Shell hires two Perdana Petroleum accommodation barges

Malaysian offshore marine support services firm Perdana Petroleum has won a work order from energy supermajor Shell for the charter of two accommodation work barges.

Perdana won the work order from Shell’s Malaysian subsidiary Sarawak Shell. Under the deal, the barges are chartered by Perdana’s wholly-owned unit Perdana Nautika for three years. Financial details were left undisclosed.

The vessels, which can accommodate 300 people each, will start their contracts on March 15 and April 7 respectively, with an option to extend for one year.

Perdana Nautika will also provide the accommodation work barges with crews and equipment to perform 24-hour services for assisting or servicing drilling rigs, offshore installation, derrick barges, towing and anchor jobs.

This is Perdana’s first charter win this year. Last year, the company won eight work orders and four contract extensions for its vessels that work in the oil and gas sector.

Last month, the company also revealed in its financial reports that it had achieved its highest annual profit in 18 years thanks mostly to improved vessel utilisation and charter rates.

Due to these factors, the company is mulling fleet renewal as it believes that charter rates would remain high in the long term due to tight supply.