MLL joins hands with Singapore builder

Singapore, Apr 17: Mercator Lines Ltd (MLL), the second largest private sector shipping company in India, today awarded a contract of 180 million dollars to Singapore rig builder, Keppel FELS Ltd, to construct its first jackup rig.

The order includes the design, engineering and construction of the rig to get it operationally ready.

To be delivered in the first quarter of 2009, the new rig will be built to Keppel's proprietary KFELS B-Class jackup rig, said Keppel FELS in a statement.

The rig will be further customised to meet the owner's operational requirements in water depths of about 350 feet and readily upgradeable to 400 feet. This premium jackup rig will have a drilling depth of 30,000 feet and would accommodate 112 men.

''As we expand our services into offshore rigs, we recognise the importance of working with the right shipyard for our first jackup.

Keppel FELS, with their track record in the design and construction of rigs, is the right choice to help us to offer premium services,'' Joint Managing Director of Mercator Lines Ltd Atul J Agarwal said.

UNI