Joint venture signs contract for Concrete Offshore Vessel - MPU Heavy Lifter

This innovative first-in-the-world heavy lifter of its class was awarded by MPU Offshore Lift ASA, a subsidiary of the Norwegian design and development company MPU Enterprise ASA, and is tailor designed for its purpose.

The semi-submersible platform will be built at the dock facilities of Keppel Verolme in Rotterdam in joint venture between Van Hattum en Blankevoort BV and BAM Civiel bv. Under a separate contract with MPU, Keppel Verolme will also execute the marine outfitting works and the steel, mechanical and electrical works.

The start of the concrete works will be July 2007 and completion will be within 13 months. The vessel is expected to be completed by Keppel Verolme early 2009.

Mr. Jan de Jong, Managing Director of Van Hattum en Blankevoort, said: "We are very glad to be awarded this challenging task of building this innovative very light weight concrete structure. The award is the success of over three years of partnership with MPU in developing a cost effective production scheme for this strong and durable concept for the project using a concrete mixture with a density of only 1.600 kg/m3."

For MPU the signing of this contract concludes a long period, 8 years, of conceptual development, model tank testing, design and verifications.

"The response from the market, potential clients and the investors, have been very enthusiastic, and we are now looking forward to see the vessel ready for operation in 2009 as there is a great demand for new lifting capacity in the offshore decommissioning and installation market" said Mr. Kolbjørn Høyland, CEO of MPU Offshore Lift ASA.

Further information: Van Hattum en Blankevoort BV, Mr. Jan de Jong, Managing Director, ( 31) 348 435 104, www.vhb-vsce.nl.

MPU Offshore Lift ASA: www.mpu.no.