Malaysian offshore vessel owner Keyfield International has ordered a new anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel from China’s Jiangsu Shunhong Marine Technology.
The shipbuilding contract, worth RM70.7m ($18m), was signed through Keyfield’s subsidiary, Keyfield Resolute, on Wednesday.
The contract entails the construction of a new diesel-electric DP2 AHTS. It will be used to handle anchors and tow offshore oil and gas rigs, as part of the company’s strategy to expand capacity and support future charter opportunities.
“The new DP2 AHTS is part of our strategy to allocate more resources and increase exposure to AHTS while maintaining our core strength in accommodation workboats as we expand our international charters, especially in the Middle East,” Keyfield said.
The Malaysian company’s existing AHTS fleet is largely committed to long-term charters. The new vessel will increase its capacity and enable Keyfield to pursue new tenders and spot charter opportunities without affecting existing commitments.
The shipbuilding deal will be funded through a combination of internal cash and unutilised proceeds of approximately RM45m ($11.4m).
