Tullow brings in first Ghanaian-owned vessel to support O&G ops

Oil and gas company Tullow Oil has taken delivery of the first Ghanaian-owned and Ghanaian-flagged marine vessel, which will support offshore oil and gas industry activities in Ghana.

Tullow Ghana reported on Monday that it had taken delivery of the offshore support vessel MV Flat Confidence, following successful Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID) testing on 5 November 2021.

The firm embarked on an initiative to develop the local capacity of the oil and gas industry through the adoption of the marine sector in 2020. The company’s aim was to create opportunities for indigenous Ghanaian companies to own and operate vessels to support the oil and gas industry, and upscale the capacity of Ghanaian personnel in the marine sector.

Wissam Al Monthiry, Tullow Ghana MD, commented: “As a leading oil and gas company in Ghana, we recognise the active leadership role we must play to develop local capacity for participation in the oil and gas industry. That is why last year, we adopted the marine sector to develop local capacity in that sector to support the oil industry.”

According to Tullow, the MV Flat Confidence was acquired by Flat C Marine Offshore following a long-term contract granted by Tullow Ghana that enabled the company to raise finances to procure the vessel. Tullow explains that the presence of the Flat Confidence vessel reflects the firm’s commitment to develop and support capability growth to international standards in marine sectors.

“We appreciate our key stakeholders, Joint Venture Partners, Government of Ghana, Ports and Harbours Authority, the Ministry of Energy and the Petroleum Commission for their efforts in helping us make this possible. Hopefully, this is the start of something progressive,” added Al Monthiry.

While supporting the work of Tullow Ghana’s two FPSOs – Kwame Nkrumah and John Evans Atta Mills – the 2020-built, 71-meter long and 19-meter wide vessel will be operational in the Western region of Ghana.

The company’s marine sector adoption initiative aims at enhancing indigenous participation with 100 per cent Ghanaian-owned and operationally Ghanaian-flagged offshore vessels, which is also part of Tullow’s Shared Prosperity agenda. The agenda includes optimising local content and developing supplier capacity.

Recently, Tullow Oil appointed a new non-executive director and chairman-designate to its board. This became effective on 25 October 2021.

The company’s previous chairman, Dorothy Thompson, announced her decision to step down from the board in June 2021.