Felicia Tan Tue, Jun 14, 2022
Sembcorp Marine (SembMarine) has secured an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract valued at about US$150 million ($200 million) from Emgepron, a state-owned company linked to the Ministry of Defence in Brazil.
The contract was signed by SembMarine’s wholly-owned subsidiaries, Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz (EJA) and Sembcorp Marine Specialised Shipbuilding Pte Ltd (SMSS), and the establishment of a special purpose entity, Polar 1 Construção Naval SPE Ltda.
The EPC contract involves a newbuild support vessel, the NApAnt, for the Brazilian Navy for scientific research deployment in the Antarctic.
The vessel, which measures 93.9 metres in length, 18.5 metres in width and weighing about 5,800 metric tonnes with a draft of six metres, is built to navigational ice field standards, classified as P-6.
The project will be executed through the EJA yard in Brazil to comply with the requirement of local content while drawing from the pooled resources of Sembcorp Marine global network, including the knowledge and experience from the SMSS.
Construction of the new vessel will begin in 2022. It is slated to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.
Upon its completion, NApAnt will replace the ocean support vessel (NApOc) Ary Rongel (H-44) which is approaching the end of its life cycle. The vessel is expected to add a new operative dimension to the Brazilian Antarctic Programme.
Guhan Thangavelu, president of EJA says, “We are thankful to Emgepron and the Brazilian Navy for choosing EJA and Sembcorp Marine, and for the confidence on our proven designs and past experiences. This is a strategic project for the yard, enabling EJA to leverage the group’s domain knowledge, expert capabilities in EPC and project integration, as well as EJA´s capabilities to undertake solutions for Polar Class (DP2) vessels.”
William Goh, chairman of EJA adds, “The company is pleased that its proposal fulfilled key project criteria of vessel performance and specification; robust business financial model; rigorous construction methodology; including detailed lifecycle management and integrated logistical support. We are privileged to support the… Brazilian Navy’s oceanographic and scientific programme in the Antarctic through this project.”
Vice-Admiral Edesio Teixiera Lima Junior, head of Emgepron says, “It is an honour for the Emgepron (Management Company of Naval Projects) to participate, in partnership with the Brazilian Navy and Polar 1 Construcao Naval SPE Ltda, in such an important undertaking, which will provide the Brazilian shipbuilding naval industry to join the restricted circle of those capable of building ships with capability of operating in the icy polar regions.”
Admiral Jose Augusto Vieira Da Cunha De Menezes, general director of Material of Navy adds, “The acquisition of the new Antarctic Support Ship by the Brazilian Navy is of strategic importance for the country, thus providing the maintenance of the Brazilian presence in the Antarctic continent and the continuity of the scientific research that has been carried out at the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station.”
As at 9.33am, shares in SembMarine are trading flat at 11.4 cents.