Two Robert Kuok-led Singapore companies have reportedly teamed up amid the Covid-19 pandemic in a mutually beneficial charter deal.
PACC Offshore Services Holdings (POSH) is said to have fixed its Panama-flag, 197-person accommodation vessel POSH Bangka (built 1998) to PaxOcean.
The vessel is being used to house the healthy workers at PaxOcean’s shipyard in Singapore, according to Fearnley Offshore Supply.
The POSH Bangka is said to have been fixed for a firm period, with an option to extend.
It is among POSH’s dedicated fleet of 12 accommodation vessels. PaxOcean has five other shipyards in the region: two in China and three in Batam, Indonesia.
Both companies are said to have received similar enquiries from governments and companies to modify, convert and operate accommodation vessels.
“Both companies are able to tap on synergies, including undertaking modifications at PaxOcean’s yard to suit the specific requirements of POSH’s clients,” an industry source said.
“Its technical, maintenance and procurement teams are able to work hand in hand to operationalise vessels swiftly.”
Ulva Chai, managing director of offshore services at POSH, said: “We have been receiving queries to help provide offshore accommodation support via our flotels and accommodation vessels in some of the markets that we operate in.
“We are pleased to play our part to help alleviate the Covid-19 situation through contributing our offshore accommodation expertise.
“Our further advantage comes from being able to draw on synergies from a larger maritime cluster, to which PaxOcean also belongs.”
Chai said that through PaxOcean, POSH can undertake modifications “quickly and seamlessly” on its vessels, to address clients’ specific configuration needs.
