Anchor chain manufacturer Ramnäs has landed its biggest order ever. The order is to supply chain to Hyundai Heavy Industries for mooring Total’sUsan FPSO off Nigeria. The order is valued at more than SEK 120 million ($14.38 million).
Under President Magnus Westher, anchor chain manufacturer Ramnäs has had a busy start to 2009.
In a hectic period in January, the company booked two further orders, consolidating a strong start to the year. “We’ve got roughly one year’s production on our order book, says Magnus Westher, president of Ramnäs, “but it’s not all for 2009. We still have some capacity available for this year.”
TheUsan FPSO contract calls for lengths of chain of both 142-mm (5.59-in.) R4 grade and 147-mm (5.79-in.) R3S grade for 17 mooring legs. The total weight of chain will be significantly greater than the 3,400 metric tons (3,748 tons) which was the maximum the company had previously delivered in a single order. Final shipment is due in May 2010.
The company also will supply six 1,100 m (3,609 ft) legs of 103 mm (4.06-in.) R4S chain to Saipem to moor OLT Offshore LNG Toscana’sLivorno floating regasification plant off Italy. Delivery is due next October. A third recent order was for 7,500 m (24,606 ft) of 76-mm (2.99-in.) R4 chain to drilling contractor Odfjell, to be delivered in June.
Last year was eventful for Ramnäs, which was acquired by a Norwegian consortium led by Carl Arnet, CEO of BW Offshore, leaving the previous Swedish owners with a 30% stake. Ramnäs also installed a new machine to improve its capacity for proof-loading services, for which there is increasing demand among mooring component suppliers and users.
Ramnäs’ new proof-loading machine.
Fall, however, was a nervous period, says Westher, with customers putting their projects on hold. “Fortunately some of them have now decided to go ahead.” Despite that uncertain period, Ramnäs expects to post better results for 2008 than the previous year.
Meanwhile the company has expanded the range of chain strengths it can offer, having received certification from both DNV and ABS for the R5 grade. With a yield strength of 760 MPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 1,000 MPa, R5 has a proof-load and a break-load both 16% higher than R4.
For further information, contact Magnus Westher, Ramnäs Bruk. Tel +46 220 220 01, fax +46 220 358 37,[email protected], www.ramnas.com
