Many Chinese shipyards have decisively entered the offshore arena with its intense demand for offshore drilling units and FPSO facilities.

DNV’s credentials have helped it achieve classication services currently for 13 newbuilding offshore projects in China. Another three projects have been completed and delivered to owners. The assignments underway encompass a sophisticated and diverse project list of which all participants can be justiably proud.

As an example, COSCO Dalian Shipyard on July 7, 2007, conducted the keel laying ceremony for the MPF-1000 FDPSO, which stands for Floating, Drilling, Production, Storage and Ofoading Unit. As the name indicates, this complex DNV-classed offshore unit will combine drilling, production and storage facilities and be used in ultra-deep waters.

The market has taken notice of this as a major leap forward for COSCO as it demonstrates its growing capability to service the buoyant offshore oil and gas industry. The FDPSO contract was secured in September 2006 and is touted as the largest and most versatile drill ship ever built. Delivery is early 2008 and MPF has the option of ordering a second FDPSO from COS, possibly at a higher value due to additional engineering content.

Earlier this year, Bjorn K. Haugland held a formal meeting with the President of COSCO Shipyard Group Mr Wang, Xing Ru and both parties have agreed to further actively extend the cooperation in offshore newbuildings under a strategic cooperation framework agreement. COSCO Shipyard Group is a key partner for DNV with projects at three different COSCO Shipyard Group facilities. MARACC is constructing a GM4000 semi-submersible well intervention vessel at COSCO Zhoushan.

In addition to this offshore unit, DNV is also classing a semi-submersible drilling unit that Sevan Marine has contracted at COSCO Nantong. The two-phase Sevan contract is for a drilling unit based on the Sevan 650 design. The rst phase, hull construction, is expected to be completed by the rst quarter of 2008. Phase two involves assembling and outtting the drilling unit and the whole project is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2008.

The Sevan rig, with oil storage pacity of 150,000 barrels, will be able to drill wells up to 12,000 metres deep at water depths of up to 3,000 metres. It will be deployed by Petrobras in the Gulf of Mexico. COSCO Shipyard Group is a long-established leader in ship repair and conversion.

COSCO Shipyard Group has shipyards strategically located in the most important sites along China’s coast line, and these include: Nantong, Dalian, Zhoushan, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen, In preparation for its new offshore rig-building focus, COSCO Shipyard Group has been hiring experienced technical staff with offshore marine engineering experience.

COSCO Zhoushan is by far the largest of all the yards, but there are strengthening efforts underway in all the facilities. By mid 2007, the group’s total docking capacity is set to increase by 26% to 1.73 million dwt and the yards are set to engage in a wide range of projects, such as a series of single hull Suezmax tanker conversions to heavylift vessels at COSCO Nantong.

The next several years should see excitin offshore developments at COSCO Shipyard Group in terms of new projects and enhanced offshore engineering facilities and capabilities.

Contact DNV in Greater China to receive your own copy of the DNV Greater China Update 2007 issue 2 in the mail.