Lloyd’s Register (LR) is providing classification and technical assurance for the conversion of an LNG carrier into a floating storage unit (FSU) for a major offshore gas project in Gabon, supporting the country’s efforts to expand its LNG infrastructure.
The former LNG Bayelsa, now temporarily named FSU LNG Cap Lopez, is undergoing conversion at Drydocks World Dubai for Dixstone Lower Gulf FZCO, a sister company of Perenco. Once completed, the FSU will provide LNG storage for the Cap Lopez project and support liquefaction, storage and export operations from a near-shore barge.
LR’s scope covers the full conversion and life-extension programme, including classification, plan approval, surveys and technical oversight. The work includes extensive steel renewals and structural modifications, new piping systems, installation of a boil-off gas module and other measures designed to extend the vessel’s operating life.
The conversion is intended to provide a faster and potentially more cost-effective alternative to developing a newbuild floating storage unit. LR said such projects are gaining momentum as offshore gas developers seek flexible solutions for bringing stranded or underdeveloped gas resources to market.
Once operational, the FSU will form an important part of the Cap Lopez gas development, supporting LNG production for both domestic use and export. The project is also expected to help reduce routine gas flaring and improve overall energy efficiency.
Dixstone Lower Gulf said the FSU will be an integral component of the wider Cap Lopez project, which is intended to create a new gas infrastructure backbone for Gabon. The company is working with project partners to maximise the country’s natural gas resources for local consumption and international markets.
The conversion reflects a broader trend in the LNG sector, where older LNG carriers are increasingly being repurposed for floating storage and offshore gas applications. Such conversions can extend the useful life of existing vessels while reducing the time and investment required compared with newbuild projects.
The completed FSU is scheduled to sail from Dubai in the third quarter of 2027. Its deployment will add floating LNG storage capacity to Gabon’s emerging offshore gas infrastructure and support the country’s ambition to increase the value generated from its natural gas resources.