“We are looking for markets outside the region, especially for our FSIVs. Lately some of these vessels went to clients in Mexico, and other clients of ours have located these vessels in that region,” said Grandweld ceo, Jamal Abki, speaking to Seatrade Global today.
“Our goal is to create a new market for these vessels outside the Gulf. We feel our priority will be the Americas, and maybe Asia will be our next target,” Abki said. “We are examining the West Africa, Brazil and Gulf of Mexico markets in depth,” he said.
Grandweld completed delivery of four 42m Aluminum Crew Boats to Cotemar Mexico, as part of a contract signed in June 2013. It said the vessels were fitted with EPA Tier 3-compliant main engines and advanced navigation equipment and could exceed a speed of 26 knots.
“Each vessel can seat 100 offshore personnel, has a 100sqm loading area for over 90 tons of deck cargo, and can carry ample quantities of fuel and freshwater. The four vessels… will comply with the US Environmental Protection Agency requirements and US Coast Guard regulations,” the company said.
The Grandweld-built 42m crew boats can operate in several functions, and supply and security uses are creating increasing interest, Abki said. A number of the vessels had also operated in a security context to escort merchant shipping around the Horn of Africa to avoid attack by Somali pirates, he said.
Grandweld is able to provide ‘plug and play’ options for different clients. “This vessel has developed into a multi-mission crew boat. It can perform for cargo transport and supply as well as passengers. It can carry 100t of fuel. As an FSIV, it can deliver fuel, water and passengers in comfort,” Abki said.
He said 12 of the vessels were being built at Grandweld’s yard in Dubai today for a number of clients. Two Grandweld FSIVs operated by a Middle East-based client transferred under their own steam to offshore-Venezuela, Abki said. “We see a market [in the Gulf of Mexico] and we have the ideal product.”
Grandweld also recently delivered six Seismic Support Vessels to Bourbon, as well as six of its own-design maintenance vessels for Kuwait Oil Company, and two Diving Support Vessels for Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Two AHTS have also gone to Halul Offshore of Qatar.
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