Ro-pax ship to be converted for offshore use

To be named ARV3, the vessel is expected to arrive in the shipyard in January 2012 for the conversion and modification works. The completed ARV3 will be a diesel-electric DP2 high specification vessel, designed and equipped to provide extensive accommodation and workshop facilities to support and service offshore facilities and projects in deep water areas. ARV 3 will have facilities to house a complement of 450 persons.

Upon completion in the fourth quarter of 2012, the ship is scheduled to be deployed to support offshore works in Brazil for five years under charter to Petrobras.

Ong Poh Kwee, managing director of Sembawang Shipyard said “We are very pleased to be chosen by Equinox Offshore Accommodation for this important project. We believe that with our combined expertise, we will deliver a high quality and sophisticated offshore vessel to meet the stringent requirements of Petrobas, Brazil. This award further reaffirms Sembawang Shipyard’s market leadership in the passenger-ships and specialised dynamic positioning offshore conversion market. We thank Owners for their trust and confidence in our shipyard and look forward to a long-term collaborative partnership to deliver mutual benefits and value propositions to both our companies.”

Petter Hoie, CEO of Equinox Offshore Accommodation, said “Sembawang Shipyard is our valued partner in Singapore for our offshore and conversion work and has strongly supported us since our inception. The shipyard has clearly demonstrated its strong track record in handling sophisticated offshore work especially vessels equipped with dynamic positioning capabilities and passenger-ships conversion and upgrading. We are confident that the ARV3 will be the state-of-the-art DP2 accommodation repair vessel, serving the offshore needs of our valued customer, Petrobas, Brazil.”