CILT field visit to FPSO Dhirubhai-1 and Mattala Airport in Hambantota

CILT Sri Lanka organised a field visit on board Dhirubhai-1 FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading) Vessel and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) Hambantota on 20 January. It was an informative and exploratory experience as it is the first time CILT members got an opportunity to visit on board a FPSO.

The visit was organised in collaboration with Ricky Barnett, General Manager – Hayleys Energy Services, Hambantota International Port Group to the port.

Ricky Barnett and Yashodha Bohingamuwa accompanied the CILT team to FPSO vessel and were welcomed by Captain Nikolaos Messinis of Dhirubhai-1. Captain Nikolaos was delighted to have the CILT team on board with a guided tour around the ship explaining the operational aspects. Dhirubhai-1 is the first floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) asset to ever call Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG). The FPSO asset – Dhirubhai-1, is expected to be docked at the Hambantota International Port for a minimum of six months for a warm lay-up. The arrival of Dhirubhai-1, marked the second vessel to call on the Port of Hambantota for lay-up services, the first being the arrival of the Oil & Gas Drillship ‘Aban Abraham’ in December 2018 initiated by Hayleys Energy Services

The main benefits of the vessels are:

• Weather Vaning – turret mooring ensures safe tandem offloading, 
• Large Import and Export Capacities – swivel has high capacity for both oil and gas production, and gas export
• Large Power Generation Capacity – high redundancy ensures no power shutdowns and shut in of field
• Flexibility for Additional Capacity – available space for additional module (16x28m) (WI, Compression, Utilities, Mercury removal)
• Excellent Technical Conditions – class status – built to DnV requirements, current classification and notations: DnV 1A1, Ship Shape FPSO, and HELDK-S, Prod.

CILT team then visited the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (MRIA) where Upul Kalansuriya Chief Airport Manager, MRIA took the team on a guided tour around the airport and the control tower. The interesting fact the team learnt was that though Ratmalana Airport is a domestic airport, all flights arriving and departing are controlled from the Ratmalana Aviation tower.

The visit to FPSO vessel and MRIA were an exciting voyage for the participants. The members were able to gain valuable insights into vessel operation and tower operation during the visit.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is the only chartered professional body in the country for professionals engaged in transport, logistics and supply chain and its main aim is to promote continuing professional education in the sector to uplift the professionalism and create value to the economy.