Shanghai: To meet the needs and support the growth of offshore newbuilding work in China, DNV is committing extensive resources and moving its Asia head office from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Shanghai, China.
"During the past few years, China has made its presence felt in the offshore fabrication arena. In recognition of the growth of the onshore and offshore oil and gas sector,, we are moving DNV Energy’s regional management for Asia and the Middle East to Shanghai as of 1 March 2008," said Einar Tore Moe, Director of Operations, DNV Energy Asia and Middle East.
With decades of offshore experience in the North Sea and world wide, and extensive offshore newbuilding projects in Korea and Singapore, DNV is a leading society within this segment, with more than 40% of the world market for drilling-rig, semi-submersible and FPSO newbuildings and conversions now classed by DNV.
Bjørn K Haugland, Vice President and Regional Manager of DNV Greater China, added, "It is important to recognize the offshore expertise available in DNV’s technical service centre in Shanghai to support the Chinese industry. The new CCS-DNV Technology Institute that we recently opened in Shanghai is another commitment to supporting the shipping and offshore industries in China.”
At present, DNV has 15 offshore projects currently in hand.
One of the recent landmark offshore projects was the delivery from Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd of the world's biggest floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to ConocoPhillips on 30 April 2007. The hull and mooring system have been built according to DNV offshore standards.
Tee Yak Peik, the country manager for DNV Energy China, noted, "With such widespread and multi-task activities conducted over eighteen months, the result demonstrates Shanghai Waigaoqiao's strong credentials in the offshore engineering industry."
Valued at USD 230m and built in Waigaoqiao's big dry dock, this ship is the largest of its type in the world and the most expensive ship China has ever built.
DNV is also classing a number of projects for Cosco Shipyard, including the Floating, Drilling, Production, Storage and Offloading Unit (FDPSO), which is the largest and most versatile drill ship ever built. In addition, MARACC is going to have a GM4000 semi-submersible well intervention vessel built by COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard, and the new Sevan Marine’s cylindrical-shaped drilling unit is being built by Cosco Nantong.