offshore petroleum discharge system

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offshore petroleum discharge system

Provides a semipermanent, all-weather facility for bulk transfer of petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) directly from an offshore tanker to a beach termination unit (BTU) located immediately inland from the high watermark. POL then is either transported inland or stored in the beach support area. Major offshore petroleum discharge systems (OPDS) components are: the OPDS tanker with booster pumps and spread mooring winches; a recoverable single anchor leg mooring (SALM) to accommodate tankers of up to 70,000 deadweight tons; ship to SALM hose lines; up to 4 miles of 6-inch (internal diameter) conduit for pumping to the beach; and two BTUs to interface with the shoreside systems. OPDS can support a two-line system for multiproduct discharge, but ship standoff distance is reduced from 4 to 2 miles. Amphibious construction battalions install the OPDS with underwater construction team assistance. OPDS are embarked on selected Ready Reserve Force tankers modified to support the system. Also called OPDS. See also facility; petroleum, oil, and lubricants; single-anchor leg mooring.

Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms. US Department of Defense 2005.

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Wheeler is a new Offshore Petroleum Discharge System (OPDS), which is employed wherever pierside POL discharge facilities are unavailable.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, a total of five different offshore petroleum discharge system vessels were placed into service: the prototype SS Potomac (OPDS-1 built in 1957 converted to OPDS in 1985); SS American Osprey (OPDS-2 built 1958 converted 1988); SS Chesapeake (OPDS-3 built 1963 converted 1991); SS Petersburg (OPDS-4 built 1963 converted 1994); and, SS Mount Washington (OPDS-5 built 1963 converted 1995).

In January 2005, Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), Galliano, La., was awarded a firm fixed price contract with additional reimbursables for the time charter of one Offshore Petroleum Discharge System. Edison Chouest was contracted to build the vessel, provide the crew, and then charter the vessel to MSC with an original delivery date of July 20, 2007.