Boskalis tows Golar FLNG to Singapore after Cameroon contract ends

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Boskalis has deployed four offshore tugs to position and tow Golar LNG’s 293 metre FLNG Hilli from Cameroon to Singapore, marking the end of the floating production unit’s eight year assignment off Kribi.

The long distance tow is being led by the ocean going tugs BOKA Alpine and BOKA Summit. They were supported during the initial position keeping operation by SL Trogon and SL Twite, operated by Boskalis subsidiary Smit Lamnalco.

The two main towing vessels departed the Hilli location in early August. AIS data indicates that both are sailing toward Port Louis, Mauritius, as an intermediate destination on the voyage to Singapore.

Moving a 293 metre floating LNG facility requires more than pulling power. Before the tow could begin, the unit had to be held securely while its offshore connections and mooring arrangements were released.

Why were four tugs needed for that stage? The additional vessels allowed the marine team to control Hilli’s heading and position while the main towing configuration was established. SL Trogon and SL Twite provided local assistance during this operation, while BOKA Alpine and BOKA Summit assumed responsibility for the ocean passage.

The operation followed the completion of Hilli’s disconnection by offshore engineering company CoreMarine. Its work included project management, engineering, procurement and offshore execution for removing the unit from its Cameroon mooring system.

Golar LNG said Hilli completed its eight year Cameroon contract with 100% economic uptime and loaded 156 LNG cargoes. The unit began commercial operations in 2018, processing gas from the Sanaga Sud field under arrangements involving Perenco and Cameroon’s national oil company, Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures.

Hilli is now bound for Singapore, where it is scheduled to undergo modifications, life extension work and preparations for its next deployment. The work is expected to include winterisation and changes associated with a new mooring system.

The shipyard period forms part of Golar’s plan to redeploy the 2.45 million tonne per year floating liquefaction unit off Argentina.

Hilli is scheduled to begin a 20 year contract with Southern Energy off Argentina in 2027. The project will position the unit in the Gulf of San Matías, where it will support the development of Argentina’s LNG export industry.

Golar has estimated that the contract could generate approximately $5.7 billion in adjusted earnings backlog, excluding inflation and potential commodity linked payments.

The move from Cameroon to Argentina illustrates the redeployment flexibility of floating LNG infrastructure, but it also requires a complex chain of marine services. The current phase covers position control, towage across several ocean regions, an extended shipyard programme and eventual installation at a new offshore location.