S’pore firm orders four more ships from Colombo Dockyard

• Deal for two passenger cum cargo vessels for Indian customers to be signed next week

Colombo Dockyard yesterday penned contracts for the construction of four units of 78 m Multipurpose Platform Supply Vessels (MPSV) each with a 3,600 deadweight capacity for a Singapore based ship owner at an undisclosed price.

Details of the owner were not divulged due to an agreement of commercial confidentiality, with the owner.

 With the Offshore Support Vessel market on its way to a gradual recovery, the owner has made the right strategic move, taking steps to beef up their ship assets which will enable them to grab opportunities which will be forthcoming during a period of up-turn in the market, in the near future.       

The new orders are as a result of the owner’s extreme satisfaction of the shipyard, living beyond expectation of quality of material, workmanship and professionalism in executing the construction of the Two 130 tonne Bollard Pull Anchor Handling Tug Supply Vessels that are presently being built at Colombo Dockyard.

                           

These two anchor handlers were unfortunately slightly delayed in their deliveries, owing to an unprecedented delay in supply of large anchor handling winches, manufactured in China by a Norwegian/Singapore based supplier, but are now scheduled to be delivered in mid October and end November, 2011.  

Up to date, Colombo Dockyard has built four MPSVs in its facility and three more are under construction for another Singapore based company. As a result of the proven competence and experience, the shipyard has built up a strong international clientele, which is growing day by day, earning millions of foreign currency into the local economy and providing employment to thousands of Sri Lankan engineers and technicians.

Dockyard also announced that a deal to build two units of 400 passenger cum 250ton cargo vessels to Indian customers is scheduled to be signed before end of this month.

The latest additions to the Colombo Dockyard’s shipbuilding order book, will take the shipyard through the years 2012, 2013 and 2014 with an impressively heavy order book, especially considering the current global shipbuilding down-turn, which will undoubtedly make other shipyards in the region envious.

It was as early as in 2006 that the shipyard identified a niche in the market and positioned it self to respond to new opportunities, by building up capacity and sharpening skills and competencies to serve a very highly complex niche, in the market, engaging companies operating in the offshore oil field exploration and production domain. This strategic decision taken long years back has reaped benefits, with Colombo Dockyard now being sought after, as a preferred shipbuilder among major players in the industry.

These MPSVs are designed by Seatech Solutions International (S) Pte Ltd of Singapore and incorporates an oil recovery arrangement and operate as advanced PSVs as well as light construction support vessel, complying to SPS Code 2008 and Clean Design requirements of NKK, Dynamic Positioning, Fire Fighting Capability, Oil Recovery Capability, Capability to support ROV operations and these vessels shall be designed and built to accommodate  50T Active Heave Compensated Crane, an A-frame and heli-deck.

The vessel shall be designed, constructed and outfitted complying with the latest rules and regulations applicable to a vessel of this type and size. The plan approval and survey during construction will be performed Class NKK of Japan. This project will be yet another first for Colombo Dockyard and Sri Lankan Shipbuilding; i.e. the first NK Class vessel(s) built by Sri Lanka and Colombo Dockyard PLC, epitomising the ever growing relationship between Japan and Sri Lanka.