September 26 - Oil exploration company Tengizchevroil (TCO) has exercised an option for two additional module carrier vessels (MCVs) for its TCO FGP project in Kazakhstan.
HLPFI reported in May 2016 that Blue Water Shipping is leading a consortium in partnership with Topaz Marine and Energy for this project, which will supply 15 bespoke MCVs for the transportation of modules through the Russian river systems to a new offloading facility in Prorva, Kazakhstan.
Topaz will commission the construction of the 15 MCVs, which will be owned and operated by Topaz and will commence work in the second quarter of 2018 for a minimum contract period of three years.
This new contract includes two additional MCVs, of the VARD 921 design, measuring 123 m long with a breadth of 16.5 m. Both vessels are scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2018 and the contract value is in excess of USD40 million.
The 17 vessels will be used to transport modules weighing up to 1,800 tonnes from the Baltic and Black Sea, via the Russian inland waterway network to Prorva.
During August 2016 HLPFI reported that Blue Water Shipping also signed a contract with TCO for three larger vessels, which will be used to transport modules from Kuryk in western Kazakhstan to Prorva.
Topaz has also been appointed the technical managers of three additional larger MCVs.
