divers, weather-dependent, and height-hazardous activities.

The various initiatives have helped to cut costs by (50%) and Personnel Onboard (POB) by 70%, with improved efficiency. A large part is due to the fact that the methods developed are implemented while the offshore assets are in operation. This will avoid out-of-service, shutdown costs, and penalties.

Rapid Growth of the Floating Gas Sector

The rapid growth of the floating gas sector has introduced different challenges. For example, the proximity of FSRUs to population centers raises potential safety.  This proves to be an environmental hazard, which is different from those facing assets many miles from land.

This has become a growing preoccupation for the industry and was the theme of the FPSO Forum in Singapore earlier this year. One outcome was the formation of the FLOGAS (Floating Gas) joint industry project (JIP). The main aim is to identify and foster solutions to integrity issues facing nearshore vessels.

What has been achieved in the Oil & Gas Industry?

Technology like diver-less inspections of hull and sea valves are now commercially available.  One key factor has been the ability to deploy a variety of tools on the ROV such as cavitation blasters. It cleans underwater components and helps to avoid the damage caused to coatings by mechanical cleaning tools.

Remote inspection of confined spaces is evolving rapidly with robotic camera systems. They are deployed for visual inspection of tanks to class equivalent standards.

A major recent breakthrough is the capability to measure thickness remotely.  An FPSO in Equatorial Guinea was measured using the latest synchronous laser technology.

Full Benefits of working with various vendors

Long-term partnerships between operators, contractors, and service groups can help to realize the full benefits of emerging inspection technologies on floating assets.

Service companies will familiarize themselves with operators’ assets and ways of working. Thus, it will make it easier for them to deploy their systems on these assets.

At the same time, they will try to gain a better understanding of the operators’ priorities, working with them to seek solutions. The construction industry adopted this approach in the 1980s to foster cooperation rather than conflict, and it worked well.

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The History of Seafaring and Who Created the First Maritime Trading Culture? Our ancestors migrated out of Africa 60,000 to 70,0000 by boats. One of the main reasons that our ancestors ventured out of the land may be due to the lack of food or to search for raw materials. The Phoenician civilization was the…

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The History of Seafaring and Who Created the First Maritime Trading Culture?

Our ancestors migrated out of Africa 60,000 to 70,0000 by boats. One of the main reasons that our ancestors ventured out of the land may be due to the lack of food or to search for raw materials.

The Phoenician civilization was the first to create the first maritime trading culture. They formed a network of colonies and trade centers across the ancient Mediterranean between the period of 1200 BC t0 900Bc. They act as middlemen traders to transport goods such as papyrus, textiles, metals, and spices between the many civilizations with whom they had contact.

When Did Maritime Law First Start and How Is It Benefiting for Seamen?

Maritime Law was first documented at the time of Ancient Egypt. For trade to flourish, ships needed to be able to travel from port to port with a reasonable expectation of safety and fair trade. Ancient Egyptian maritime forces were commanded by trained and experienced marine professionals.

The European Laws of Oleron is created around 1150, which is the oldest regulating medieval shipping in north-western Europe. It is known to has one of the best-known sea laws. One of the laws stated that shipowners are responsible for the living expenses and medical care of seamen.

Due to the nature of the working environment, seamen will be prone to fall ill or be injured in the course of their duties. This law of “maintenance and cure” is still included in current U.S. maritime law.

The Importance of Seafarers in Our Changing World and How Can Maritime Law Help Protect Them?

Seafarers have been the anonymous heroes in our current pandemic. The world relies on them to transport more than 80% of traded goods by volume. Goods such as vital food, medical goods, energy, raw materials, and manufactured goods are moved across the globe with their help. 

At the same time, seafarers have also been collateral victims of the crisis. Due to travel restrictions, it has left tens of thousands of them stranded on ships, or unable to join ships. This has prone IMO to establishing a Seafarer Crisis Action Team. The team is set up to check developments, coordinate efforts, and communicate with all relevant stakeholders.  They provide targeted support in individual cases and particularly urgent situations as well.

Final Takeaway

• 1) Our ancestors ventured out of Africa to search for more food and raw materials.
• 2) The Phoenician civilization was the first to create the first maritime trading culture.
• 3) Maritime Law was first documented at the time of Ancient Egypt.
• 4) The European Laws of Oleron stated that shipowners are responsible for the medical care of seamen.
• 5) IMO set up a Seafarer Crisis Action Team to assist stranded seafarers on ships due to pandemic

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History of the International Labour Organization for the Shipping Industry Shipping has a long history of multinational crewing. One hundred years ago, maritime unions, shipowners, and government representatives sat down to discuss the first moves to regulate this globalized workforce.  They recognize that seafarers would be most effectively protected by a uniform law. After the…

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History of the International Labour Organization for the Shipping Industry

Shipping has a long history of multinational crewing. One hundred years ago, maritime unions, shipowners, and government representatives sat down to discuss the first moves to regulate this globalized workforce.  They recognize that seafarers would be most effectively protected by a uniform law.

After the first World War, there was a strong desire to build a better world. The International Labour Organization (ILO) was formed as part of the Versailles peace treaty. The ILO sought to set global standards for working conditions.

However, there was a recognition that the shipping industry was a special case deserving of special treatment. The ILO decided to devote the whole of its second conference in the following year to maritime matters. The most notable questions about the implementation at sea were the eight-hour day and 48-hour week. It has been adopted as the standard for industry ashore.

The commission’s final draft reached broad agreement on:

• – 48-hour weeks for all except for masters, supervising officers, wireless operators, and cattlemen (the draft had foreseen 56-hour weeks at sea and 48 hours in port)
• – A three-watch system for vessels over 2,000 tons (draft 2,500 tons)
• – Maximum overtime of 14 hours per week or 60 hours per month to be compensated in pay or time off
• – 45-hour weeks for ratings in port, with Saturday limited to five hours

All of these conventions ultimately found their way into the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) of 2006. MLC 2006 united the provisions of 36 ILO conventions and one protocol adopted between 1920 and 1996.

What Is the Maritime Labour Convention and How Did It Benefit Our Seafarers?

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) entered into force on 20^th August 2013. It aims to achieve decent work for seafarers and to secure economic interests through fair competition for quality ship owners.

The convention consists of the sixteen articles containing general provisions as well as the Code. The Code consists of five Titles in which specific provisions are grouped by standard (or in Title 5: mode of enforcement):

• – Title 1: Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship
• – Title 2: Conditions of employment
• – Title 3: Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering
• – Title 4: Health protection, medical care, welfare, and social security protection
• – Title 5: Compliance and enforcement

The Maritime Labour Convention provides a comprehensive set of basic maritime labour principles. This ensures all seafarers secure their basic employment rights. The working environment and living conditions have largely improved. They are able to make their opinions known to the shipowner. At the same time, the shipowner has a clear identification of his/her overall responsibility.

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