Keppel to overhaul Brazil shipyard for offshore use

Published: Apr 14, 2010

Offshore staff

SINGAPORE -- Navegantes Maritime Construction and Services, a subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine, has entered into an agreement with Brazil’s TWB Group to acquire the Estaleiro TWB shipyard in Navegantes, 110 km (68.3 mi) north of Florianoplolis in Santa Catarina.

The 7.6-ha (18.8-acre) shipyard, to be named Keppel Singmarine Brasil, will include a 300-m (984-ft) long waterfront. Keppel O&M’s total investment in the facility, including an upgrade program, will be around US$50 million.

Focus of construction for the new yard will be offshore support vessels, i.e. anchorhandlers, platform supply and oil recovery support vessels. However, the yard will also be equipped to fabricate offshore modules, to support execution of major projects at the Keppel’s BrasFELS yard.

Planned modernization work will include upgrading the existing slipway, and constructing a new slipway, a wharf, heavy lift gantry cranes and pipe and hull shops fitted with modern machinery and equipment.

Keppel’s new yard is expected to be operational by the second half of this year. At full capacity, it should be able to complete an average of eight vessels per year.