Dutch offshore services company Boskalis has successfully completed a complex operation involving the disconnection and towing of a floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) vessel from offshore Côte d’Ivoire to a dry dock in Dubai, where it will undergo a full refurbishment. The FPSO, identified as the Baobab Ivoirien, is scheduled to return to production in West Africa following its overhaul.

The project, commissioned by MODEC, required Boskalis to carry out a full suite of marine services using a coordinated fleet of anchor handling and ocean-going tug vessels. These included the Manta, BOKA Expedition, BOKA Forward, and BOKA Falcon.

The 403-meter-long FPSO was disconnected from its eight mooring lines, with the BOKA Falcon deploying its 150-ton crane for the operation. Other support vessels ensured the FPSO maintained position during the process. Once freed, the FPSO was towed more than 5,000 nautical miles to Dubai by the BOKA Expedition and BOKA Forward for refurbishment.

“This project demonstrates our ability to deliver end-to-end offshore solutions, combining marine operations, logistics, and coordination across continents,” Boskalis stated.

Refurbishment to Extend FPSO’s Operational Life

The FPSO Baobab Ivoirien ceased production in January 2025 in preparation for its overhaul. The vessel is expected to be refurbished by Drydocks World Dubai, which specializes in large-scale maritime and offshore maintenance.

Originally commissioned in 2005, the FPSO has processed more than 150 million barrels of oil. It features a production capacity of 70,000 barrels of oil per day, 75 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, and water injection capacity of 100,000 barrels per day, with total storage of up to 2 million barrels of crude oil.

Once upgraded, the FPSO is expected to continue operations in the Baobab field—operated by Canadian Natural Resources International (CNRI) with partners Vaalco and Petroci Holding—until at least 2038.

Return to Service Scheduled Post-Refurbishment

Boskalis will also be responsible for transporting the refurbished FPSO back to its original offshore site near Côte d’Ivoire. The operation will include reconnecting the vessel to its mooring system, ensuring it is fully operational and ready for renewed hydrocarbon production.

The project reflects Boskalis’ role in supporting offshore asset lifecycle management, from decommissioning and transport to refurbishment and redeployment.

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