Gabon Gas Project Gets LNG Storage Boost as Old Carrier is Converted into FSU

A former LNG carrier is being converted into a floating storage unit (FSU) for a Gabon offshore gas project, giving the country a new facility for storing liquefied natural gas as it develops infrastructure for domestic use and exports.

UK-based Lloyd’s Register is providing classification and technical assurance for the conversion of the vessel for Dixstone Lower Gulf FZCO, a sister company of Perenco. The ship, formerly known as LNG Bayelsa, is now operating under the temporary name FSU LNG Cap Lopez and is undergoing work at Drydocks World Dubai.

The converted unit is scheduled to sail from Dubai in the third quarter of 2027.

The FSU will support the Cap Lopez project, allowing LNG to be liquefied, stored and exported from a near-shore barge. The project is also intended to reduce routine gas flaring and improve energy efficiency in Gabon’s offshore gas operations.

From LNG carrier to floating storage

The conversion involves major work on the vessel, including steel renewal, new steel additions and new piping systems.

A boil-off gas module will also be installed as part of the project. Boil-off gas is gas that naturally forms as LNG warms during storage, and managing it is an important part of LNG storage operations.

Lloyd’s Register said its work covers classification, plan approval, surveys and technical oversight throughout the conversion and life-extension programme.

The classification society is working with Dixstone Lower Gulf and the Dubai shipyard to assess the vessel’s integrity and long-term ability to operate in its new function.

The project gives an existing LNG carrier a new use instead of developing a completely new storage vessel. Lloyd’s Register said such conversions are being considered as a faster and more cost-effective option for offshore gas projects.

Sean Van der Post, Global Offshore Business Director at Lloyd’s Register, said: “The FSU LNG Cap Lopez conversion reflects increasing momentum behind LNG carrier conversions and floating storage solutions as operators seek flexible, lower-impact ways to develop gas resources. Independent technical assurance and robust life-extension strategies are essential as assets are adapted to new operating profiles and environments.”

He added: “Through our role on this project, LR continues to strengthen its position in the LNG and floating gas sector, supporting clients with trusted technical insight, regulatory confidence and practical solutions that enable safer, more resilient maritime and offshore energy operations worldwide.”

Cap Lopez project expands Gabon’s gas infrastructure

The storage unit, for Gabon, is part of a larger FLNG development intended to expand offshore gas infrastructure and provide a new system for handling the country’s natural gas.

Michel Gotab, Managing Director at Dixstone Lower Gulf, said the company was working with its partners to deliver infrastructure for Perenco and the Republic of Gabon.

“Dixstone is working closely with its many partners to deliver new project infrastructure, serving Perenco and the Republic of Gabon in maximizing the potential of the country’s natural gas resources.

“As a new storage facility for LNG, the FSU LNG Cap Lopez is an integral part of the broader Cap Lopez project, a new gas backbone for Gabon for both local use and export.”

The larger FLNG project is set to increase Gabon’s production capacity by about 105 million standard cubic feet per day.

The conversion therefore gives the Cap Lopez project a storage facility alongside its wider gas infrastructure. The FSU will support the handling of LNG produced through the project before it is used locally or prepared for export.

Lloyd’s Register’s technical work will cover the vessel’s structural and mechanical modifications as the former LNG carrier takes on its new function. The classification society said the work is intended to ensure that the changes meet safety, structural and regulatory requirements.