WATCH: North Sea FPSO Withstands Hurricane-Force Storm

[Tony Morcom]

Courtesy of our friends @ gCaptain

FPSO Alvheim. Photo courtesy Petroleum Safety Authority Norway

It’s that time of year… when hurricane-force storms churn across the north Atlantic before hitting the North Sea. Yesterday we saw some extreme video of the accommodation platform Borgholm Dolphin, causing some extremely uncomfortable conditions for those onboard.
Today, here is the some video filmed aboard the FPSO Alvheim on January 10th, which is permanently moored at Alvheim field on the Norwegian Continental Shelf west of Heimdal. The storm is likely the same one that hit the Borgholm Dolphin.
Considering the FPSO needs to stay at the offshore field for 25 years, this video just goes to show the importance of good mooring system. The turret moored FPSO Alvheim is equipped with a “Submerged Turret Loading” system by Advanced Production and Loading AS, designed to withstand a 100-year storm and significant wave heights up to 14.6 meters.
According to the uploader, winds from the storm in this video were clocked at about 93 knots with waves up to 20 meters. Check it out:
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[j.sabourn]

Brings back memories. JS

[Red Lead Ted]

Yes it Does bring back memories John, I think we sometimes forget the ships may have changed but the same seven seas today are what we sailed yesterday, Or was it that we found it more of an adventure in our younger years. Terry.

[Doc Vernon]

Remember a few like that in the Bay of Biscay ,and also the Cape Rollers however those were a different sort of Sea!
Loved every minute though!
Cheers

Just some Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKcqb_Ubpbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX3kFCgvKp4

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi All
Great to see some big waves again, would even have liked to have been there.
Cheers Des

[j.sabourn]

#3... See your little ship Smiley has Cappy going up the gangplank. Did he get his problems sorted out with the federation, if he brings a duffel bag on board make sure he hasn't got any lifestock in it. Especially foreign birds of the feathered type. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

One of my greatest enjoymenst is to sail in seas such as those. To feel the ship and the power of the sea is something few now get to experience. An angry sea shows just how much power there is out there.

[j.sabourn]

Errata #3... Eyes not too good and is not Cappy but Mary. Is not the gangway either but a mooring line. Thought it may have been cappy as his ship is a sailing one, and maybe he thought it was about time for him to modernise and go for a steamship. Cheers JS

[happy daze john in oz]

John, I think you will find Cappy was below decks attempting to pacify here in the storm. Well that was what he told me!