On March 31, Malaysian offshore vessel owner Keyfield International announced on its official website that it had signed a contract with a Chinese shipbuilder for the construction of one dynamic positioning anchor handling tug (AHTS).
According to information disclosed by Keyfield on the stock exchange, the company has signed a contract with Mawei Shipbuilding/Funing Shipbuilding Heavy Industry, a subsidiary of Fujian Shipbuilding, to build a 90-ton diesel-electric DP2-class AHTS at a cost of $18 million. The vessel will be used for anchoring operations and towing offshore oil and gas drilling platforms.
Keyfield stated that the latest order for a DP2-class AHTS is part of the company’s strategic plan. It will not only help the company expand its international charter business and maintain its core competitive edge in accommodation workboats, but also enable it to allocate more resources to the AHTS sector and broaden its business scope.
This order marks the second AHTS Keyfield has ordered from a Chinese shipyard this year. On February 4, the company placed an order with Jiangsu Shunhong Marine Technology for a new diesel-electric hybrid AHTS, also priced at $18 million, which is expected to enter charter operations in 2027 or 2028.
Keyfield noted that the majority of vessels in its existing AHTS fleet are already under long-term charter contracts; therefore, the new vessel will expand its available capacity, enabling the company to pursue new tender and spot charter opportunities without affecting existing contracts.