Angolan Shipyard Holds Naming Ceremony for FPSO CLOV

One recent landmark event and one milestone event today are propelling Angolan shipyard, Paenal to star alongside other players on the world shipyard stage. Since July of this year when the inauguration of Jamba, the yard’s Heavy Lift Crane (HLC) 2500t took place, Paenal can boast to be the first and only fully fledged fabrication and integration yard in Africa. With the successful first module lifting onto the recently arrived FPSO CLOV, the young yard confirmed her capabilities.

On the 5th December 2013 Paenal yard will bask in the limelight thanks to Total who is hosting the naming ceremony of FPSO CLOV there. The event coincides with the leading oil company’s 60th Anniversary in Angola celebrations. Many important key players of the Angolan Government, the National Oil Company and the Oil and Gas industry are expected to attend this important event and they will no doubt acknowledge the importance of this ideally located yard to the industry. Invited by Total to this momentous occasion, CEO of Sonangol, Dr Francisco de Lemos José Maria, CEO of SBM Offshore, Bruno Chabas and CEO of DSME, Mr. Jaeho Ko will attend.

The yard is becoming a thriving hub and its importance to the region and the Angolan communities who benefit from its growth is clear. This was the objective of Sonangol and Dutch oil service provider SBM Offshore back in 2008, when they began collaborating to realize their common vision to create a state of the art offshore fabrication and Integration yard in Angola. South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering joined the ranks in 2010. All partners wanted to demonstrate what could be possible in terms of Angolan content in offshore projects – with Total’s engagement this has been achieved.

When the vessel CLOV pulled up quayside in Porto Amboim Estaleiros Navais (Paenal) November 8th it not only represented the successful completion of her 18,520km voyage from DSME shipyard in South Korea, it also set a record for Paenal and Africa by being the first FPSO to berth at an African quayside.

Mid November, module M122, weighing 1,836 tons – which was fabricated at the Paenal yard – was lifted on board the FPSO CLOV by the HLC Jamba. This successful operation made the record books as the first ever topside module integration performed in Africa.

The HLC combined with Paenal’s 490 metres of purpose – built quayside, means the yard is now fully commissioned and can accommodate the installation of topsides into mega FPSOs. Paenal represents an important part in the next chapter of sustainable growth for Angola. This ground-breaking venture will strengthen Angola’s ability to support its offshore oil and gas sector and generate prosperity for its people.

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SBM Offshore, December 5, 2013