Author(s)

Michael Johnson

Abstract

There is an ever-increasing trend to convert existing tank vessels into Floating Production Storage/Offloading Systems (FPSOs). These FPSOs, in many cases, are to be on site for upwards of twenty years. With an extended period of time on station, careful planning needs to take place before the actual shipyard conversion. Overall hull girder strength, local structural member strength, corrosion, and fatigue need to be taken into account in this planning process, not only for the current state of the vessel, but also in the projected condition to avoid costly repairs that would require time off site. Required structural member strength and hull girder strength can be significantly different than that required for unrestricted worldwide tanker service. Many of the wave environments in which FPSOs operate are usually

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