Near disaster for world’s first pipe laying DP vessel changes safety standards

The operator of the first pipe laying ship to utilize dynamic positioning-or DP-was forced to change its safety policy after dragging a gas pipeline 1,312 feet on the seabed.

On October 16, 2009, 68-mile-per-hour winds pushed the 600 foot Lorelay a quarter mile out of position during a cable laying operation 155 miles southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Lori MacLean, spokeswoman for EnCana Corp., overseer of the Deep Panuke pipeline project, said the rough conditions caught the vessel off guard and forced it off heading and out of position. The decision was made to cut loose of the cable attached to the pipeline.

Prompted by the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board, new safety practices were implemented: In the future, during severe weather the vessel will completely disconnect from the pipeline until the weather stabilizes.

While there was no damage to the ship or the pipeline, there was some damage reported to the stinger, which is used to support the pipeline. The ship is owned by Allseas Group SA of Switzerland. The Deep Panuke Project involves installation of a 107-mile natural gas pipeline.

Source: Professional Mariner