Angolan yard scores African offshore ‘first’

The vessel concerned is Total's FPSO CLOV, which was constructed at DSME in Korea and then sailed to Angola for integration of her topsides. She became the first ever FPSO to berth in Africa upon her arrival at Paenal in early November.

Successful lift of 1,836t Paenal-built topside module M122 by the yard's 2,500t heavy lift crane took place in late November, ahead of a special ceremony held today at the yard to mark the achievement and the 60th anniversary of Total operations in Angola. The event was attended by the ceos of the yard's three partner companies: DSME's Jaeho Ko, Sonangol's Francisco de Lemos José Maria and SBM Offshore's Bruno Chabas.

Paenal is now, after a five-year start-up process, fully commissioned and the first facility in Africa capable of accommodating the installation of topsides into mega FPSOs, according to SBM Offshore.