Offshore staff

SINGAPORE -- Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd. subsidiary Keppel Singmarine Pte. Ltd. has secured four contracts totaling $230 million to build six offshore support vessels (OSV) and a derrick pipelay vessel.

Delivery dates for the vessels are expected between the second half of 2009 and the first half of 2010.

This is the first time that Keppel Singmarine is building a derrick pipelay vessel, and for a new customer, Global Offshore International Ltd.

"Derrick pipelay vessels are highly specialized ships that have to be tailor-made to owners' requirements," says Hoe Eng Hock, executive director of Keppel Singmarine. "We are glad that Global Offshore recognizes Keppel Singmarine's versatility and expertise in building all types of vessels in accordance with owners' specifications."

The 163-m (535-ft) derrick pipelay vessel is a multi-purpose construction vessel to be equipped with two 4500 KW electric propulsion thrusters, six positioning thrusters, a 1,200-metric-ton (1,323-ton) crane and pipelay equipment capable of operating in water depths of 3,000 m (9,842 ft) and handling pipes of 60 in. (152 cm) in diameter. The equipment will be supplied by the owner.

The second contract is for another first-time customer, Greatship Global Offshore Services Pte. Ltd., covers construction of two 94-m (308-ft), 4,600 dwt, platform supply vessels (PSVs). The PSVs will be equipped with diesel electric propulsion and DP dynamic positioning systems.

Keppel signed the third contract with repeat customer Hadi H. Al-Hamman Establishment to build two 60-metric-ton (66-ton) bollard-pull anchor handling tug/supply (AHTS) vessels with DP-2 dynamic positioning systems for the Middle East. Hadi has placed 16 vessels with Keppel Singmarine since 2001, the company says.

The fourth contract is for another repeat customer, LukOil-Kaliningradmorneft, which has contracted Keppel Singmarine to build two ice-class multi-purpose standby and rescue vessels for the Caspian Sea.

Keppel Singmarine has secured contracts for over 50 OSVs since targeting the specialized vessels niche in 2002, the company says.

7/23/2007