Saudi Arabia’s International Maritime Industries (IMI) has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the leading rig designer Keppel LeTourneau Middle East (KLET) in order to collaborate on the design and construction of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs).
IMI, a joint venture between leading industry partners Saudi Aramco, Bahri, Lamprell, and HHI, is the largest shipyard in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region at nearly 12 million square meters.
As part of the LOI, KLET will provide engineering and construction support as well as rig components to IMI through Kit Construction & License Agreements (KCLA). The KCLAs will be entered into on a per-rig basis, according to the statement.
The engineering support includes the development of a rig-specific design kit containing engineering drawings and plans, as well as technical guides for IMI to reference when building MODUs. KLET will also provide the engineering license and certain components for each new build rig under the KCLA.
Abdullah Al Ahmari CEO – IMI
“We are pleased to have signed this LOI with KLET, a leading rig design company that will strengthen our rig building capabilities and support our efforts to build an advanced maritime facility that will drive the development of the maritime industry in Saudi Arabia. The partnership enables us to leverage KLET’s unique capabilities and expertise, thereby enhancing our offering to both our partners and customers. We look forward to working more closely with KLET when we construct MODUs at our Ras Al Khair shipyard shortly.”
Both IMI and KLET will also explore the development and application of new technologies, such as digitalization, energy storage, and decarbonization, to further optimize the rig designs.
Further, KLET will assist IMI in the development and training of its workforce during the MODU detailed design engineering phase, which will be led by IMI’s engineers at IMI’s shipyard in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Ron MacInnes, President of KLET, said that, “We are pleased to support IMI by providing rig designs that not only meet the drilling demands of today’s market but also the future, through design and system optimization.”
“This leverages Keppel LeTourneau’s expertise in rig design and kit manufacturing, as well as its experience in aftermarket and aftersales services. We have been actively contributing to the offshore and marine industry in Saudi Arabia, with over 20 rigs in the country built to Keppel LeTourneau’s proprietary designs,” Mr. MacInnes added.
