Hanwha Ocean has obtained global certification for a standard model of offshore plants aimed at the South American market.
According to industry sources, Hanwha Ocean received Basic Design Review (BDR) certification from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its 'Standard Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Basic Design (FEED).' It also secured Approval in Principle (AIP) from the Norwegian classification society DNV.
The certified model is expected to be applied in upcoming large offshore plant projects in South America.
Previously, Hanwha Ocean developed a 'Standard FPSO Concept Design (Pre-FEED)' suitable for deep-sea areas in West Africa, obtaining AIP from ABS and the French classification society Bureau Veritas (BV) in 2024.
Recently, demand for FPSO orders has been increasing, particularly in deep-sea oil fields in South America and West Africa. By adding this model for South America, Hanwha Ocean has established a standard FPSO portfolio targeting both regions.
An FPSO is an offshore plant that extracts oil or gas from subsea drilling rigs, processes and stores it, and then offloads it to transport vessels.
Hanwha Ocean is pursuing an 'FPSO standardization strategy' that utilizes verified standard platforms, moving away from the traditional approach of designing each project from scratch.
Using standard models can reduce repetitive tasks in design, procurement, and construction processes, thereby lowering project duration and costs, according to the company. Adjustments to specifications can be made based on client requirements, allowing for project-specific responses.
During the certification process, key design documents and technical standards across all FPSO areas, including hull and vessel functional systems, topside structures, and mooring systems, were reviewed. Compliance with international regulations and classification society requirements was also verified.
Notably, the certification was obtained at the FEED stage, which is more detailed than the concept design phase, laying the groundwork for future project acquisitions and design processes.
A Hanwha Ocean official stated, "By leveraging standard platforms, we aim to reduce project duration and costs. The recent certifications from ABS and DNV have globally recognized our FPSO design capabilities and technological competitiveness. We will enhance our competitive edge in the global FPSO market and provide optimized solutions tailored to the characteristics and requirements of regions like South America and West Africa."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.