Six yards vie for $1.2 billion Wisting contracts

摘要

TWO Norwegian yards are preparing to fight for a Nkr 5 billion ($570 million) contract to fabricate the topsides for Equinor's Wisting floating production unit off Norway, while four yards in Singapore and South Korea are targeting a Nkr 6 billion contract to build the vessel's hull. In Norway, Aker Solutions and Aibel have already been awarded study contracts for the topsides and integration of the modules into the preferred floating production, storage and offloading vessel concept, which is a Sevan SSP circular design. Sources told Upstream that Aker would likely construct modules and equipment at its Norwegian yards at Stord, Sandnessjoen, Vaerdal and Egersund, with main activity and assembly at Stord. The company recently built a new deep-water quay that is said to be well equipped to handle large FPSOs with cylindrical hulls. If Aibel wins, it is expected to construct most modules at its yard in Haugesund, but some will also be built in Thailand. For the hull, Upstream learned that Equinor in mid-2020 issued a request for interest letter to Semb-Corp Marine and KeppelFels in Singapore and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering and Samsung Heavy Industries in Korea. One source also suggested that two Chinese yards have been contacted.