SBM Offshore and Solstad Offshore have officially named CIMC Raffles as the shipyard for their upcoming multi-purpose deepwater installation and construction vessel. This announcement confirms the shipyard partner for the joint venture established by the two companies earlier in June, when they initially disclosed a letter of intent for the newbuild without revealing the builder's identity.
This development signifies a commitment to expanding specialized fleet capacity for complex offshore projects, particularly those requiring deepwater installation capabilities. For freight forwarders, this type of specialized vessel construction indicates ongoing investment in the energy sector, which often generates project cargo and heavy-lift shipments for equipment and components. While not directly impacting container rates, it signals demand for specialized logistics services for the offshore industry.
The new vessel will support SBM Offshore's activities in floating production solutions and Solstad Offshore's expertise in offshore vessel operations, enhancing their combined capabilities in the deepwater segment.
