CONTENTS
1.2 Purpose of the Marine Routing Plan of the FSRU Vessel
1.3 Structure of the Marine Routing Plan of the FSRU Vessel
2....... Marine Routing of the FSRU Vessel
2.1 Marine Routing of the FSRU Vessel for Berthing at and Departing from the Jetty
2.2 Marine Routing before, during and after Adverse Weather and Emergency Situations
Annex
Annex A Environmental Review Report for the Marine Transit Routes of FSRU Vessel and LNG Carriers
List of Figures
To support the increased use of natural gas in Hong Kong from 2020 onwards, Castle Peak Power Company Limited (CAPCO) and The Hongkong Electric Co., Ltd. (HK Electric) have identified that the development of an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Hong Kong using Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) technology (‘the Hong Kong Offshore LNG Terminal Project’) presents a viable additional gas supply option that will provide energy security through access to competitive gas supplies from world markets. The Project will involve the construction and operation of an offshore LNG import facility to be located in the southern waters of Hong Kong, a double berth jetty, and subsea pipelines that connect to the gas receiving stations (GRS) at the Black Point Power Station (BPPS) and the Lamma Power Station (LPS). The location plan is shown in Figure 1.1.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the Project was submitted to the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in May 2018. The EIA Report (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-218/2018) was approved by EPD and the associated Environmental Permit (EP) (EP-558/2018) was issued in October 2018. An application for Further Environmental Permits (FEP) was made on 24 December 2019 to demarcate the works between the different parties. The following FEPs were issued on 17 January 2020 and the EP under EP-558/2018 was surrendered on 5 March 2020:
§ the double berth jetty at LNG Terminal under the Hong Kong LNG Terminal Limited, joint venture between CAPCO and HK Electric (FEP-01/558/2018/A) ([1]);
§ the subsea gas pipeline for the BPPS and the associated GRS in the BPPS under CAPCO (FEP-03/558/2018/B) ([2]); and
§ the subsea gas pipeline for the LPS and the associated GRS in the LPS under HK Electric (FEP-02/558/2018/A) ([3]).
In accordance with Condition 4.4 of the FEP of the LNG Terminal (FEP-01/558/2018/A) (‘the Project’):
|
FEP No. FEP-01/558/2018/A, Condition 4.4: “The Permit Holder shall, no later than 3 months before the commencement of operation of the Project, deposit with the Director 3 hard copies and 1 electronic copy of the marine routing plan of the FSRU vessel. The marine routing plan of the FSRU vessel shall include but not limited to the information relating to marine routing of FSRU vessel for berthing at and departing from the jetty and the marine routing of FSRU vessel before, during and after adverse weather conditions and emergency situations.” |
As stated in Condition 4.4 of the FEP of the LNG Terminal (FEP-01/558/2018/A), this Marine Routing Plan of the FSRU Vessel (the Plan) presents the information relating to marine routing of FSRU vessel for berthing at and departing from the jetty and the marine routing of FSRU vessel before, during and after adverse weather conditions and emergency situations. In addition, as there is update on the marine transit routes as presented in the approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-218/2018), this Plan also includes the information related to the updated marine transit routes. Consequently, an environmental review has been undertaken and presented in Annex A to assess the potential environmental impact as a result of the update to the marine transit routes for both FSRU Vessel and LNG Carrier (LNGC).
The remainder of this Marine Routing Plan of the FSRU Vessel is set out as follows:
§ Section 2 provides the marine
routing of FSRU vessel for berthing at and departing from the jetty and the
marine routing of FSRU vessel before, during and after adverse weather
conditions and emergency situations.
For the transit to the LNG Terminal, an operatable navigation route must be capable of accommodating FSRU Vessel and to ensure safe transit in terms of adequate depth of water and manoeuvring space under adverse metocean conditions consisting of waves, tidal currents, wind, visibility, as well as navigation characteristics, such as pilotage arrangement, tugs and navigation aids.
As the Project progresses, due to the associated pilotage arrangement, the marine transit routes of FSRU Vessel have been further discussed with the relevant authorities. Consequently, the marine transit routes (‘Principal Arrival Route‘ and ‘South Departure Route’) are determined and agreed with the relevant authorities for implementation to support the operation of the Project. The Principal Arrival Route for the FSRU Vessel will enter HKSAR waters at the due east side of the existing CEDD’s South Cheung Chau Disposal Ground and will be subject to the prevailing conditions at time being. The South Departure Route for the FSRU Vessel with tugs and supporting vessels will need to pass through the South Lantau Marine Park (SLMP) and then travel to the south to Dangan Channel. Navigation simulation analysis was conducted to verify the Principal Arrival Route and South Departure Route based on various constraints (e.g. water depth, sea conditions, marine traffic, etc). It should also be noted that the LNGC will adopt similar marine transit routes during transit, but berthing at the west side of the LNG Terminal passing through the SLMP (please refer to Figure 1.3 of Annex A for the Principal Arrival Route for LNGC).
As there is update on the marine transit routes as presented in the approved EIA Report (EIAO Register No. AEIAR-218/2018), which stated that the LNGC would arrive the LNG Terminal from the south and will enter HKSAR waters at the south of the LNG Terminal, in accordance with Condition 4.4 of the FEP of the LNG Terminal (FEP-01/558/2018/A), this Marine Routing Plan is prepared to include the information related to the updated marine transit routes. In addition, an environmental review has been undertaken and presented in Annex A to assess the potential environmental impact as a result of the update to the marine transit routes for both FSRU Vessel and LNGC.
The Principal Arrival Route for FSRU Vessel arrival through Hong Kong waters to the LNG Terminal is described below. The indicative Principal Arrival Route is presented in Figure 2.1.
On arrival to the LNG Terminal, the FSRU Vessel will firstly enter Hong Kong waters at the due east side of the existing CEDD’s South Cheung Chau Disposal Ground for compulsory pilotage en route to the Jetty with tugs assistance and control. Other supporting vessels will accompany the FSRU Vessel as necessary along the designated transit route, travelling along north of CEDD’s South Cheung Chau Disposal Ground and approaching the LNG Terminal. It is anticipated that during the transit, the FSRU Vessel will not pass through the SLMP during manoeuvring to the Jetty. However, in the unlikely / emergency event (e.g. increment weather, emergency departure, pulling tug loss of power during berth operation, etc.), the FSRU Vessel with tugs / supporting vessels may need to pass through the SLMP for safe manoeuvring to the Jetty.
The South Departure Route is the principal route for the departure of the FSRU Vessel. On departure from the LNG Terminal, the manoeuvres of the FSRU Vessel will be executed by the HK Pilots and captains of FSRU Vessel. Once the ship is clear of the berth and in a safe position before joining Dangan Channel, the tugs will be let go and the Pilots disembarked. The departure route as shown in Figure 2.1 for FSRU Vessel with tugs and supporting vessels will need to pass through the SLMP with a duration of about 30 minutes.
In the unlikely event that this southern departure route cannot be used (e.g. structural blockage at sea), the FSRU Vessel will need to travel north to follow the same Principal Arrival Route back to the waters south of Cheung Chau before navigating to Dangan Channel. It is anticipated that during the transit of FSRU Vessel, the FSRU Vessel as well as the tugs and supporting vessels will need to pass through SLMP until turning to north of CEDD’s South Cheung Chau Disposal Ground. The indicative Principal Arrival Route and South Departure Route are presented in Figure 2.1.
No stopping over or anchoring of vessels will be necessary during the transit.
It should be noted that during the arrival and departure of the FSRU Vessel, there might be adjustment to the proposed marine transit routes described in Sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 to suit the navigation safety and weather conditions.
Before adverse weather (e.g. typhoon) and emergency situations, the master and persons in control of the FSRU Vessel will closely monitor the adverse weather and emergency situations and get prepared to leave the berth. Inspections will be carried out on board to ensure the engine, mooring gears and other safety equipment of the FSRU Vessel are in good working conditions. The FSRU Vessel will then leave the berth following the South Departure Route and proceed outside Hong Kong waters for shelter under pilotage. Once the FSRU Vessel left the LNG Terminal and transits outside Hong Kong waters, it will sail to suitable anchorage area that is located away from the adverse weather outside Hong Kong through the Dangan Channel Traffic Separation Scheme or open sea during emergency situations.
Subject to the weather condition or other situations, the master and persons in control of the FSRU Vessel will coordinate with the Marine Department to arrange a suitable anchorage area.
After adverse weather and other emergency situations, the FSRU Vessel will transit to the LNG Terminal following the Principal Arrival Route. However, in the unlikely / emergency event (e.g. increment weather, emergency departure, pulling tug loss of power during berth operation, etc.), the FSRU Vessel with tugs / supporting vessels may need to pass through the SLMP for safe manoeuvring to the Jetty.
([1]) Application for variation of an environmental permit for FEP-01/558/2018 was undertaken and the latest FEP (FEP-01/558/2018/A) was issued on 6 November 2020.