Singapore-based offshore services firm Bluewhale Offshore has been awarded a key contract to support Shell’s $5 billion Bonga North development off the coast of Nigeria.
The agreement, finalised in collaboration with Dutch partner OOS International, covers accommodation and heavy-lift operations for the project’s engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor.
The semi-submersible crane vessel (SSCV) Blue Gretha will be deployed for an initial 15-month term, with options for extension.
Formerly known as Huadian Zhongji 01, the vessel is undergoing refurbishment at Bluewhale’s CIMC Raffles Shipyard in Yantai, China.
Blue Gretha boasts two 1,800-tonne Huisman cranes, spans 81 metres, and can house up to 618 personnel.
Previously engaged in Brazil’s offshore oil fields and China’s wind energy sector, Blue Gretha brings a wealth of cross-sector expertise to Nigeria’s deepwater frontier.
Its deployment marks Bluewhale’s growing footprint in West Africa.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) leads operations at the Bonga field (OML 118), alongside ExxonMobil (20%) and Agip Exploration (12.5%).
In a recent reshuffle, TotalEnergies exited the venture, selling its 12.5% stake to Shell and Agip for $510m.