Perdana Petroleum will invest $33.94 million to build two new anchor handling tug supply vessels under its fleet rejuvenation program.
The two AHTS vessels will each have 60 tonnes of bollard pull and will be built by Aulong Shipbuilding in China. According to a filing with Bursa Malaysia, delivery is expected within 730 days and 820 days, respectively, from receipt of the shipyard’s first refund guarantees. The vessels are targeted for deployment in the third and fourth quarters of 2028.
Construction will be funded through internal funds and bank borrowings. The order marks the first vessel construction program of Perdana Petroleum since 2012.
The investment supports renewal of the company’s AHTS fleet, which has an average age of about 17 years. The order follows recent charter awards from Petronas Carigali for two AHTS vessels. The charter periods are 303 days and 224 days, with an additional 40-day extension option.
Managing director Jamalludin Obeng said improved market conditions made this the right time to modernize and gradually renew the fleet. He said the program would help Perdana Petroleum meet future operational needs, strengthen competitiveness and support long-term business growth.
He also said the offshore support vessel market continues to recover, supported by steady upstream activity, improved industry fundamentals, stable utilization levels and firmer charter rates in selected vessel categories.