Vietnam President Visits Vietnam’s First Semisubmersible Drilling Tender Constructed by Keppel FELS

Mr Truong Tan Sang, President of Socialist Republic of Vietnam, visited Keppel FELS, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel Offshore & Marine, on 27 September as part of his three-day state visit to Singapore from 26-28 September 2011. He was accompanied by Singapore National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan. 

Mr Choo Chiau Beng, CEO of Keppel Corporation, Mr Tong Chong Heong, CEO of Keppel Offshore & Marine, Mr Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director of Keppel FELS, received the delegates during this visit.

His Excellency Truong was briefed on Keppel’s offshore and marine businesses and was introduced to PV Drilling V, Vietnam’s first semisubmersible drilling tender, which is designed and constructed by Keppel FELS for PetroVietnam Drilling & Well Services Corp (PV Drilling).

Developed by Keppel's Deepwater Technology Group, the award-winning KFELS SSDT design has revolutionalised the way in which drilling tenders operate, allowing them to be deployed next to deepwater floating platforms for the first time.  The semisubmersible drilling tender will be named in an official ceremony on 1 October 2011.

Keppel in Vietnam

Keppel has been growing with Vietnam for more than 20 years – since 1988 when Keppel FELS built TAM DAO 1, Vietnam’s first new jackup drilling rig. Keppel Offshore & Marine has been actively involved in Vietnam since the 1980s and has built up a credible track record over the years. The group’s expertise and experience have been demonstrated in rig building, ship conversions and repairs.

In 2007, it had delivered the first jackup rig PV Drilling I to PetroVietnam Drilling Investment Corp (PVD Invest) ahead of schedule and within budget. And in 2009, for the first time in Keppel’s history, Keppel FELS named two identical rigs simultaneously, PV Drilling II and PV Drilling III.

Keppel Shipyard has also converted several Floating Storage Offloading/ Floating Storage Offloading Production vessels, which are currently operating in waters off Vietnam.

In the property business, Keppel Land is one of Vietnam’s pioneer and largest real estate investors with a diverse portfolio of properties in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Vung Tau ranging from Grade A offices, residences, award-winning serviced apartments and integrated townships. 

To-date, Keppel Land has 17 projects in Vietnam, with a total investment capital of almost USD 2 billion.  These projects will yield more than 5 million sm (50 million sf) of gross floor area, including more than 25,000 homes and prime commercial space.

PHOTO: Mr Truong Tan Sang, President of Socialist Republic of Vietnam(left) presented a painting to Mr Choo Chiau Beng, CEO of Keppel Corporation(second from right) during his visit to Keppel FELS on 27 September 2011. Second from left: Singapore National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, third from right: Mr Tong Chong Heong, CEO of Keppel Offshore & Marine, extreme right: Mr Wong Kok Seng, Managing Director of Keppel FELS

Keppel’s environmental engineering projects in Vietnam include the application of the proprietary UNITANK® system in wastewater treatment projects in the Bien Hoa industrial zone (Dong Nai), in Camau (Southern Vietnam) and Cam Ranh (northeast of HCMC).

Keppel Telecommunications & Transportation has also established ITL-Keppel Vietnam, a joint venture with ITL (Indo-Trans Logistics) in early-2009, to provide third party logistics services for Customers from the consumer goods, retail, industrial and pharmaceutical sectors such as Unilever, Electrolux, Sanofi and BBraun, as well as local companies G7 Mart and TH Milk.

In 2010, ITL-Keppel Vietnam also formed a JV with local Vietnamese SOE, TANIMEX, to develop and operate a 40-hectare logistics park at Tan Binh, HCMC.