VESSEL REVIEW | Nigerian operator's new barge for oil installation firefighting response

French shipyard Chantier Bretagne Sud (CBS) has completed a new aluminium firefighting barge for oil and gas services company Fevics Nigeria at its facility in Belz, Morbihan.

The 11.5-metre (37.7-foot) vessel is the third that Fevics has ordered from CBS. It weighs 12 tonnes and is propelled by two petrol engines, each rated at 100 hp (70 kW).

Fevics supplies products and services to Nigeria's refining and petrochemical sectors. The barges in particular are intended for deployment at oil installations in Africa.

Specially designed to accommodate an existing firefighting arrangement

The firefighting installation is built around a fire pump set supplied by SIDES, and the vessel is equipped with a water monitor.

Fevics has described an exclusive collaboration with SIDES covering the supply of firefighting vehicles and parts to Nigerian customers, including refineries, upstream oil and gas businesses, airports and state governments.

The barge underwent factory acceptance tests in June. The trials were carried out under operating conditions with SIDES personnel in attendance, and CBS said they validated the operation of the onboard systems before delivery, particularly the firefighting installation.

Compact size for ease of deployment

Tristan Ponsard, who worked on the barge's design, said the project encompassed design and structural sizing, stability studies, adaptation of the design to the construction facilities, preparation of production drawings, and integration of the SIDES firefighting equipment.

Ponsard added that the trials confirmed the accuracy of the predicted masses and centre of gravity position.

Naval architecture firm Cabinet ANEMO and other organisations worked with CBS as its project partners on the vessel.