Keppel Shipyard Delivers to Repeat Customer

Olatunde Emmanuel Odusina (3rd from left), Minister of State for Energy (Gas), Nigeria, and representatives from AFREN Nigeria, Bumi Armada Berhad, AMNI and Keppel, launching the sail-away of Armada Perkasa.

Keppel Shipyard Ltd has completed the upgrade and modification of FPSO Armada Perkasa for repeat customer Bumi Armada. A ceremony was held for the sail–away of the vessel for its deployment in the Okoro Setu Fields, Nigeria.

Olatunde Emmanuel Odusina, Minister of State for Energy (Gas), Nigeria was in attendance. Keppel Shipyard’s affiliation with Bumi Armada goes back into the last decade when it first converted the FPSO Armada Perkasa in 1997 for operation in the PM3 field, Malaysia.

The vessel subsequently returned for refurbishment, life extension and repair prior to its current upgrade. This upgrade includes installation of additional field equipment and modification of FPSO and shipboard systems. Bumi Armada Berhad is one of the largest owners and operators of offshore support vessels in Malaysia. The “Steel on Water” program of 20 new build vessels in the next two years has recently seen the launch of Armada Tuah 25 in November 2007, which will be followed by the Armada 101 in December 2007. The Armada Tuah 25 is a 59 metre long Offshore Anchor Handling Support Vessel with 5,000 bph. The Armada Tuah 101 is a 65 metre 9000 bhp DP21 Offshore Support Anchor Handler