Blog
What’s in a name? The story behind PYXIS
More data does not guarantee better direction Engineering software often acquires names that mean very little beyond the development team. With PYXIS, however, the name
On-Station Repairs: Fresh Water Tank Repairs
Why Atmospheric Control Matters Coating refurbishment work inside tanks often depends on one factor more than any other: atmospheric control. During an ongoing freshwater tank
Beyond The Technical Limit: The Tellers of Stories that Compel
The Demise of Storytelling I joined the MTL team earlier this year amidst a flurry of onboarding activity and a brimming sense of a company
Why we Use Plasma Cutting and Gouging Processes
When carrying out repair and modification work in tanks and other confined spaces, the choice of cutting and gouging method is about much more than
Ten Years, One Purpose: Protecting Life, Environment and Assets
Ten years at Marine Technical Limits Ten years ago, while celebrating the completion of my final year project presentation at the University of Strathclyde, I
Our Corinthian spirit
Professional in capability. Corinthian in spirit. As a lifelong and passionate sailor, the idea of the Corinthian spirit has always meant something to me. In
MTL Nostalgia: From Six Months to Six Weeks on the Triton FPSO
Rethinking the delivery of work In 2014, a mature FPSO faced a familiar challenge: the necessity of cargo tank inspections while anticipating the long periods
PYXIS in Practice: Live Demonstration at Future Oil & Gas
A Meeting of Minds in Aberdeen MTL recently attended the Future Oil & Gas conference at Ardoe House in Aberdeen, where we had the opportunity
The Completion of Irina’s MTL Student Placement
Recently on the MTL blog, we featured the long-standing history and ethos of our successful student placements. Featuring our four talented students currently working as
Specialist Hot Works: Cutting & Welding
Training our team to understand our work. Last week, five of our staff and students took part in a hands-on workshop exploring the hot work
MTL’s Ethos: Student Placements
Investing in the next generation of engineering talent Since 2012, student placements have been a core part of how Marine Technical Limits (MTL) has grown
Enabling Safe UAV Inspection of Methanol Fuel Tanks
How MTL Supported a first-of-a-kind inspection of an inerted tank with unmanned aerial vehicles As our client explored the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
From Deck to Tank: Managing Fall Risk at the Hatch
Confined space work on FPSOs often focuses on what happens inside the tank. Yet one of the most safety‑critical moments occurs before any internal work
Replacing the Irreplaceable: Rebuilding a Cargo Pipestack on an On-Station FPSO
Some projects arrive with obvious drama. Others begin almost unnoticed. In 2019, this one started with vibration. The asset was an on‑station FPSO, still producing,
From “Low Risk” to Real Crack: An FPSO Repair Story
Some integrity project managers are lucky and never have a moment like this. An inspection report lands in your inbox. You scan it quickly, then
Major Coating Projects
In the paper I authored for the RINA International Journal of Maritime Engineering (IJME), I set out to explain the real challenges and considerations involved
Investing in Excellence: MTL Naval Architects Deepen Expertise in Structural Design
At MTL, we believe that maintaining the highest standards of engineering requires a commitment to continuous learning. Recently, our Naval Architect team had the privilege
Celebrating our 2025 Placement Students
From the very beginning, they approached their time with curiosity and commitment. Over the course of the placement, they gained hands-on experience across a range
Hatch Milling Trail
Last week at MTL, our team set up our bespoke hydraulic hatch milling equipment for a series of functional checks ahead of an upcoming offshore
Tank Lighting: Low vs Extra Low Voltage
When working in confined spaces offshore, safety is of the utmost importance. Lighting plays a crucial role, not only in ensuring visibility but also in
FPSO Tank Ventilation – Air Change Rate
While building regulations worldwide are quite prescriptive when considering the volume of ventilation required for different spaces, there is a distinct lack of guidance for
Resolve to Manage Hull Structural Integrity
Happy New Year to all from the team at Marine Technical Limits (MTL). This time of year starts for many with New Years resolutions, as
The Confined Space Entry Paradox
There is no environment more hostile to life than space. Why then, do NASA continue to train and send people into space? Quite simply, because
Benefits of a Risk-Based SIM Strategy
Risk-Based Structural Integrity Management (SIM) Strategies represent an important development in the safe and efficient management of FPSO hull structural integrity. In recent times, Marine
Hotwork Repairs in Cargo Tanks
8th April is the day we remember the fire which occurred during hotwork repairs in a cargo tank of MV Kometik, one of the shuttle
FPSO Integrity Management – Let’s Not Forget the Fundamentals!
The last 12 months have seen challenges posed to our world and lives which few of us could have imagined. The world of Floating Production
FPSO Cargo Tank Entry Doesn’t Have to be Dangerous
In the context of the recent fatal accident on the an FPSO in West Africa where 2 workers lost their lives whilst working in an
FPSO Tank Work – One Team for Success
For the previous 15 years, Marine Technical Limits has managed teams of 3 to 30 people working inside the hull spaces, cargo tanks and ballast
Spreadsheets Are Not Databases!
Comment by Calum MacLean In recent days the newspapers in the United Kingdom (UK) have been dominated by the story of Public Health England (PHE) and
End2End Service – The Way of Working
In the current economic climate, and with a reduction in the price of oil, the energy sector is having to consider how it works with
MTL Software Enables Clients to Better Understand Risk
The oil and gas sector is a resilient industry. We have had times where oil price has dropped well below what was expected and we
Droning On!
The use of drones for the inspection of hard to access locations in FPSO tanks is now well established, and MTL are working with our
Water Backed Welding
Extensive research and in-house trials MTL’s extensive research and in-house trials to better understand water backed welding. AS AN FPSO AGES, an increasing number of defects
