SMEOCEAN One-Stop CALM Buoy R4 Mooring Chain Solution in Southeast Asia
I. Project Background and CALM BUOY System Overview
This tender project is located in Southeast Asian waters. The client plans to deploy a new single-point mooring system for oil loading and unloading operations between offshore oil drilling platforms and tankers. As the hardware supplier of the mooring system, SMEOCEAN was deeply involved in the entire project, including testing of products such as chains and accessories, technical support, and bid preparation.
The CALM (Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring) buoy is a typical single-point mooring system, widely used in deepwater and offshore oil loading and unloading operations worldwide. The system uses multiple catenary anchor chains to secure the buoy in the deep sea, allowing tankers to maneuver freely around the buoy, creating a "weather vane" effect and effectively reducing the forces exerted on the mooring system by wind, waves, and currents.
According to relevant research, the CALM system has the following core advantages:
1. Highly adaptable: It can be flexibly deployed in water depths ranging from 30 to 500 meters.
2. High operational flexibility: Ensures continuous tanker operations even in adverse weather conditions.
3. Excellent system stability: The catenary design efficiently absorbs dynamic loads.
4. Low maintenance costs: The simple structure facilitates maintenance and component replacement.
II. Key Project Material Requirements and Certification Standards
The mooring materials required for this project include:
1.R3 and R4 grade mooring chains: These are used in different load ranges. R4 grade chains offer superior tensile strength and fatigue performance, making them suitable for deepwater environments. R3 grade mooring chains have a tensile strength of up to 4100 kN, while R4 grade mooring chains have a tensile strength of up to 5600 kN, meeting the requirements of long-term deployment in harsh sea conditions.
2. LTM Round Pin Joining Shackle: Used to connect chains and must possess the same level of strength and toughness as the chain itself.
3. Chain Stopper: A key component for securing the mooring chain, it prevents chain slippage and is typically installed on buoys or ship structures. All products must be certified by classification societies, including ABS, DNV, BV, LR, and CCS, to ensure compliance with international marine engineering standards.
III. Technical Exchange and Problem Solving
For this project, the SMEOCEAN team conducted multiple rounds of in-depth technical exchanges with the client, successfully resolving the following key issues:
1.Design challenges with the R4 chain end link: The client requested a "Special End Link" as the R4 chain terminal connector. However, technical analysis revealed that the end link dimensions did not match the mooring chain. The SMEOCEAN technical team promptly addressed the issue, recollected data, and provided the client with detailed instructions on the testing procedures that the new product drawings would face in later production, ultimately securing client approval.
2. Customized processing of the non-standard Chain Stopper:
The Chain Stopper is a key component in the oil platform anchoring system. The initial drawings provided by the client lacked detailed data and practical installation and operation requirements. The SMEOCEAN team re-analyzed the drawings, selected materials, and performed load calculations, producing new 3D drawings. They also coordinated with the classification society to confirm the drawing approval and testing procedures. The final, complete solution far exceeded client expectations. The Chain Stopper in this project required extremely high material strength. Utilizing casting and CNC machining, it met the client's high-standard project requirements and fully demonstrated the strengths of our group(this project was completed by the technical team of SMEMACH, a subsidiary of SME Group).
3. Providing Complete Technical Documentation:
Throughout the project, SMEOCEAN provided a comprehensive set of technical documentation, including mooring chain drawings (R3 Mooring Chain, R4 Mooring Chain), product processing drawings (Chain, LTM Shackle, Chain Stopper), material certificates (Mill Test Certificate (MTC), and classification society certification documents (Type Approval Certificate). This documentation not only facilitated the client's project review report submission but also provided solid technical support for subsequent bidding.
4. Project Integration Capabilities and Industry Competitive Advantages:
The client initially faced the challenge of a fragmented supply chain. Since mooring chain factories typically specialize in chain production and are unable to provide non-standard products like Chain Stoppers, the client had to work with multiple suppliers, increasing communication costs and technical risks. Leveraging over 20 years of industry experience, SMEOCEAN provides a one-stop supply of R3/R4 mooring chains, accessories, and custom components. By standardizing technical standards, quality inspection processes, and delivery cycles, we significantly improve project execution efficiency and reduce procurement and management costs for our clients.
For this project, SMEOCEAN participated in the bidding process as the technical clarifier, helping the client secure the bid and earning high praise.
V. Conclusion and Future Outlook
With the continued growth in global energy transportation demand, the CALM offshore buoy system will have increasingly broad application prospects in waters off Southeast Asia, West Africa, and South America.
SMEOCEAN will continue to deepen its commitment to the marine mooring sector, continuously improving its technology integration and service capabilities, and providing more customers with safe, efficient, and sustainable hardware support for offshore operations.
If you have project requirements like these, please feel free to contact the SMEOCEAN team. We are committed to serving you with professional technical analysis, extensive risk management experience, and the best product solutions.