PORT GUIDE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND SHORE TEAMS
FSO 'Osi'
Pilot
updated Aug 2010Pilotage is compulsory and any such services provided by the terminal shall be strictly subject to terminal regulations and conditions. The Terminal Mooring Master and his assistant will board the offtake tanker approx 2nm NE of the OSI, on most occasions via a Liverpool harbour tug, and the Master is reminded of the IMO rules for pilot ladders and the provision for safe access to and from the tanker, including the need for a good lee. In addition, the offtake tanker must have its portside derrick/crane rigged and be ready in all respect to take onboard the mooring equipment basket.
Key data
updated Jul 2023Size limits
Offshore: LOA 300m, BCM 158m, draught 12.5m and 150,000DWT.
Load line zone
North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.
Tides
The tide in the Liverpool Bay area is semi diurnal, providing 2 high tides and 2 low tides per 24 hour period. The lowest astronomical tide recorded being -0.1m and the highest astronomical tide recorded being +10.4m, giving water depths at the terminal of between 30.8m and 42.2m. Reductions and water depth calculations should be made with reference to the Admiralty Tide Tables for the port of Liverpool.
Max draft per terminal
| Terminal | Max draught | Max LOA | Berths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool Bay | 12.50 m | 300 m | 1 |
Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.
Approach
updated Jan 2018Anchorages
Offtake tankers visiting the terminal shall not anchor or manoeuvre in or near to the exclusion zone, which currently extends to a 800m radius, centred on the OSI. Masters visiting offtake tankers may at their discretion, use the following recommended anchorages.
Tugs
A multi purpose vessel will be available to assist with berthing and hose connections. The tug/support craft will make fast aft on the offtake tankers final approach to the OSI. After cargo hose operations are completed it will remain attached to a tow line from the offtake tankers centre lead aft throughout the offtake operation.
Mooring
Tension limits:
Offtake tankers should be unmoored if there are three occurrences of a peak mooring hawser tension greater than 150t force within 1 hour, or a single occurrence of a peak mooring hawser tension greater than 200t force.
Charts and publications
BA 1981. Admiralty Pilot NP37, NP286(1).
Inspections
Port State Control here: Paris MOU.
Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.
ISPS
ISPS Designated Authority: Transport and Security Directorate (TRANSEC) of the Department for Transport.
Position: Head of Maritime Security Operations.
Address: TRANSEC Department for Transport, 5th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DT, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 207 944 2844 (24 hrs)
Fax: +44 207 944 2175
Email: [email protected]
Recognised Security Organisations:
RSO - ISSC Issue: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels
RSO - Security Consultant Services: Transec for passenger vessels. MCA for other vessels.
The UK Department for Transport (DfT) is proposing, in line with EU regulations associated with the ISPS Code, to extend maritime security requirements to ships operating in domestic service and to port facilities serving them. The requirements would be based on those applicable to sea going vessels and generally would apply to domestic ships operating in 'sea areas', and which carry over 12 passengers or are over 500GT. Sea going ships which are certified to carry more than 250 passengers and tankers, especially those carrying oil and gas products, are considered as having the potential to be a target for attack.
For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org.
Port services
updated May 2010Repairs
Repairs of any description which may affect the full operational status of the offtake tanker are not permitted.
Medical
Emergency medical facilities only available.
Crew change
No facilities for crew changes.
About FSO 'Osi'
updated Jul 2023Where it is
Liverpool Bay Terminal oil field is located in the Irish Sea, equidistant from the coasts of N Wales and W of England.
The port
The Liverpool Bay Terminal comprises 5 oil and gas fields, plus the offshore and onshore facilities which have been put in place to tap these reserves. The development has a projected life of at least 20 years and is expected to peak at 80,000bbls/day. As of 2023, the gas fields within Liverpool Bay are approaching the end of their productive lives. The fields have an estimated carbon dioxide storage capacity of over 170 million tonnes and as a result Eni was awarded a licence for the appraisal and storage of CO2. Eni have planned the reutilisation of three of the Liverpool Bay depleted gas fields as CO2 reservoirs for injection and storage (Hamilton, Hamilton North and Lennox Gas Fields). It will use a combination of hydrogen energy and CCS (carbon capture and storage) to reduce the UK's greenhouse gas emission by 2050 and starting in the mid-2020s.
There are 6 fixed installations. Two installations in the Hamilton (connected Hamilton East subsea gas well is no longer in production) and Hamilton North fields produce gas, while the Lennox installation produces both oil and gas, and the Douglas installation produces oil. The Douglas central processing complex and the oil storage installation (OSI), which is a SPM system mounted on the stern of a storage barge, are the only manned installations in the development. From 2021, Eni UK limited became the Production Licence Operator of the Conwy Development, located 33km N off the coast of Wales and connected to the Douglas Complex via a 12km, 8in diameter subsea pipeline.
Gas from the Hamilton and Hamilton North fields is also fed to the Douglas complex for sweetening before being transferred via a 34km pipeline to the gas processing terminal and administration complex at Point of Ayr (POA) in N Wales.
Oil from the Lennox and Douglas fields is processed on the Douglas complex. Hydrogen sulphide and mercaptan in the unstabilised crude are reduced to levels which are acceptable for handling. The stabilised crude is then transferred to FSO 'OSI' some 10nm to the N, prior to its eventual export.
FSO 'OSI' has a LOA of 207m, beam of 44.5m, a helipad and consists of three deck levels. There are 10 oil compartments (as well as two slop tanks) surrounded by 4.8 metre wide seawater ballast tanks.
Questions about FSO 'Osi'
What are the pilot arrangements at FSO 'Osi'?
Pilotage is compulsory and any such services provided by the terminal shall be strictly subject to terminal regulations and conditions.
What time zone is FSO 'Osi' in?
Local time at FSO 'Osi' is UTC+0. Clocks go to UTC+1 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+0 on 31 Oct 2027.
What is the maximum draft at FSO 'Osi'?
The deepest berth listed is at Liverpool Bay: 12.50 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.
Which load line zone is FSO 'Osi' in?
North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.
Who carries out Port State Control at FSO 'Osi'?
Port State Control at FSO 'Osi': Paris MOU.
What is the UN/LOCODE of FSO 'Osi'?
The UN/LOCODE of FSO 'Osi' is GBLIB.
Tips from seafarers
What crews who called at FSO 'Osi' say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.
A planning aid, not for navigation. These facts come from public sources and each section shows how old it is. Check with the port, your agent, your ENCs and official publications. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.