Keppel nabs US$400m worth of contracts

This is for the construction of two LNG containers.

Keppel has secured a contract worth more than US$400m from Honolulu-based Pasha Hawaii for the construction of two Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fueled containerships.

The deal was inked by Keppel Offshore & Marine's subsidiary in the United States, Keppel AmFELS.

According to the group, the dual fuel LNG vessels will be built to Keppel’s proprietary design with delivery of the first vessel expected in 1Q20, and the second vessel in 3Q20.

"Keppel O&M is at the forefront of designing vessels that run on LNG propulsion systems and has the experience in LNG vessel conversions as well as the expertise in new build specialised vessels. In addition, Keppel AmFELS is ideally located and well-equipped to build a wide variety of vessels for the Jones Act market. We look forward to building these ships which will have a direct impact on American jobs at our shipyard and suppliers across the country,” Keppel AmFELS president Simon Lee said.

The group notes that the containerships will be able to run completely on LNG fuel, dramatically reducing their environmental impact and increasing fuel efficiency. Energy savings will also be achieved with a state-of-the-art engine, an optimised hull form, and an underwater propulsion system with a high-efficiency rudder and propeller.

Customised to Pasha Hawaii’s requirements, the new, 774-foot Jones Act vessels will be able to carry 2,525 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), including a fully laden capacity of 500 45-foot containers, 400 refrigerated containers, and 300 40-foot dry containers, with a sailing speed of 23 knots. The ship’s hull has been fully optimised using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and will be one of the most hydrodynamically efficient hulls in the world.