Prelude FLNG Towing, Station-Keeping and Mooring Hook-Up

Prelude FLNG ("Prelude"), the largest offshore floating facility ever built, was constructed in Geoje, South Korea, requiring a 3,200nm ocean tow to its installation location 475km north northeast of Broome, Western Australia. A team of station keeping vessels then took control of Prelude to accurately hold her in position above the pre-laid moorings for mooring hook-up operations. Planning and executing the tow, station keeping and mooring hook-up operations for mega floaters in remote locations requires precise planning, bespoke solutions to unprecedented challenges, comprehensive testing over a prolonged period and a global team with a diverse skill set. Overcoming key challenges required extensive engineering coupled with state-of-the-art vessel simulations, a bespoke mooring handling system, and full-scale winch wire testing. The result was a safe, successful and efficient operation demonstrating the industry's ability to execute the unprecedented challenges of projects in the search for economic development of remote and challenging reservoirs.