Start-up Dreifa Energy expects to choose a shipyard shortly for its pioneering first conversion of a platform supply vessel into an LNG floating regasification unit (FRU).
Dreifa’s Jostein Ueland says the company is in discussions with a small number of shipyards and hopes to “nail down” one, most likely in Asia, for the job of converting the 2,597-gt PSV Blue Betria (built 1983), which Dreifa struck a deal to buy in July.
Ueland says the conversion work required is very limited. He explains that all the equipment is fabricated and delivered in modules that are then welded into place onboard.
He says the vessel, which went through a refurbishment in 2015, is likely to be in the yard for between three and four months.
Ueland says the resulting FRU is still on target to deliver in the fourth quarter of 2018.
When asked if the company has any commitment from a project or charterer for its FRU, he said: “We are working very aggressively and are focused on some interesting opportunities.”
Dreifa, which last week announced it had hooked up with Wartsila Oil & Gas Systems to deliver the regasification module for the company’s first FRU, plans to pair this unit with an LNG carrier that would act as a floating storage unit (FSU) to provide a low-cost import solution.
Ueland says the company has been looking at candidates for the FSU for some time but adds that at present this is not a long-lead item, but it will need to be pinned down in 2018.
The Dreifa co-founder says the FRU will be fitted with three regasification units of 75 million standard cubic feet per day, which allows maximum flexibility for project preferences.
“Fundamentally, we have a solution that we think covers the broadest set of opportunities that we have in front of us,” Ueland said.
Dreifa has spoken previously about acquiring more PSVs for conversion. Ueland says the company does not see a tightening in the supply of PSVs but has been evaluating and looking at candidates. He says the company has not bought any more vessels but adds that could change.
