Qianjin yard building SPO AHTSs

Swire Pacific Offshore Holdings (SPO), the wholly owned offshore service subsidiary of Hong Kong listed Swire Pacific Limited, has placed an order with Qianjin Shipyard in Qingdao, China, to build eight vessels at a price of $100 million.

According to the deal, Qianjin Shipyard will manufacture and deliver the eight 57 metre new P-class anchor handling tug supply vessels (AHTS) to Swire between 2010 and 2011. This will increase Swire’s total number of vessels to 86, which includes anchor handling tug supply boats, platform supply vessels, specialized hydro-graphic and seismic survey vessels and vessels for maintenance, dive and remotely operated vehicle support (ROV).

The plan awaits approval from shareholders. This is the first time SPO has placed an order with a mainland shipyard.