KUALA LUMPUR: Kleven Verft, the largest Norwegian-owned shipyard group, has secured its first new building contract from a Malaysian-based client.
Under the agreement, the Norwegian yard group is to build a multi-purpose support vessel (MPSV) for Labuan-based joint-venture company, IES Pioneer Ltd.
The MT 6105 MPSV concept, developed by Norwegian design company, Marin Teknikk, is due for delivery in September this year.
In a statement, Kleven said the contract with IES Pioneer includes an option for a second vessel to be delivered in 2016. However, no financial terms were disclosed.
Noting that the company is pleased to announce its first vessel construction contract with a client from Southeast Asia, Klaven chief executive Stale Rasmussen said this showed that the company is competitive worldwide, based on its quality, punctuality and price.
Asked to comment on the deal, Kleven communications manager Ellen C. Kvalsund said it is significant and an interesting market for Kleven as it marks the company’s first new building contract with a Southeast Asia-based client.
“This is an interesting market for us as activity (in this region) is high and with a large number of companies involved.
“Our current customer base holds mainly Norwegian-based owners,” Kvalsund said.
Asked whether Kleven expects to get more orders from clients in Malaysia or Southeast Asia, Kvalsund said the company believes the extensive experience that it has in building high-end offshore vessels for harsh weather conditions in the North Sea is beneficial for customers wanting to build vessels for ultra-deep fields off Asia and the Middle East.
“We have a solid order book of 7.5 billion kroners (RM3.82 billion), but we are always working hard to ensure new contracts, also in new markets,” she said.
On the MPSV ordered by IES Pioneer, it will feature a 150-tonne heave compensated crane, accommodation for 60 persons, a helideck, FiFi II capabilities as well as provisions for remotely-operated vessel operations. FiFi II means that the vessel needs to be equipped with a minimum of two fire monitors that are able to throw water at least 180m from the vessel and to a height of at least 110m.
Kleven said it expects the vessel to be contracted for work in newly-discovered ultra deep-water hydrocarbon fields in Asia and the Middle East.
“The multipurpose and highly versatile vessel has a proven design and track record in the harsh North Sea environment,” it said.
This latest order from IES Pioneer takes Kleven’s order backlog to 14 vessels, which are worth over 8 billion kroners in total.
KAMARUL YUNUS
KAMARUL YUNUS