Fmc Chicksan Marine Loading Arms

Chiksan ® Marine Arms form the cornerstone of complex, high technology installations for all loading and unloading of fluids at portside locations. For nearly 50 years, FMC Technologies has provided the best solutions to meet your specific requirements, regardless of the viscosity or temperature of the liquid, from liquid sulphur to liquefied natural gas (LNG), and from either river barges or the largest crude oil carriers.

FMC has the experience and ability to meet your specific loading and unloading requirements. With design experience second to none, Chiksan Marine Loading Arms are the answer for transfers of all liquids and gases.

A Chiksan Marine Loading Arm is an articulated pipe system incorporating the world proven Chiksan® swivel joints equipped with patented replaceable “snap-in” ball races, an innovative concept allowing for freedom of movement in the arm while connected to the vessel to be loaded or unloaded.

FMC Technologies provides a complete range of accessories to enhance the operating safety and optimize the maintenance of Chiksan Marine Loading Arms. These technologically advanced, field proven options include hydraulic Quick Connect/Disconnect Couplers (QC/DC), Manual Quickcon couplers, Position Monitoring System (PMS), Emergency Release Systems (ERS), piggyback vapor return lines and other equipment.

FMC offers the following range of standard Marine Loading Arm models, available either in manual or fully powered versions. Each model has multiple configurations to best meet the specific needs of each installation, such as vessel tonnage, variations in water levels, maximum operating and survival wind conditions, earthquake factors, operating and minimum environmental temperature, maximum flow rate of the fluid, various loading scenarios (various combinations of connexion cases when several arms are on the jetty), etc.

A single main counterweight assembly is used to balance the inboard and outboard sections of the arm, with an additional small countermight assembly to adjust inboard arm balancing.

Two counterweight assemblies balance independently the inboard and outboard sections of the arm, requiring less space for counterweight clearance behind the arm and avoiding any interference with jetty piping/ equipment even when the arm is moved out of its normal separating range.

UNSURPASSED GLOBAL EXPERIENCE:

• First marine loading arm in the world, 1956
• More than 8,000 marine loading arms supplied worldwide
• First LNG loading arm, 1963
• All LNG terminals in the world for 130,000 cubic meter LNG carriers feature Chiksan® loading arms
• Largest automated piggable manifold system with 840 combinations, 1994
• Comprehensive after-sales service committed to immediate and long-term customer satisfaction
• Global network of service facilities staffed with FMC trained personnel

FEATURES

• Standard diameters from 4″ through 24″; other dimensions may be considered
• Fully counterbalanced in all positions
• Only marine loading arm manufacturer whose arms are entirely self-supported.
• Manual or fully powered operation with fixed or remote control units
• Can handle any fluid from heated sulphur to LNG at -162°C
• All accessories available (ERS, QCDC, drain ports, vapor lines)

BENEFITS

• High degree of reliability with proven long life expectancy
• Low maintenance cost and minimal downtime
• Trained and fully staffed sales and after sales organization to assist you 24 hours a day worldwide
• Genuine Chiksan® spare parts are supplied for the life of your systems