Keppel wins MCS ice class contract

The vessel will be built to the design of Keppel’s ship design and development arm and will be completed in mid-2017. Designed to operate in ambient temperature as low as -30°C, the vessel will have an Ice Class Arc 5 notation and capabilities including Class 3 dynamic positioning and diving support functions.

Keppel Singmarine claims to be the first Asian company to build icebreakers, in 2006. It has built seven ice-class vessels in total for the Arctic and Caspian regions and currently has three more on order, in addition to the MCS contract.

Knut Reinertz, director of Maritime Construction Services said: “There is a demand for modern ice-class multi-purpose vessels in the market and we believe this new state-of-the art vessel is ideally suited to meet this need.

“We are able to leverage our experience as operators and charterers, together with Keppel Singmarine’s expertise and track record in the design and construction of ice-class vessels, to expand our service offerings with this kind of specialised vessel.”