Iran Launches FSU in Persian Gulf, Eyes Greater Oil Exports

February 18, 2015

Iran has inaugurated a 2.2-million-barrel floating oil storage unit (FSU) Khalij-e-Fars, in Soroush oil region on February 8th, writes IRNA news agency.

The inauguration was marked by the first oil shipment from the FSU to a crude carrier KAI-EI, owned by Kyoei Tanker company.

The FSU, built by South Korea’s Samsung, is intended to carry the crude oil produced in the offshore Soroush and Nowruz oil field in Persian Gulf to the floating terminal.

The unit is a converted VLCC. It is 337 meters long, 60 meters wide and 33 meters high and boasts storage capacity of 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

The inauguration could pave the way for a substantial increase in Iranian oil storage capacity providing for more flexibility to export crude, writes the Tehran Times citing International Energy Agency (IEA).

The country is considering construction of new oil export terminals in Jask, Lavan, Siri and Qeashm as it pushes for diversification of oil export hubs.

Iran’s current oil exports amount to around 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil.

World Maritime News Staff