Keppel to Revamp Castorone Pipe Laying Vessel

Keppel Offshore & Marine has secured a contract to carry out upgrading work to the pipelay vessel, Castorone, for Saipem Offshore Norway (Saipem).

Keppel Shipyard previously undertook the completion and integration works for the newbuild Castorone in 2011.

Keppel Shipyard’s job scope includes the replacement of switchboards to improve the vessel’s power distribution systems, renewal works on 45 kilometres of electrical cables, various pipelay system upgrades as well as the construction of new water ballast tanks and conversion of old ones into fuel oil tanks to optimise the vessel’s capabilities.

Already berthed at Keppel Shipyard, upgrading work for Castorone is scheduled to be completed in 3Q 2016.

In addition, Keppel Shipyard secured a deal with BW Catcher for the installation and integration of topside modules for a newbuild Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The third contract is from SOFEC to fabricate an internal turret mooring system for a floating storage and offloading vessel that will operate in Maersk Oil’s Culzean Field in UK’s section of the North Sea. Fabrication of the turret is expected to be completed in 3Q 2017.

The fourth contract is from Woodside for the modification and upgrading of the FPSO vessel Ngujima-Yin to support the Greater Enfield Project. The shipyard’s job scope includes marine and hull life extension and refurbishment works.

All four contracts are worth a total of about S$120 million.

Michael Chia, managing director (Marine & Technology) of Keppel O&M, said: “We are pleased to secure new orders from long-time customers who continue to entrust their projects with us, whether it is for turret fabrication or vessel upgrades. Leveraging our comprehensive range of marine services, proven execution excellence and experience, we continue to be the trusted and preferred partner in the industry, providing cost-effective and robust solutions.”