Subsea Pipelines and Calm Buoy System

In 2004, Seabulk Systems of Canada undertook - on behalf of Barbados National Terminal Company Limited, Owner, and Commonwealth Construction of Canada, Prime Contractor - the design/build implementation of a new subsea pipeline and CALM buoy system in Oistins Bay, Barbados. The scope of the project included triple subsea pipelines, hoses with pick-up buoys, and an array of three buoys in a CALM configuration. This project, implemented utilizing Barbadian resources, presented challenges to the design/build team including implementation in the presence of an existing facility, limited equipment for marine construction, modest local fabrication capability and a seabed with protected coral outcrops. The project included a laboratory investigation utilizing a scale model to obtain design guidance for submarine hose raising, lowering and coiling for storage on the sea bottom at the product tanker berth. This paper discusses the design, construction and management decisions that led to the successful design/build implementation of subsea pipelines and a CALM buoy system twelve months following contract award.