Keppel Shipyard to deliver one of Vietnam's largest FPSOs

Offshore vessels owner and operator EMAS Production will take delivery of one of Vietnam's largest floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels from Keppel Shipyard, on behalf of owner PV Keez, Seatrade-asia reports. The vessel is on track for delivery in the second quarter of this year, and is expected to begin production in July. FPSO Lewek EMAS has been chartered by Premier Oil Vietnam Offshore B.V. for the development of the Chim Sáo field off southern Vietnam for six years, with a further option to extend the charter by another six years. Lionel Lee, group managing director of EMAS, said: “Lewek EMAS is our second FPSO project with Keppel Shipyard with whom we have established a win-win partnership.” The FPSO charter contract is one of only seven signed worldwide in 2009, and is worth approximately $1 billion, according to Keppel Corporation. The project to convert the 168,000 dwt suezmax tanker into an FPSO was awarded to Keppel Shipyard in December 2009. The owner PV Keez is a joint venture between Ezra Holdings, PetroVietnam Transportation Corporation, EOC Limited and KSI Production.