Keppel Shipyard Secures Conversion Contracts Worth $160 Million

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Keppel Shipyard Limited (Keppel Shipyard) has secured two contracts totaling $160 million to convert a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel for Single Buoy Moorings Inc (SBM), and a livestock carrier for an affiliated company of Hijazi & Ghosheh Co.

Mr Nelson Yeo, Managing Director of Keppel Shipyard, said, "We are delighted to be awarded our 15th project from SBM, on the back of the recent successful deliveries of P-57, the BP Skarv Turret and FPSO Capixaba. Hijazi & Ghosheh Co, a major livestock carrier owner and operator has also returned to us to convert a second livestock carrier.

“These contracts demonstrate the strong partnerships we have established with our valued customers over the years.”

Keppel Shipyard’s latest project from SBM is for the conversion of the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC), M/T Bauhinia, into an FPSO facility. The facility is being developed for the Block I oil field, Aseng, located offshore of Equatorial Guinea.

Work on the FPSO is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2010 and completed in the third quarter of 2011. The scope includes refurbishment and life extension works, accommodation block extensions, the fabrication and installation of a flare tower, an internal turret and topside module supports, as well as the installation and integration of topside modules.

Mr Tony Mace, Chief Executive Officer of SBM Offshore said, “Having worked with Keppel Shipyard since 2001, we remain impressed with their ability to deliver projects safely and to our satisfaction. This is true of the three recently delivered projects, and I am confident that this FPSO will match the same high standards.”

Additionally, Keppel Shipyard secured a second contract to convert a vehicle carrier, Merlion Ace, into a livestock carrier for Merlion Ace Compania Naviera S.A, an affiliate of Hijazi & Ghosheh Co., a world leading livestock carrier owner and operator. The work scope includes design engineering, procurement of major equipment, modification of ship structural, piping and electrical systems.

To be renamed Ghena, the vessel is targeted for completion in the third quarter of 2010, and will ply the route between Australia and the Middle East.

Mr Issam Hijazi, President of Hijazi & Ghosheh Group, said, “We are glad to be working with Keppel Shipyard again following the conversion of the Maysora livestock carrier in 2001. We had a rewarding experience with the team who has lived up to the reliability and exceptional service that Keppel Shipyard is well-regarded for. We look forward to another outstanding job on the Ghena livestock carrier, and more projects together.”

SBM deliveries
Keppel Shipyard has completed 13 projects for SBM since 2001. It most recently delivered the P-57 FPSO, FPSO Capixaba and an internal turret for the Skarv FPSO project.

FPSO Capixaba was delivered on 10 February 2010, nine days ahead of schedule. The vessel was modified and upgraded for operation in the Cachalote field in offshore Brazil. FPSO P-57, which was delivered in the same month underwent hull and marine conversion in Singapore and will have its remaining work of topsides installation and integration completed at Keppel Offshore & Marine’s BrasFELS yard in Brazil.

On 23 February 2010, Keppel Shipyard successfully loaded-out the final two components of the Skarv internal turret, consisting of the manifold deck and gantry structure. The lower turret and upper turret structures were delivered and loaded out in at end-2009. They will be integrated into the FPSO currently being built in Korea. The internal turret, the largest in the world in terms of its rated mooring loads is being supplied by SBM to their client for its Skarv FPSO unit, which will operate offshore Norway once completed.

All three projects were completed without any lost-time incident (LTI).

Keppel Shipyard is presently converting another major project, FPSO Okha, for SBM at its Tuas yard.

Keppel Shipyard is a wholly owned subsidiary of Keppel Corporation, through Keppel O&M, a leader in offshore rigs, ship repair and conversion and specialised shipbuilding. Keppel O&M’s near market, near customer strategy is bolstered by a global network of 20 yards and offices in the Asia Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, the Caspian Sea, Middle East and the North Sea regions. Integrating the experience and expertise of its yards worldwide, the group aims to be the provider of choice and partner for solutions for the offshore and marine industry.

The two contracts are not expected to have any material impact on the net tangible assets and earnings per share of Keppel Corporation Limited for the current financial year.