Keppel Shipyard Completes $70 Million Conversion Contract

Keppel Shipyard has successfully completed conversion of Cossack Pioneer from a tanker to a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility.

The 149,991 dwt Cossack Pioneer was delivered to its owners in a ceremony held at Keppel Tuas Yard in July 1995. Mrs Joanne Court, wife of the Honourable Richard Court, Premier of Western Australia, named the vessel. Among distinguished guests who witnessed the ceremony were the Honourable Richard Court and Mrs Irene Delofski, who attended the ceremony on behalf of Mr E F Delofski, the Australian High Commissioner.

The $70 million contract is the biggest and most complex FPSO conversion project undertaken by Keppel Shipyard to date. It involved the design, fabrication and installation of various marine, utility and storage systems and the installation of the rigid mooring system and the process system. Keppel also carried out the refurbishment of accommodation facilities onboard the vessel.

The project also set a new benchmark in Keppel's safety records. Last month, the Woodside Petroleum and Keppel Shipyard production teams achieved two million injury free manhours. Safety measures implemented during the conversion included regular safety audits and the setting up of a Safety Assessment Board to promote safety onboard the vessel.

"We were awarded the multimillion conversion contract by Woodside Petroleum based on our reputation in sophisticated conversions and clean safety records. It has been an enriching experience, working with a client who shares the same unwavering commitments to safety and quality. The successful delivery of Cossack Pioneer adds to the list of our impressive record of a total of over 20 conversions," said Mr Loh Wing Siew, Managing Director of Keppel Corporation Ltd.

The contract was awarded by Woodside Petroleum Ltd (W A Oil) Pty Ltd on behalf of the joint venture partners: Woodside Petroleum Ltd, BHP Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd, BP Developments Australia Ltd, Chevron Asiatic Limited, Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd and Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd.

Upon leaving Keppel Shipyard, Cossack Pioneer will be stationed at the Wanaea and Cossack fields, offshore Western Australia. The Wanaea and Cossack fields form the basis of the North West Shelf Gas Project, Australia's biggest and most important resource development. "The development of the Wanaea and Cossack fields has been another massive under

"The development of the Wanaea and Cossack fields has been another massive under project," said Mr Charles Allen, Managing Director of Woodside Petroleum Ltd.