A dry dock inspection of the FSRU “Independence” is planned next year

In 2024, before KN (AB “Klaipėdos nafta”) takes over the ownership of the floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) “Independence”, an inspection and repair of the vessel in the dry dock is planned. During it, the underwater section of the vessel will be inspected and repair work, which cannot be carried out without raising the vessel from the water, will be conducted. Since the size of the storage-vessel “Independence” requires a large dock, which is not available in Klaipėda and neighbouring ports, the vessel will be sent to one of the southwestern European ports.
 
In order to ensure that facilities or engineering infrastructure operate efficiently, safely and in compliance with the requirements, it is necessary to regularly maintain, inspect and, if necessary, repair it. The same principles are applied in the maritime sector in the operation of vessels or other water vehicles, periodically ensuring a comprehensive inspection in the dry dock.
 
During the inspection of “Independence” in the dry dock, it is primarily planned to renew the anti-corrosion coating of the “Independence” hull, to perform other periodic maintenance works.
 
“We estimate that since the beginning of LNG terminal operations, the terminal has regasified and supplied approximately 12 billion cubic meters of natural gas to the market, supplying natural gas to consumers in Lithuania and the region. In the last year alone, the LNG terminal has been operating at almost maximum regasification capacity. Therefore, the reliable operation of such a strategic infrastructure and, accordingly, the highest level of maintenance is our priority. A thorough inspection of the FSRU before the ownership is taken by KN, will contribute to smooth natural gas supply to customers in Lithuania and neighbouring countries in the future as well,” says Mindaugas Navikas, KN’s Chief Commercial Officer.
 
Drydocking for vessels with regasification equipment (FSRU) in Europe is usually carried out at shipyards in French, Spanish or Portuguese ports. The exact destination of the “Independence” dry dock will be revealed in the autumn after the joint decision of the current owner of the storage vessel “Hoegh LNG” and KN.
 
It is estimated that the duration of voyage of “Independence” to and from the dock may last about 12 days, for the maintenance and repair work approximately 25 days are planned. Taking into account the duration of the journey and the estimated scope of work, it is considered that FSRU “Independence” will not perform regasification from 1 May to 13 June 2024. Together with the Baltic-Finnish TSOs, this period of terminal unavailability has been evaluated in the preparation of a joint consolidated maintenance plan for the Baltic-Finnish region for the period from October 2023 to December 2024. During the mentioned period, Lithuania will be supplied with natural gas through the GIPL gas interconnection between Lithuania and Poland and from the Inčukalnis natural gas storage in Latvia. Market participants and clients of the LNG terminal are informed about the scheduled timeline.
 
In 2012 when Lithuania decided in favour of the floating storage regasification unit (FSRU) solution, the Independence was only the fifth such facility under construction in the world. FSRU “Independence” was built at the South Korean shipyard “Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd”. On the morning of 27 October 2014, the LNG ship docked in the port of Klaipėda at the quays nearby Kiaulės Nugara island. Planned maintenance and repair works of the storage vessel are carried out every year in spring and autumn, but the dry dock inspection has not been done so far.