Designing Out the Need for a Breakwater, Studies for Floating LNG Terminals and Alternative Mooring Solutions

New innovations in mooring systems are being developed to increase berth availability without the need for a breakwater, resulting in lower CAPEX (Capital Expenditure). As new liquefaction plants come online in the next few years, oversupply will likely push the price of gas lower. One of the products of the drive for lower cost is the shift towards Floating Liquid Natural Gas (FLNG) terminals. With the introduction of Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), the capital investment cost, procurement and construction schedule, and in some cases the permissions and environmental restrictions, can be significantly reduced. There are a number of alternative mooring solutions emerging in industry, from structural solutions to connection options; all have the same key objectives, lower CAPEX and increased berth availability compared to conventional mooring lines. However, there will always be applications where protection structures are required to allow a terminal to be operationally functional. One case study looks at scenarios where a breakwater is required on the basis of persistent long period swells and requirements on continuous operations/stringent downtime allowance. The second case study, which is vulnerable to tsunami, highlights challenging environmental conditions where a breakwater would not protect the terminal, and where alternative mooring options were used to ensure feasibility.