April 21 - Fairstar Heavy Transport reports that the keel laying of its 50,000 dwt semi-submersible vessel Forte has taken place at the Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI) facility in Qidong, China.
Senior executives from GSI, Det Norske Veritas (DNV) and Fairstar witnessed the first block being lowered into the drydock.
"We are thrilled to see the keel block now in place. In the coming months hundreds of additional blocks will be assembled into the Forte and we expect to float the hull out of the drydock on September 15, 2011. We are deeply impressed with the commitment of GSI and their team on site. Our own site team of inspectors have been more than satisfied with the levels of quality and craftsmanship we see day after day from GSI and all of their sub-contractors. We are confident the Forte will be completed on schedule to
meet its May 1, 2012 delivery date, well in time to begin service under its long-term, multi voyage Gorgon contract." reported Willem Out, Fairstar's chief operating officer.
