All Weather
For long term deployments where the need for regular or emergency disconnection is not envisaged, the cost of maintaining the ship in commission and providing a marine crew can be dispensed with. All the SMS components are designed for extreme storms and mooring line failure is designed for in accordance with the DNV POSMOOR ALS case.
Although the facilities for regular or emergency disconnect are omitted, the canister is nevertheless connected with the aid of a hydraulically retracted latch mechanism so that planned disconnection is possible. This enables the vessel to be towed to port for modifications if necessary.
When this configuration is used in cyclonic areas cost efficiency is achieved by defining a limiting condition at which the FPSO would detach, depending on operational requirements and the vessel strength. As a cyclone develops production is shut-in, but the FPSO is only disconnected from the canister if tracking the cyclone shows it will come too close to the site.
View footage of the model tank tests of the SMS at DHI.
Graphics from the computer simulations of the system.
Animation of the SMS showing how it works.
Video overview of the SMS with commentary.