Houston, Texas-based FMC Technologies’ (FMC) has introduced a new bunkering loading arm (BOA) for ship-to-ship LNG refuelling. Similar to its established shore-based and offshore loading arm concepts, the new BOA is made of rigid, articulated piping and equipped with Chiksan swivel joints, FMC’s quick connect/disconnect coupler (QC/DC), as well as emergency-release system (ERS) technologies.
The remote-operated arm’s ERS uses a single hydraulic actuator to operate the two double ball valve assemblies fitted on each line. The arrangement is geared to providing perfectly synchronised disconnections and a level of integrity equivalent to that in conventional LNGC cargo-transfer operations.