UK equipment for China-built, UAE-owned anchor handlers

China’s Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group has ordered a package of power and propulsion equipment and deck machinery from UK’s Rolls-Royce.

Under the agreement, the UK-based company will equip nine SPA80A Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessels to be designed and built by Sinopacific Shipbuilding Group and owned and operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, ESNAAD.

Each ship will have a bollard pull of 80 metric tonnes, and be equipped with Bergen diesel engines, main and tunnel thrusters, electrical power system and a deck machinery package from Rolls-Royce.

Jiang Qiang, Chief Executive Officer of Sinopacific said: “The visit of Rolls-Royce senior executives to Sinopacific in 2013 reinforced the relationship between our two companies as did the provision of Rolls-Royce integrated equipment packages for Sinopacific’s in-house designed SPA150 AHTS series. This was a first for Rolls-Royce in the Chinese market.”

“The Rolls-Royce Chinese team has provided us with great support by staying close, enhancing communications and giving us confidence for future cooperation. Sinopacific aims to work closely with our strategic partners, such as Rolls-Royce, presenting the best products and services for our ship owners while strengthening our leadership in the most demanding markets.”

Richard Wang, Rolls-Royce, Senior Vice President Commercial – Marine said: “This is a significant contract. It demonstrates our market leading capabilities in a wide range of offshore marine products, and our ability to combine them in a way that creates real value for our customers.”

“We look forward to working with and continuing a profitable and long-lasting relationship with Sinopacific.”
The vessels will be built at Sinopacific’s Zhejiang Shipyard and the first vessel is due for delivery in 2017.