Reliance wants MPSV for KG-D6

Reliance can expect to pay more than expected when it floats a tender next month (June) to hire a Multi Purpose Supply Vessel (MPSV) on a two-year contract to replace Bourbon Helene from US-based Bourbon Offshore.

Sources say Reliance should be prepared to pay at least $50,000/day for the MPSV, well above the $30,000/day it is believed to paying now for Helene. Before Helene was hired two years ago, Reliance had a two-year contract at around $90,000/day for MPSV Island Pride, owned by Norwegian company Island Offshore offered through Houston-based Oceaneering.

Reliance wants the MPSV equipped to work in water depths of 2000 metres with two Remotely Operated Vehicles for inspection, maintenance and repair activities above and below the water surface at the KG-DWN-98/3 fields where it is developing the MJ-1 and R-Series discoveries. Separately, SBM Offshore, MODEC, and Shapoorji Pallonji with Bumi Armada are among likely bidders for a contract to operate and maintain the new FPSO contracted by Reliance from Samsung Heavy Industries.

On April 22, Samsung announced it had won a $963m contract to build and deliver a FPSO to Reliance by March 2022.