What is the function of a SOFEC internal turret mooring system for an FLNG?

The SOFEC internal turret mooring system permanently anchors the FLNG vessel to the seabed while allowing it to rotate 360 degrees, or 'weathervane', in response to winds, waves, and currents. This rotation minimizes the environmental forces acting on the vessel, ensuring safe and continuous LNG production and offloading operations in deepwater environments.

How does Coral Norte compare to the existing Coral Sul project?

Coral Norte is designed as a fast-track replication of the Coral Sul FLNG, utilizing a similar capacity of approximately 3.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. By replicating the design and utilizing established technology providers like MODEC, the operators aim to lower engineering costs, reduce project risks, and accelerate the timeline to first gas.

Why is Eni opting for floating LNG (FLNG) instead of onshore terminals in Mozambique?

Floating LNG allows Eni and its partners to monetize offshore gas fields quickly without the massive capital expenditure and geopolitical risks associated with onshore liquefaction plants. Onshore projects in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province have faced severe delays due to regional security threats, making offshore FLNG a much safer and more reliable development concept.

Offshore Technology · June 25, 2026 (Jun 25) · 1 min read

MODEC to supply SOFEC mooring system for Coral Norte FLNG

Analysis

AI-assisted analysis · reviewed by Yuri Kan

MODEC's selection to supply the SOFEC internal turret mooring system for the Coral Norte FLNG project marks a critical engineering milestone for Mozambique's offshore gas ambitions. This contract secures a vital technical component for the second major floating LNG deployment in the Rovuma Basin, signaling robust momentum for Area 4 partners led by Eni. The decision highlights the industry's reliance on proven deepwater mooring technology to handle the challenging environmental conditions of the Mozambique Channel.

Key Facts

MODEC has been officially contracted to supply a SOFEC internal turret mooring system for the upcoming Coral Norte FLNG facility.
The Coral Norte FLNG project is located in the gas-rich Area 4 block of the Rovuma Basin, offshore Mozambique.
This project serves as the direct sister development to the currently operating Coral Sul FLNG, aiming to double the basin's floating liquefaction capacity.
The SOFEC internal turret mooring system is designed to allow the massive FLNG vessel to safely weather extreme meteorological and oceanographic conditions by weathervaning.
Italian energy major Eni is the operator of the Coral South and Coral Norte developments, alongside partners ExxonMobil, CNPC, GALP, KOGAS, and ENH.
The Coral Norte FLNG unit is expected to have a production capacity of approximately 3.4 million tonnes of LNG per annum (mtpa).

Background & Context

The Rovuma Basin offshore Mozambique holds an estimated 85 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, making it one of the most significant hydrocarbon discoveries of the past two decades. Eni successfully brought the region's first project online in 2022 via the Coral Sul FLNG, proving the viability of floating liquefaction in deepwater East Africa despite regional security challenges onshore. To capitalize on this success and bypass onshore infrastructure bottlenecks, the partners fast-tracked the Coral Norte FLNG project as a replication of the Coral Sul model.

Market Impact

This contract award solidifies MODEC and its subsidiary SOFEC as dominant players in the high-barrier-to-entry FLNG mooring market. For Mozambique, securing long-lead engineering items like the turret mooring system reduces project execution risk and keeps the Coral Norte development on track for a Final Investment Decision (FID). The deployment of a second FLNG vessel in Area 4 will significantly boost Mozambique's state revenues and establish the country as a major global LNG exporter, providing much-needed supply diversification for European and Asian gas buyers.

What to Watch

The next major milestones to watch are the formal Final Investment Decision (FID) by Eni and its Area 4 partners, followed by the fabrication timeline of the turret system at SOFEC's selected shipyard. Industry observers will also monitor the integration schedule of the mooring system with the FLNG hull, aiming for a projected project startup toward the late 2020s.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the function of a SOFEC internal turret mooring system for an FLNG?: The SOFEC internal turret mooring system permanently anchors the FLNG vessel to the seabed while allowing it to rotate 360 degrees, or 'weathervane', in response to winds, waves, and currents. This rotation minimizes the environmental forces acting on the vessel, ensuring safe and continuous LNG production and offloading operations in deepwater environments.
How does Coral Norte compare to the existing Coral Sul project?: Coral Norte is designed as a fast-track replication of the Coral Sul FLNG, utilizing a similar capacity of approximately 3.4 million tonnes of LNG per year. By replicating the design and utilizing established technology providers like MODEC, the operators aim to lower engineering costs, reduce project risks, and accelerate the timeline to first gas.
Why is Eni opting for floating LNG (FLNG) instead of onshore terminals in Mozambique?: Floating LNG allows Eni and its partners to monetize offshore gas fields quickly without the massive capital expenditure and geopolitical risks associated with onshore liquefaction plants. Onshore projects in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province have faced severe delays due to regional security threats, making offshore FLNG a much safer and more reliable development concept.

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