KUCHING: Eversendai Corporation Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary Eversendai Offshore RMC FZE (Eversendai Offshore) has recently completed the keel laying for two units of self-propelled jack-up liftboats.
The company in a statement yesterday said this signifies the formal recognition for the start of vessels’ construction even though fabrication of the modules may have commenced months before.
Eversendai Offshore said its vessels are largely built in a series of pre-fabricated complete hull sections rather than being built around a single keel.
Meanwhile, the company noted the event recognised as “keel laying” is the first joining of modular components, or the lowering of the first module into place in the building dock.
Eversendai Offshore revealed that the dual keel laying ceremony was held at its waterfront yard facility in RAK Maritime City, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
The ceremony marked the second major milestone for the two newly built self-propelled jack-ups, respectively named ‘Aryan’ and ‘Arjun’ and scheduled for delivery in 2016 after the premier steel-cutting ceremony in October 2014.
Eversendai Group’s executive chairman and group managing director, Tan Sri AK Nathan said: “We are pleased to note our progress in executing this project as it substantiates our decision to venture into the oil and gas (O&G), petrochemical and process plant construction sectors.
“We look forward to successfully completing this project whilst boosting our efforts and simultaneously intensifying our presence in O&G industry.”
He also said: “We are positive that all our efforts and initiatives that have been set in place would lead to more opportunities for the group to secure new contracts on a global scale.
“We anticipate our foray into this sector to be a significant contributor to Eversendai Group’s earnings in time to come.”
In the meantime, Eversendai Offshore’s senior management as well as representatives from the international classification society, DNV-GL were present to witness the keel laying of both jack-ups.
The company added the self-propelled jack-ups will each consist of a rectangular hull and four 95 metre truss type legs, each with an electric driven rack and pinion jacking system, which will allow the unit to jack up in water depths of up to a maximum of 70 metres.
Eversendai Offshore noted the liftboat’s primary operating capabilities will include a 300-tonne crane, dynamic positioning (DP-2) system, accommodation for a minimum of 150 personnel and is propelled by its own thrusters to a speed of five knots.