Harkand has won a three-year contract to deliver inspection, repair and maintenance services for a major international oil company operating in Cabinda, Angola
Swordfish, a newly upgraded multi-purpose dive support vessel (DSV) will be used to support the offshore project with air, surface gas and saturation diving services. The upgrade work on DSV Swordfish cost US$10.5mn and it is compliant to the standards of the International Marone Contractors Association. A 15-man diving system, three-man bell, self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat and a dedicated hyperbaric rescue facility have been added to the vessel.
"The block we wil be working on is of extreme importance to Angola's petroleum industry, therefore we understand the importance of maintaining production to our client and expect to fully support all their subsea inspection, repair and maintenance needs in the safest and most cost-efficient manner utilising the DSV Swordfish," said AJ Jain, Harkand's managing director for North America and Africa.
Doug Fieldgate, Harkand's general manager for Africa, said that developing local capacities by "maximising the use of locals and implementing skills transfer programmes" is an important part of the three-year assignment. Harkand will be working in conjunction with Group TOS Lda, a local Angolan company that specialises in marine and offshore sectors.
"Our efforts to achieve this goal has been demonstrated in the execution of projects in Ghana and Nigeria and will remain a top priority as we move into Angola," said Fieldgate.
