Keppel FELS wins IES Award for Rig Design
Keppel FELS Ltd’s (Keppel FELS) innovative and harsh environment accommodation semisubmersible design, DSS 20NS ,was conferred the IES Prestigious Engineering Achievement Award 2013 by the Institute of Engineers Singapore (IES) at the World Engineers Summit Gala Dinner and Award Presentation, held in Singapore on 13 September 2013.
Guest of Honour of the event, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, presented the award to Keppel FELS. This award recognizes Keppel FELS for the outstanding DSS 20NS accommodation semisubmersible design project, which it jointly undertook with its design partner GustoMSC.
A new generation, harsh environment rig, the DSS 20NS is designed to meet the most stringent rules and regulations for worldwide operations, including the Norwegian Sector of the North Sea. The first unit to be built to this design – Floatel Superior – was completed in 2010 for Floatel International Ltd (Floatel), and is presently operating for Statoil ASA in the North Sea.
With Floatel Superior turning out excellent performances, Floatel ordered a second DSS 20NS unit from Keppel FELS in 2012. The second unit is on track for completion in the second quarter of 2014.
Mr Aziz Merchant, ED (Engineering) of Keppel FELS, ED of Deepwater Technology Group and ED (Deepwater Technology) of Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology Center, who received the Award on behalf of Keppel FELS, shared, “This award is a great encouragement to our team’s continuous efforts to work with discerning customers and partners to develop leading edge, commercially-viable solutions.
“The DSS 20NS design incorporates some of Keppel’s tried-and-tested enhancements as well as the unique requirements of our customer and its markets. Floatel Superior’s strong performances on all her deployments bears testament to the strength of her design and construction.”
With Dynamic Positioning (DP) 3 capabilities, the DSS 20NS design can accommodate 440 persons in single bed cabins with ample recreation areas as well as office amenities. Well-equipped with a host of modern facilities, the vessel is ideal for construction support during new construction, maintenance activities or for decommissioning projects of offshore oil and gas installations.