Infrastructure Ltd News

Houston-based engineering company S&B Infrastructure, Ltd. (S&B) on Monday announced it has acquired naval architecture and marine engineering firm Technology Associates, Inc. (TAI). TAI will continue its operations as TAI Engineers, LLC.“This acquisition strengthens our capabilities to design and build even larger government and commercial maritime projects,” said Daniel Rios, S&B Infrastructure President. “We acquired TAI because of our clients’ ever-evolving needs and the organization’s focus on safety, integrity, and client trust—all key values of S&B.

JSW Group will invest INR 7,000 crore (USD 1.1bln) more in the ports sector over next three years to create assets in the country as well as abroad, PTI reported. The company is also looking at diluting up to 15 percent stake in the ports operating company, JSW Infrastructure, to a private equity player soon, and take it public by 2019. JSW Infrastructure Ltd (JSWIL), a 100% subsidiary of Sajjan Jindal led-JSW Group, has  also drawn up a master plan to develop its Jaigarh Port in Konkan as one of India’s biggest ports that could receive big bulk carriers, LNG, LPG and oil tankers. At the company level, total capacity target is 200 mtpa by 2020, Jindal said and added that the port now handles dry bulk cargo but has plans to enter container handling.

Tata Realty and Infrastructure Ltd (TRIL) is taking 10 percent stake in a Rs. 5,900 crore ($867 mln) floating LNG import terminal being set up by Nikhil Merchant led Swan Energy in Gujarat. This will be the first investment by Tata Group in gas business. And this is the first investment decision since N Chandrasekaran named as the Tata Group chief. TRIL was established in 2007 to pursue opportunities in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group. According to a stock exchange filing made by Swan Energy, an Expression of Interest (EOI) has been filed by TRIL “showing its willingness to invest up to 10 per cent of the equity”.

India's Reliance group announced a tie up with Andhra Pradesh government for building a strategic shipyard on the eastern seaboard of the country, which will be co-located with strategic facilities of the Indian Navy and Department of Atomic Energy. The facility is said to be co-located with the Indian Navy’s base and BARC’s nuclear facility at Rambilli, approximately 70 Km south of Visakhapatnam. The new facility would complement the company’s existing facility at Pipavav in Gujarat, with a clear focus on building strategic assets for the Indian Navy. Ambani also urged on the need for development in critical areas of naval defence capability in the region in order to compete with the world.

The Dredging Conference organized by Hinode in Kolkata on Thursday, January 21, 2016 will spotlight the vast opportunities that exists for dredging companies and other allied agencies in Inland Waters waters. The event is set to take place at the Park Hotel, 17 Park Street, Kolkata 700016. Kolkata occupies a special place as a major Riverine Port and Inland Waterways hub and the mouth of the Ganges River. Being an exclusive program and considering Indian Government plans now underway for interlinking rivers, promote Indian shipping and upscale port development activity, dredging in India has gained worldwide attention.Orgainzers find an unusual interest having been generated with registration for the conference taken on a rapid pace. Early registration is advisable to avoid disappointment.

India’s newest private shipbuilding firm,Pipavav Shipyard Ltd, is the latest in a growing list of firms looking to enter the business of making diesel ship engines in an attempt to meet growing demand for these in India and in other parts of the world, and is talking to two multinational firms for a partnership. Last week, Pipavav Shipyard started work on the first four of 26 Panamax bulk carriers that have been ordered by Norwegian, French and Greek fleetowners for a total of $1.1 billion (Rs4,360 crore). The contract makes Pipavav the world’s second biggest Panamax size shipbuilder by order size after Japan’s dry bulk cargo shipbuilding specialist Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.

Keppel Corporation Limited (KCL) will restructure Keppel Hitachi Zosen Limited (KHZ) under Keppel FELS Limited (Keppel FELS), the rig building and repair arm of Keppel FELS Energy and Infrastructure (KFEI), to create a global leader in servicing the international marine and offshore market. KCL will transfer its entire 61% interest in KHZ to Keppel FELS immediately upon completion of the privatization of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd (KFEI) in early to mid November this year. Shareholders of KFEI have given their approval for the delisting of the company on October 5. KCL Executive Director Choo Chiau Beng, said, ?The restructuring…

Keppel Corporation Limited (KCL) has appointed Tony Chew Leong-Chee and Dr. Lee Tsao Yuan to its Board. Both Chew and Dr. Lee are no strangers to the Keppel Group,as they were Directors of Keppel Capital Holdings before it was sold in August last year. Dr Lee still sits on the Board of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd. Chew is an agronomist, having obtained his professional qualification through a plantation cadetship with Ko Rubber Plantations in Malaysia and participation in the Serdang Agricultural College (Malaysia) extension program. He also co-founded Asia Resource Corporation Pte Ltd and is now Executive Chairman of the company, and is Chairman of Del Monte Pacific Ltd, Macondray Corporation Pte Ltd and Representations International Pte Ltd. Dr.

Keppel FELS Limited (KFELS), the offshore arm of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd. (Keppel FELS), has signed a contract with Chiles Offshore LLC (Chiles) to build a $110 million jack-up rig of KFELS MOD V "B" design, cantilevered jack-up rig. Work is expected to start immediately, with delivery scheduled for around the second quarter of 2002. This rig is one of KFELS' ultra-premium proprietary jack-up designs which has been modified in this case for non-harsh environment usage. It is designed to be able to exceed the operating capabilities of conventional non-harsh environment jack-up rigs and will be built to a leg length of 475 ft., with an option to extend this to 545 ft. "Our goal is to augment our position in the ultra-premium, deep-water jack-up market niche.

Keppel FELS Limited (KFELS), the offshore division of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd (Keppel FELS), has won a contract from Diamond Offshore Drilling for the significant upgrade of its semi-submersible, Ocean Baroness to a semi-submersible with fifth-generation capabilities. Total capital expenditure for the conversion is estimated at $180 million, of which the shipyard's share is approximately $60 million. The planned deepwater upgrade will be a greatly enhanced version of Diamond Offshore's highly successful Victory-class upgrades. Initial outfitting will be designed to include stability enhancements and self-contained chain/wire mooring for operation in water depths to 6,000 ft.

Keppel Fels Energy & Infrastructure Ltd, seeking a foothold in the European offshore market, said on Monday it was in talks to take over Dutch repair and conversion yard Verolme Botlek. The Singapore company gave no indication of the likely cost of acquiring the Rotterdam yard, which has three dry docks and is owned by Wilton Fejinoord Holdings. "This possible acquisition will provide Keppel Fels with an opportunity to expand our network in Europe and to service our customers in the North Sea," a spokeswoman said. She said the planned purchase of the yard was in line with the firm's strategy, outlined at the beginning the year, to move physically closer to its customers.

Shipbuilder Keppel Hitachi Zosen Ltd. reportedly is in discussions to merge its offshore business with sister company Keppel Fels Energy Infrastructure Ltd., a maker of oil rigs and ships. The activity is presumably spurred by the market reality of increasingly cheaper ship and rig building options available.

Keppel FELS Limited, the offshore arm of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd., and ENSCO International Inc. have entered in an alliance agreement to build, own and operate an enhanced KFELS MOD V jack-up rig, with an estimated value of US$130 million. ENSCO 102, respectively. Keppel FELS is responsible for the engineering and building of the rig, while ENSCO provides procurement services and is responsible for the project management during the construction of the rig. ENSCO will have the option to purchase the remaining 75% interest in the rig from Keppel FELS until two years after delivery of the rig. The option price for the period up to the delivery of the rig will be based on the final price payable to Keppel FELS for the construction of the rig.

Keppel FELS Limited, the offshore arm of Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd., and ENSCO International Inc. have entered in an alliance agreement to build, own and operate an enhanced KFELS MOD V jack-up rig, with an estimated value of US$130 million. ENSCO 102, respectively. Keppel FELS is responsible for the engineering and building of the rig, while ENSCO provides procurement services and is responsible for the project management during the construction of the rig. ENSCO will have the option to purchase the remaining 75% interest in the rig from Keppel FELS until two years after delivery of the rig. The option price for the period up to the delivery of the rig will be based on the final price payable to Keppel FELS for the construction of the rig.

Keppel Fels Energy & Infrastructure Ltd. said it has aborted its planned purchase of Dutch repair and conversion yard Verolme Botlek. Keppel Fels, the offshore rig-building division of Keppel Corp., said in a statement to the Singapore Exchange that it had ceased negotiations with Wilton Fejinoord Holdings after the "expiry of the letter of intent." Keppel Fels, which was seeking a foothold in the European offshore market, said in November it was in talks with Wilton to acquire the Rotterdam yard, which has three dry docks. - (Reuters)

A multinational shipping firm that has signed a deal to have its ships built at an Indian shipyard, which is still under construction, has already sold the ships, an indication of growing demand for ocean-going vessels. This is the first time such a thing is happening at an Indian shipyard. The yard, Pipavav Shipyard Ltd, is under construction and will not start building ships before February 2008. On 19 March, the Bermuda-based Golden Ocean Group Ltd.—the dry bulk cargo ship operating firm controlled by Norwegian shipping tycoon John Fredriksen—had placed orders with Pipavav Shipyard to build four Panamax bulk carriers, each with a cargo carrying capacity of 75,000 tonnes. The agreed price of each vessel was $35.5m. The company also placed an "optional" order for two more Panamax vessels.

Gujarat, India’s top maritime state by cargo handled at state-owned ports, is finalizing a shipbuilding policy that has set an ambitious target to grab more than half of the country’s shipbuilding market by 2020, an official at the western state’s maritime regulator said. The state will be the first in the country to have a separate policy on shipbuilding. A draft policy prepared by the government seeks to extend tax holidays to shipbuilding projects for five years. Such projects will also be entitled to the same fiscal and duty benefits as those granted to so-called special economic zone (SEZ) projects of the Union government, said G.R. Jadega, technical adviser to the Gujarat Maritime Board.

As ship and boatyards in the Gulf of Mexico eagerly await 'Offshore Boom 2001,' it might behoove them to look at activities transpiring outside of their own backyard, as the business of building offshore rigs and vessels has truly become a global bonanza. For example, down south, way down south in Brazil, FELS Setal SA has become that country's preferred shipyard for offshore and marine services on account of its quality workmanship and on-time deliveries, after just one year of its formation. The 60/40 joint venture company between Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd. (Keppel FELS) of Singapore and the PEM Setal Group of Brazil has won a total of $120 million worth of contracts in this short time.

Shares of Keppel Hitachi Zosen Ltd. and Keppel FELS Energy & Infrastructure Ltd. surged on market talk the two units of the Singapore conglomerate Keppel Corp. would be merged. Ship repair specialist Keppel Hitachi jumped as much as 47 percent to an eight-month high of S$0.575 before moving back to S$0.51, up 12 cents, in moderate trade of 3.7 million shares. KepFELS, which also has a marine business, rose eight cents to S$0.935 after surging as much as 17 percent earlier to S$1.00 -- a level not seen since the middle of March. Volume was high with more than 10 million shares traded. "The rumours are not new. It seems that day traders were riding the wave," said a senior trader at a local brokerage. A Keppel official said she was "not aware of any corporate development".