The structural integrity of FPSO's and FSU's is clearly vital to the safe operation of such installations. Current UK Health & Safety law requires that an offshore installation at all times possesses such integrity as is reasonably practicable. In a goal-setting regime as exists in the UK, it is necessary that information is available in order to help to judge what is 'reasonably practicable'. In the case of the structural integrity of FPSO's and FSU's, there is a significant experience base available from the shipping industry, although not all of this is directly relevant to the requirements for fixed offshore installations. Thus, there are areas where more information is required, and some of these have been highlighted by incidents occurring to installations. The paper describe issues that are believed to be of signifiance to the structural integrity of FPSO's and FSU's, and how these are being addressed by the HSE, Offshore Division (OSD), through research and dissemination.
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