Amarinth equips FPSO with vertical sump pump capable of withstanding heavy seas

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London Marine Consultants was awarded an EPC contract to supply an external turret mooring system for the extended well test FPSO vessel Pioneiro de Libra, a conversion of the Suezmax tanker Navion Norvegia. During the design of the turret the need for a wash-down sump facility with drains pump was established.

When the build is completed at Singapore’s Jurong Shipyard, the vessel is destined for the ultra-deepwater Libra oil prospect field in the Santos Basin, off the coast of Brazil.

Because of much higher seas in the operating region than is usual for an FPSO, the drain pump in the wash-down sump, which is located in the bow of the vessel, is liable to submersion.

Amarinth worked closely with London Marine Consultants to design a pump that could withstand the demanding conditions, modifying its T-Series vertical sump pump to be fully IP66 rated, which is defined as “dust tight and protected against heavy seas or powerful jets of water”.

The IP66 rating covered the pump, motor and transmitters and even the control panel which was also open to the elements. Level transmitters were installed to automatically start the pump when the sump has filled, pumping the water to the cleaning package before its return to the sea, and to switch off the pump once the sump has been emptied.

Oliver Brigginshaw, managing director of Amarinth, said: “This was our first order from London Marine Consultants and also for the Libra field and we are pleased that we have been able to provide this IP66 rated vertical sump pump so that the vessel can be completed on schedule. We are looking forward to leveraging our expertise gained on this project into new projects for the Libra field that we are starting to see as it is being developed.”