Fuel-saving MPSV. The NC800 MPSV, designed by Finnish ship designer W''rtsil'', is the largest vessel built by Nam Cheong in Malaysia and is the first vessel to run on diesel electric propulsion. We understand that this design offers fuel-cost savings of about 20%.

Good equipment, ample space. Commissioned by Bumi Armada for its clients Sarawak Shell Berhad and Sabah Shell Petroleum Company, the vessel is equipped with a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) mezzanine deck, crane, and a large 800-square-metre deck area.

Small but efficient. We saw another smaller PSV under construction, this one a UT755 model (Figure 4). We also noted some yard improvements ' 4 new yellow yard cranes, a few more mobile cranes, and the third left-most workshop is now complete (Figure 5).

Yard suitably designed. The yard was obviously designed with a rational workflow system in mind. Raw steel would be cut within the workshops at the rear so that work can continue in any weather condition. Once cut, the steel are moved closer to the slipways where they are welded into modular blocks. Following that, they are moved to the slipway where the various pieces are put together like the PSV in Figure 4. Once the hull is complete, the vessel is launched via the slipway, and the final equipment fitting and commissioning is done on the water.

Well-managed yard. We also noted that the yard was kept very neat, with steel beams and pipes neatly stacked in a long line along the road. The efficient yard design and good inventory management practices indicate a very well-managed yard. (No worries, the plants are there only temporarily due to the launch event.)

Keep the ice-cream maker going! Finally, as for the ice-cream maker, we learnt that this is the single most important piece of equipment for crew morale. Bumi Armada's new PSV will come outfitted with two, to ensure that after a long hard day of work there will at least be something to look forward to. Singaporean men who have gone through National Service will surely empathize!

Source: OSK