Singapore: Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M) has ended 2008 with additional signed contracts worth S$200m through its wholly owned subsidiaries. The new orders include the upgrading and conversion of a Floating, Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel into a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading facility (FPSO; pictured) by Keppel Shipyard for Single Buoy Moorings, the building of two RAmpage 5500 Z-M offshore support tugs by Keppel Singmarine for Seaways International and the construction of three tugboats at Keppel Cebu Shipyard in the Philippines.
Work on the FPSO Okha is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2009 and will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2010. The facility is being developed for the Cossack Wanaea Lambert Hermes oil field 135km northwest of Karratha in Western Australia.
The two DP2 multi tasking Anchor Handling Tugs (AHT), each with 100-tonne bollard pull, are due for completion in the first half of 2011 and will be deployed in West Africa, Asia or the Middle East. This is a repeat order from Seaways. Keppel Singmarine is currently building a similar AHT for the same owner for delivery in end 2009.
The construction of the three tugboats - two for repeat customer Keppel Smit Towage and one for the Port of Salalah of Oman - is said to signify the further development of Keppel Cebu Shipyard as a specialised shipbuilding yard.
"The new orders are a creditable wrap-up for a year in which the second half has been ravaged by very negative financial and economic factors," said Tong Chong Heong, current md and coo of Keppel O&M and ceo designate. "The fundamentals of the industry remain sound even though the pipeline of projects has slowed down. There are still projects in the market but we would only take on those that are cashflow positive. This prudent approach protects our shareholders' interest as well as sustains us during this highly volatile period."
Commenting on Keppel O&M's plans for 2009, he said, "Our focus in the new year is to further strengthen our business fundamentals through excellent project execution, robust risk and governance management and pro-active technology development.
"Our strong balance sheet and healthy orderbook in excess of S$10bn give us the muscles to pursue our strategic goals of nurturing our people and seizing opportunities to develop new markets and technologies."
The contracts are not expected to have material impact on the net tangible assets and earnings per share of Keppel Corporation for the financial years 2008 and 2009. [29/12/08]
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