Keppel Shipyard Completes $10 Million Conversion for Cattle Carrier

Keppel Shipyard, a major operating division of Keppel Corporation Limited, has successfully converted Friesian Express, a refrigerated cargo vessel, to a cattle carrier.

Awarded by Vroon BV Livestock Express Inc. of the Netherlands, the contract is worth about S$10 million. With the conversion, the 3,335 dwt vessel is now equipped to transport about 1,780 cattle heads.

Significant work carried out by Keppel Shipyard included the fabrication and installation of various decks and deckhouses, steel platings and other fittings for the cattle enclosures, involving some 364 tonnes of steel. Among equipment installed were a bow thruster, a deck washing system and an automatic drinking system for the cattle, an extensive ventilation system, new cranes and a fresh water generator with the capacity of about 40 tonnes of fresh water a day.

On the conversion, Mr P W Vroon, Managing Director of Vroon BV, said, "Friesian Express is the latest in the line of conversions, lengthenings and newbuildings of cattle and sheep carriers in our fleet.

"The teams from Keppel and Vroon have combined their expertise in the conversion and the outcome is to our entire satisfaction. We believe we have set a new standard in the carriage of livestock with Friesian Express."

"Keppel, a specialist in this field, completed its first conversion of a livestock carrier back in 1973. Since then, we've had repeat and regular contracts for livestock carriers in our yards for repairs, modifications or conversions," said Mr Fong Ying Yew, General Manager (Commercial) of Keppel Shipyard.