Svanehøj signs contract to supply LTD gauging systems for LNG carrier-to-FSU conversion project in Gabon

Svanehøj has signed a contract with Drydocks World Dubai to supply four LTD gauging systems for the conversion of the LNG carrier LNG Bayelsa into the floating storage unit Cap Lopez. The work is being carried out for Dixstone Lower Gulf FZCO as part of a broader offshore gas development in Gabon, with completion targeted for Q3 2027.

For Svanehøj, the deal marks the company’s first entry into the LNG carrier-to-FSU conversion market — a segment it sees as strategically important for its gauging technology.

Contract signed for LTD gauging systems on FSU conversion

The contract covers four level, temperature, and density (LTD) gauging systems, which Svanehøj will supply. Dixstone Lower Gulf FZCO is the client behind the project – part of a larger floating LNG development aimed at expanding Gabon’s offshore gas infrastructure.

The float-type level gauges currently aboard the LNG Bayelsa aren’t adequate for what the Cap Lopez will need to do as a permanent offshore storage unit.

Completion is planned for Q3 2027. That timeline reflects the scope involved. This isn’t a simple refit; it’s a full vessel transformation with serious engineering demands spread across multiple systems.

Why new gauging systems are required for the conversion

When a vessel changes roles, its existing equipment doesn’t always make the cut. The float-type level gauges currently aboard the LNG Bayelsa aren’t adequate for what the Cap Lopez will need to do as a permanent offshore storage unit.

LTD gauging systems offer something more capable: automatic, continuous measurement of LNG density and gas composition inside the storage tanks. That’s a meaningful step up from float-type gauges – and it’s the kind of precision long-term offshore operations demand.

One of the more critical functions the new systems will support is rollover prevention. Real-time data from the LTD gauges feeds directly into rollover prediction software, which monitors for stratification — the layering of LNG at different densities — and flags potential rollover events before they develop. Rollover in an LNG tank can cause a rapid pressure spike, so early detection matters considerably for both safety and operational continuity.

As Fabrice Vandewalle, Sales Manager for LNG/Cryogenic at Svanehøj France, put it, “In conversion projects, existing equipment is often no longer sufficient for the vessel’s new role. Advanced monitoring and safety systems are essential for safe and reliable long-term offshore operation.”

Expected impact on Gabon’s offshore gas operations

The Cap Lopez FSU won’t operate in isolation. It’s a component of a broader FLNG development designed to expand Gabon’s offshore gas infrastructure, supporting both storage and export functions once operational.

The wider project carries real environmental implications — it’s expected to reduce gas flaring in Gabon, a practice that wastes natural gas and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The development is also projected to increase the country’s gas production capacity by approximately 105 million ft³/d, a significant addition to Gabon’s energy output.

The conversion itself is extensive. Beyond the gauging systems Svanehøj is supplying, the overall scope takes in steel fabrication, piping installation, new process modules, tank coating, and life-extension work. Lloyd’s Register classification governs the technical and safety standards the converted vessel must meet before entering service. That combination — environmental benefit, expanded capacity, and rigorous classification requirements — gives this project real weight beyond a standard vessel conversion.

Industry context: Converting LNG carriers onto floating infrastructure

This contract matters to Svanehøj beyond the immediate deal. It’s the first time the company has supplied its LTD gauging systems for an LNG carrier-to-FSU conversion, making it a genuine entry point into a market segment the company views as strategically important.

The LNG conversion market is growing. There’s a clear industry-wide trend toward repurposing existing LNG carriers as floating offshore infrastructure — units capable of handling gas liquefaction, storage, and export without requiring new-build vessels. It’s a practical response to the economics of offshore gas development, where adapting existing assets can be faster and considerably more cost-effective than commissioning new ones.

Winning a role in this project signals Svanehøj’s ambition to be part of that trend. The company has positioned its LTD gauging technology as well-suited to conversion work, where legacy monitoring systems frequently fall short of what a new offshore role requires. Whether this deal leads to further conversion contracts remains to be seen, but Svanehoj has publicly stated its goal of strengthening its presence in offshore LNG infrastructure — and this project gives it a concrete reference point in that effort.

Moving into the LNG conversion market

Here’s what this project comes down to: Svanehøj has signed a contract with Drydocks World Dubai to supply four LTD gauging systems for the conversion of the LNG Bayelsa into the FSU Cap Lopez. The client is Dixstone Lower Gulf FZCO, and the project is part of a larger FLNG development in Gabon targeting Q3 2027 completion.

The LTD systems replace outdated float-type gauges and bring continuous LNG density and composition monitoring, along with real-time data integration for rollover prediction. Structural, piping, and process work rounds out the broader conversion scope, all carried out under Lloyd’s Register classification.

For Gabon, the project could reduce gas flaring and add roughly 105 million ft³/d of production capacity. For Svanehøj, it’s a first step into the LNG conversion market — a segment the company is actively pursuing as floating offshore infrastructure becomes an increasingly common solution in global gas development.

Kelly Lippke

Kelly is an experienced writer with 15 years of experience exploring the big stories that shape our world, from tech breakthroughs and space exploration to climate, energy, and the fascinating quirks of science. She has a talent for turning complex ideas into sharp, memorable insights that stay with readers long after they’ve finished reading.