Keppel forms joint venture company with Seafox

Offshore arm Keppel FELS commercialised its wind turbine installation vessel design to be the basis for Seafox Group’s wind turbine installation vessel.

Keppel FELS Limited’s (Keppel FELS) multi-purpose self-elevating platform (MPSEP) design has been chosen by the fleet owner and operator as the basis for a new-generation, wind turbine installation vessel that can withstand harsh offshore environmental conditions all year round in water depths of 65 metres in the North Sea, according to a Keppel Corporation announcement.

The said vessel can operate in some 45%-deeper waters, while reducing downtime even in extreme storm conditions, thus providing a potentially longer operational window. With a large carrying capacity of up to 12 turbines at a time, it enhances the efficiency of constructing offshore wind farms.

A 75/25 joint venture (JV) company has been formed between Keppel FELS and Seafox respectively, to build and own this US$220 million vessel. Seafox has the option of acquiring Keppel’s stake in the JV company.

The KFELS MPSEP, designed by Keppel’s R&D arm, Offshore Technology Development, has the ability to install and maintain heavy wind turbine foundations, such as the jacket and tripod types, and especially in deeper waters.

Mr Wong Kok Seng, Executive Director of Keppel FELS, said, “The KFELS MPSEP will offer significant advantages in terms of safety, operations, time and cost to operators working in these harsh environments. By overcoming the typical limitations of the existing fleet in the market, this advanced vessel will redefine the way in which offshore wind farms are installed and maintained across the world.”

The KFELS MPSEP vessel is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2012, and will be managed and operated by Workfox BV, a member of the Seafox Group.